In this study, the way city residents understood, responded and interacted to urban reform projects in the Meiji era of Japan is analyzed through one of the projects as a case example. The case example is the urban reform project called the Three Major Construction Projects which was carried out by Kyoto City during the end of the Meiji Period. The road widening work and the railroad track construction for streetcars which were conducted in this urban reform brought revolutionary changes to traditional residential organization. Negative reactions toward the project was observed during its planning period and shortly after planning decisions were made which caused protests against the plan. However, once land acquisition had begun the progress of the project became relatively smooth. The resident organization called Cooperative Association, which was established in the same period of time as the project, played a role in the process. Established based on the traditional style of resident organization, the Cooperative Association helped to organize actions of the residents systematically for the government agendas, such as urban redevelopment, for the entire city.
