The Internet, like other new technologies, will undoubtedly affect civil society and the workings of activists, citizens´ groups, and the political process as a whole. But how radical will this impact be, and precisely how will the Internet change the way citizens´ groups act?

This article deals with the impact on Japan´s civil society ofdemographic change and knowledge transformation. We base ourwork on the supposition that there are two different spheres, eachwith different approaches to new technologies.