noun
hometown association; regional social club
A social organization for people from the same hometown, village, or island who now live in a distant urban area. Strongly associated with Okinawan communities, but the term can apply to other regions as well.
沖縄出身者で作る郷友会が東京で毎年開かれる。
A hometown association formed by people from Okinawa is held every year in Tokyo.
彼は郷友会の集まりで久しぶりに同郷の友人と会った。
At the hometown association gathering, he met friends from his hometown for the first time in a long while.
県人会 is a prefectural association, broader in scope than 郷友会, which can be for a smaller locality like a town or island.
Compound of 郷 (hometown), 友 (friend), and 会 (association). The term likely emerged in the 20th century as internal migration increased, particularly among Okinawans moving to mainland Japan.