Interest in renewable energy is rapidly increasing in Japan, especially with the implementation of the feed-in tariff system (FIT) in July, 2012. However, while the introduction of renewable energy contributes to decarbonization, their potential overdevelopment could lead to conflicts between the developers and local stakeholders. Upon geothermal power generation in Japan, local consensus building is highly important, as there are unique stakeholders, including hot spring business operators who have serious business stakes in geothermal resources. Some local governments have taken to stipulate regulations on the development of geothermal power generation, to facilitate dialogue among the stakeholders. The ordinances, and the associated councils, established by such municipalities are expected to play an essential role in local geothermal energy governance. This paper highlights the effects of the local regulatory framework, to evaluate to what extent they contribute to geothermal development, which coexists with the local community, focusing on a case in Kyushu, Japan.

This study presented the results of a web-based survey on the actual situation of "Machi no Ibasho: Third Place" of people living in multiple locations. Although there is no standard definition of such a place in town, "Machi no Ibasho" is a place where people can spend their time as they wish, meeting and socializing with others. According to survey results, a slightly higher percentage of respondents indicated that they had a "Machi no Ibasho" in their main place of residence rather than their sub-residence. Alternatively, several respondents did not feel at home or have a sense of belongingness anywhere. Differences in reasons for visiting, frequency of visits, and average length of stay were identified between the main residence and the sub-residence.

New Towns in Japan are facing to aging population and facilities, and the decrease in the number of shops at Neighborhood Centers and child generation. To seek for a way forward to the future, this study aims to clarify the needs and awareness of the residents at the Komyoike District, in Senboku New Town by conducting a questionnaire survey and interviews. As a result, it became clear that Neighborhood Centers to be the most interests to the residents. In terms of the sloping ground where the district is located, residents responded positively to characterize the area and suitability for exercises. In addition, green streets and spaces are creating characteristics of the area which forms for the better environment as well as for networking community.

The aim of this study is to improve the living environment of evacuees during disasters. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting residents of Kumamoto Prefecture during the Kumamoto earthquake in 2016. This paper describes the actual utilization of public shelters, the reasons and purpose of their use, and the unsatisfied requirements of the shelter environment. This paper also discusses how the evacuees’ personal attributes, the damage levels of their houses, and the nearby presence of relatives influenced their behavior and requirements for the shelter environment. The characteristics of the buildings used as shelters also influenced evacuees’ requirements for the shelter environment. For instance, evacuees sheltering in schools tended to feel more uncomfortable than in other shelters. These results will help disaster management improve shelter environments.

In recent years, many local areas are seeking community-based events that make use of local resources. One example is the " Spring Birthday Party of Kosuke Kindaichi in Sakura", which has been held since 2015 in the Okada area of Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, under the initiative of local residents. The purpose of this study is to examine the outcomes and challenges of community events led by local residents through the case of " Spring Birthday Party of Kosuke Kindaichi in Sakura", a community event led by local residents. In conclusion, the results suggest that one of the outcomes of the event was the expansion of the population involved, while the lack of human resources due to the aging of the population is a major issue.

Koyu Foundation and Shintomi Town are trying to create a flow to entrepreneurship through entrepreneurship training courses and outsourcing of work, by creating experiences and providing support according to the stage of the training target. At the stage of deepening self-awareness and knowledge, support that provides external stimulus is effective. At the stage of executing as work, effective support is the provision of opportunities for consultation and connections with people that lead to broadening the opportunities and scope of trials.

Since Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) is elevated, there is a concern in that elderly people will be discouraged from using AGT because they will have to travel up and down to the boarding level when using it. Therefore, in this study, the advantageous areas of AGT and of local buses were calculated when passengers move through sections from one station to another in Nippori-Toneri Liner and Tama Monorail, considering the vertical moving load by using generalized time which is given by the multiplication of the travel time and the equivalent coefficient. The results showed that buses were superior in sections with much elevation difference. In addition, the advantageous areas of AGT in long-distance sections were wider for the non-elderly than for the elderly. Therefore, the results suggested that non-elderly people, who have more time constraints, prefer to travel by AGT from travel time, while elderly people, who have greater physical burdens, prefer to use local buses from generalized time.

There is growing momentum for locally led maintenance and utilization of streets. There are advanced cases in the U.S. that support local organizations and promote utilization in accordance with government policies. In this study, we organize the advanced cases in terms of the local participation process and clarify the feasibility of introducing a street management program in which local organizations participate proactively. As a result, the advanced cases had five local-oriented processes: application process, local consensus building, exchange of opinions with citizens, participation in design, and maintenance and operation. And the possibility of introducing the program in the Kannai area included the possibility of incorporating the review process into the application. On the other hand, the challenges were: difficulty in building consensus with other applicants, street management units, and roadside stakeholders during the screening process; support for building an operational structure; and a non-negative check by the government on the operation.

Observation of people's staying behavior in two types of lawn squares in Sarue Onshi Park, as well as questionnaire surveys and interviews, revealed the following.　First, we found that people's staying behavior tended to be concentrated under the canopies of the lawn squares and their boundaries, and that many people spent time in the shade under the canopies, especially during the fall season.　In addition, leisure seats and movable chairs are in high demand for rental and are more effective than fixed benches in encouraging park users to choose a comfortable place to stay longer Furthermore, demand for food and beverage facilities in parks also tended to be high.

This study analyzed residents’ intention to continue living in planned residential areas and existing villages located in Urbanization Control Area, focusing on differences in development history and household attributes. Planned residential areas and existing villages targeted by this study are located in an Urbanization Control Area, which means that there are few convenient facilities for daily life in the district or in the neighborhood, and public transportation is not convenient. As a result, elderly households unable to drive had problems continuing their daily lives. Through the survey, it was found that there is a large difference in convenience among planned residential areas due to the difference in elevation from the main road, which also affects the residents’ intention to continue living in the area. In addition, restrictions imposed by the Urbanization Control Area and differences in development permits for each planned residential area have led to an influx of new residents into planned residential areas, where convenience and the intention to continue living are relatively low.

In recent years, local history such as street continuity has been evaluated as an important factor in revitalizing local cities. But it is considered that redevelopment projects, which is done revitalizing urban areas, may damage them due to lack of cooperation with surrounding areas. Therefore, this study is targeted at the central shopping district in Shizuoka city, and clarified the problems in realizing a redevelopment project that inherits the historical character of the region. In the target area, both the government and the landowners showed an intention to inherit the continuity and consciousness of the street in the redevelopment project. On the other hand, it became clear that the awareness of inheriting historicity is difficult to evaluate as a public contribution, and landowners are finding it difficult to realize their projects due to the lack of subsidies available.

In this paper, we present a historical outline of gardens and its education in Japan Women's University (JWU). In 1900s, when JWU was founded by NARUSE Jinzô, horticulture was encouraged. Later, in the 1920s, influenced by the movement for the improvement of living, the idea of viewing the sites of a house as a garden was introduced into home economics, and knowledge about gardens was taught. The correspondence course in JWU were also offered on landscaping from 1921, and in the 1950, a course on landscaping began to be offered in the Department of Housing. It was also confirmed which there were excellent gardens throughout JWU.

External motivation, such as incentives, can encourage behavioral change and promote physical activities necessary to maintain and improve health. However, in Japan, few researches have reported on the effects of incentives on the expected increase in physical activity. This study analyzed the effect of incentives on step counts taken in the Yokohama Walking Point Program, a health initiative of the Yokohama city. We found a positive association between winning incentives and the step counts, even after controlling for personal attributes.

Community-buses serve the purpose of ensuring regional transportation. The decrease in users of public transportation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious issue for the future living environment of this community. In this study, we conducted a survey to suburban residents in Machida city, Tokyo, which is home to a large number of people with mobility difficulties, and considered the relationship between the local environment and the actual use of community buses. Residents consider community buses as an essential local public transportation service for the community and many elderly people use them. Daily use of the buses continued during the state of disaster caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relationship between population trend and zoning regulation as well as other factors such as urban development style are examined in suburban new towns in Tokyo metropolitan area. Population trend of new towns recorded in “Digital national land information” are categorized based on census data, and the factors correlated with population decreasing districts is examined. Results suggest that the districts tend to be “population decreasing district” if they have relatively larger area of “Category 1 exclusively low-rise residential zone” or “Category 1 mid/high-rise oriented residential zone”, and those with “(Neighborhood) Commercial area” or “Category 2 exclusively low-rise residential zone” less likely to be “population decreasing area”.

With the urbanization of Tokyo's wards through urban renewal, high-rise buildings have emerged throughout the city, rising above the originally low-rise neighborhoods. The purpose of this study is to define these areas as "new/old coexisting areas" and to understand their actual conditions and characteristics. First, we found that there are 26 new/old buildings coexisting neighborhoods in the 9 wards surveyed. Second, the relationship between the location of high-rise and low-rise buildings yielded five types. Third, case studies were conducted for each type, and it was shown that in areas where old buildings closely intersect the flow line from the high-rise to the station, there is a correlation between high-rise buildings and the conversion of old buildings to new uses. For future area renewal, it is important to consider the effective use of old buildings, taking into account the location of high-rise buildings and the large daytime (nighttime) population that high-rises serve.

Playing outdoors is a necessary life activity for children’s healthy growth and well-being. However, nowadays they tend not to play outside. Their play space is also limited to parks, especially in urban areas, and there is a lack of space for them to play freely. In this study, we conducted a survey to understand the status of children's outdoor play and the focus on nuisance awareness of local residents towards it being one of the factors preventing them from playing outside. The results revealed that local residents were disturbed by the noise from outdoor play, which often happens in narrow streets in densely built neighborhoods. It was also found that children feel that outdoor play is regulated by rules and manners, and they are dissatisfied with not being able to play freely. Some children prefer to play on streets in their community, and children in suburban communities in particular tend to play on the street.