noun
tonarigumi; neighborhood association
Historical term for small-scale neighborhood associations established in Japan during WWII, responsible for fire fighting, policing, ration distribution, and civil defense.
戦時中、隣組は防空演習や物資の配給で重要な役割を果たした。
During the war, tonarigumi played an important role in air-raid drills and ration distribution.
隣組の制度は1940年に内務省によって整備された。
The tonarigumi system was established by the Home Ministry in 1940.