Places and relationships where people can feel safe and comfortable are important for well-being. In this context, some cafés in Japan are interested in bringing people together. These are also known as community cafés. We found that users of community cafés have a sense of trust not only in the café owner and other users, but also in the café itself. How, then, does a sense of trust develop in community cafés? This study aims to identify the resources and opportunities that encourage users to develop a sense of trust. We conducted fieldwork in five community cafés. We visited the cafés regularly and interviewed café owners and users. Analysis of data indicates that there are three main resources and opportunities for users to meet and interact with new people in cafés. First are flyers for local events and the owner’s favourite objects. Second is the smallness of the space inside the café. Third is music and art workshops. These resources and opportunities of community cafés help people get to know and befriend others. New activities develop as people get to know each other and become acquaintances in community cafés. For example, one user began ukulele lessons with friends he met at the café. However, the types of activities that develop are not standard. They develop depending on who meets with whom and what resources are available as a medium.
Open to all Social Sciences staff and students.
Location
Round the Green Table in Psychology, 6th floor of the Copland building, New Cavendish Street Campus
About the speaker
Eiji Tsuchikura
Eiji Tsuchikura is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Hosei University, Tokyo, where he teaches social psychology and conducts research grounded in sociocultural theory. His work explores human connection, learning, and creativity through ethnographic methods, science cafés, and creative practices. He bridges cognitive and educational psychology with everyday learning contexts. He is currently a visiting researcher in the Psychology Unit, hosted by Kyoko Murakami, until March 2026.
