Japan has recently seen the rapid development of inclusive parks, yet academic research on their planning and design remains limited. This study integrates evidence from eight international review studies with an analysis of three domestic guidelines and 59 inclusive park cases to identify key challenges in Japan. International literature highlights four issues: inconsistent definitions of inclusiveness, the limited applicability of universal design principles to play environments, insufficient participation of children with disabilities in design processes, and the need for greater public awareness. Using these themes as an analytical framework, the domestic analysis revealed variations in park definitions, partial application of universal design for play (UDP), and limited initiatives promoting participation and awareness. While physical accessibility has improved, broader sensory, cognitive, and social inclusion remains underdeveloped. The findings suggest that Japan should strengthen definitional consistency, adopt UDP more comprehensively, introduce participatory processes, and enhance awareness-raising efforts to achieve more holistic inclusive parks.

In Japan, vacant houses are widely recognized as a significant societal challenge. At the same time, the problems associated with vacant lots and land with unknown ownership are becoming escalating, with expectations of further exacerbation in the future. This study analyzes six cases supported by the MLIT（Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism） under the Land Bank initiative. A detailed examination of these pilot efforts and their application methods clearly highlight the necessity of integrating land management with urban planning. Furthermore, it has been found that there are several challenges in the Land Bank initiative, including difficulties in assessing market value, ownership issues, and the need for broad coordination. These findings provide important implications for improving Japan's management of vacant land and houses.

Population aging and urban redevelopment have progressed simultaneously, leading to localized shifts in demographic structures. This study analyzes the spatial transition of age composition and its relationship with accessibility to urban facilities across districts in Tokyo wards between 2000 and 2020. Using cluster analysis based on age composition at the neighborhood level, the study identifies characteristic patterns of population transition and evaluates their association with accessibility indicators to urban facilities. A stability index was developed to quantify the temporal consistency of age composition and to examine its relationship with facility density. The results indicate that districts characterized by a balanced working-age population or dispersed residential patterns tend to exhibit both high accessibility and demographic stability, whereas areas with intensive high-rise residential development show increasing population and facility density.

Many green building assessment systems prioritize reducing environmental impacts during the operational phase, while the construction phase—where energy and material use are highly concentrated—often receives less attention. This study examines how Thailand’s green building certification system, TREES, contributes to managing GHG emissions at construction sites. It reviews current TREES requirements related to construction practices, emission management methods, and major emission-intensive activities and equipment. Using IPCC guidelines, the research analyzes the TREES Platinum–certified Thammasat Advanced Medicine Center, estimating monthly emissions over five years based on electricity and fuel use. Early construction phases were dominated by diesel-based emissions, while later phases shifted toward electricity due to increased use of electric tools. Although lower than operational emissions, construction-stage emissions remain significant. Only three TREES sections directly address construction, and they lack quantitative carbon accounting. The study proposes improvements such as equipment electrification, portable solar panels, sustainability training, and stronger regulations to support greener construction in Thailand.

This study aims to clarify the management of private sector-led co-creation facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area through a questionnaire survey targeting advanced facilities. Furthermore, through analysis of information and intellectual resources, human and relational resources, and financial resources, we revealed the management status and tendencies of private sector-led co-creation facilities that contribute to area value creation.

Remote working exerts complex effects on urban agglomeration mechanisms and impacts worker productivity. On the other hand, it may reduce the agglomeration benefits generated by conventional transportation investments. Therefore, evaluating remote work may require redesigning assessment methods that take its diverse impact into account. This is because reduced commuting frequency may decrease worker matching and learning opportunities, alter the structure of travel patterns built around daily commuting, and decrease the additional benefits of transportation investments made through infrastructure development. This study contemplate how remote work affects the “agglomeration benefits” in benefit quantify of the transport appraisal, introducing a research report published by DFT of the UK government.

This study analyzes the development processes and spatial transformations of seven circular intersections in central Okayama City. Conceived as symbolic elements of postwar reconstruction planning, these intersections initially reflected urban design intentions in road layouts and surrounding buildings. Over time, social and economic changes have significantly altered their spatial structures and landscapes. The analysis shows that intersections near the station emphasized traffic management and landscape design, while suburban ones prioritized traffic functions, indicating locational differences. Building uses were grouped into three types—station-area, intermediate, and suburban—revealing diversification of roles with changing urban functions. By comparing multiple sites, this study clarifies Okayama’s postwar urban development and offers a basis for future urban historical and spatial studies.

This paper aims to find new values in Machizukuri that respond to the changing values of society (9th article in the series). This study examines the regional collaborative organization “Active Active” (established in 2010), composed of citizen activity groups from six cities in the Chitose River and Ishikari River basin in Hokkaido. Through interviews with its practitioners, six new values for Machizukuri were identified. These civic groups, which had each practiced activities in collaboration with local governments within their respective city boundaries, began sharing their knowledge and experience as an intermediary support organization across city boundaries. In this process, by walking together through each other's areas and sharing the scenery, they discovered the watershed as a single regional framework. They demonstrated a value in scaling up while preserving their individual uniqueness, finding joy in contributing more broadly.

In Japan, "Dual Habitation" is becoming important due to population decline, but it is difficult to practice in reality. To succeed, people must solve several connected problems, such as long-distance travel, housing, and community matching. If even one part is missing, dual habitation becomes impossible. Using the idea of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), this paper proposes Dual Habitation as a Service (DaaS) as a one-stop solution. We analyzed surveys of people who want to try dual habitation but cannot. The results show that they face multiple barriers at the same time. Through case studies, we conclude that an integrated DaaS system is necessary to remove these barriers and promote this lifestyle effectively.

This study explores the application of 2nd order Voronoi diagrams to urban planning, focusing on the spatial redundancy of urban facilities. While ordinary Voronoi diagrams visualize nearest facility catchment regions, 2nd order Voronoi diagrams extend this by identifying both the nearest and second nearest facilities, thereby revealing potential substitutes if nearest facilities become unavailable. A tool was implemented by using PostgreSQL/PostGIS to generate 2nd order Voronoi diagrams and applied to designated emergency evacuation sites in Maebashi City. The resulting visualizations demonstrate how residents can access alternative sites when nearest ones are unavailable, offering practical insights into facility planning and disaster resilience. This approach highlights the usefulness of 2nd order Voronoi diagrams as a decision-support tool in urban facility management.

This study examines the urban space created by the construction of a streetcar line in Okayama city, which has a short route, and aims to clarify the current state of urban formation from its opening to the present, as well as to aid in the future formation of urban spaces using streetcars. The period from the construction of streetcars to the present was divided into four periods based on factors such as changes in the number of passengers boarding and alighting, and the relationship with urban formation in each period was analyzed. As a result, it became clear that while postwar streetcars were influenced by urban planning, they contributed to postwar urban development and functioned as an essential foundation for urban formation. Furthermore, it became clear that they will continue to be an important presence in future urban formation, with circular route plans being incorporated into urban regeneration projects.

Old new towns have been recognized for their systems to preserve the residential environment through building regulations, such as district plans. However, these regulations have pushed up housing prices, making them unaffordable for young households. On the other hand, adjacent urban areas with more relaxed building regulations offer diverse types of housing, encouraging young households to move in. In this study, to explore the regeneration of old new towns, we surveyed the attitudes of residents in adjacent existing urban areas toward the old new towns. The results showed that residents of the existing urban areas did not find the old new towns particularly attractive and generally preferred not to choose them as a place to live. The reasons cited by residents corresponded to the challenges faced by old new towns, indicating possible directions for their regeneration.

As the importance of social inclusion has grown, interest in “gochamaze” welfare approach has increased. The purpose of this study was to clarify how people behave in welfare facilities based on the philosophy of “gochamaze”. To this end, we conducted a behavioral observation survey at "B's Gyozenji," a welfare facility in Ishikawa Prefecture operated by the social welfare corporation Bussien. We recorded the behaviors of people using the facility and documented the various scenes that exemplified the concept of gochamaze. The results suggest that gochamaze facilities are used not only as welfare facilities but also as “ibasho” such as community café. Moreover, our analysis shows that place-sharing occurs in these facilities, both when welfare service users and local residents are present simultaneously and when they use the same place at different times.

This study examines the implementation and effects of “Begegnungszonen,” or shared spaces, in the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. Using administrative documents, traffic statistics, and spatial surveys conducted through online mapping tools, the research identifies how entrance treatments, traffic-calming layouts, and street furniture contribute to reducing vehicle speeds and decreasing accidents. The findings also show that these zones support more active use of public space and strengthen community engagement through resident participation in the planning process. Overall, the Basel-Stadt model demonstrates that Begegnungszonen function as an effective human-centered urban design approach that enhances traffic safety while improving the quality of everyday life in residential and mixed-use areas.

Vacant lots are emerging in hilly residential areas in Japan, as vacant houses are demolished owing to population decline. It is necessary to explore the characteristics of such transition events in hilly residential areas to facilitate formulation of appropriate development policies for emerging land uses, including vacant lots. The aim of the present study was to identify transition trends in non-building areas in hilly residential areas in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, from 1971 to 2020, through statistical analysis. According to the results, (1) non-building area decreased until 1980 but has increased consistently afterward. (2) Under non-building coverage, area under agricultural use has decreased, whereas the proportions of land under parking lots, vacant lots, and wooded areas have increased. (3) The locations of vacant lots and wooded areas have distinct characteristics (e.g., population density).

In recent years, Area-Based Management at enhancing the value of local areas has become increasingly important in the central districts of major cities in Japan, amid growing inter-regional competition. However, many Area-Based Management organizations are currently facing the challenge of insufficient financial resources. One method for securing funding is Area-Based Management advertising projects, yet effective strategies for implementing such projects have not been fully established. This study investigated the types of advertising media, locations of implementation, management status of advertising occupancy rates to clarify the implementation trends and profitability of advertising projects. As a result, insights were obtained on how to generate revenue through these advertising initiatives.

The physical environment of a city and its ambient population density (the true density of people using the space) may be closely related. However, measuring these impacts directly is challenging because it involves many interacting features. This study proposes a way to evaluate these complex relationships by Machine Learning (ML). A tree-based classification model was trained using physical environment features of a neighborhood as input paired with ambient population density information represented by Mobile Spatial Statistics data. accuracy. Model interpretation tools such as SHAP and PDPs were then used to understand how the model makes decisions and to quantify the influence of each physical environment feature on ambient population density.

This report examines the current conditions of streets designated as Begegnungszonen in Zurich and Basel, Switzerland. Bullingerplatz in Zurich demonstrates a dramatic transformation in street atmosphere and residents’ living environment. Hedwigstrasse, one of the earliest examples initiated by local residents, was implemented in 1984 and renovated in 2015; it continues to function as a well-used and lively residential street. Basel, another major city in Switzerland, has also designated numerous residential streets as Begegnungszonen. Earlier designations effectively employed trafficcalming measures, whereas more recent ones rely mainly on signage and the installation of benches on former vehicular lanes. The concept of the “superblock” in Spain has also gained attention in Basel, and a residents’ petition led to its adoption as an experimental urban project—again highlighting the role of resident-driven initiatives.

This study examines how the Regional Development Policy contributes to regional self-governance by analyzing its effects and limitations. Focusing on the Kuchinai area of Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, where the policy links regional plans, community centers, and financial subsidies, it draws on document analysis and semi-structured interviews with executives of the Regional Self-Governance Organization. The findings show that the policy expands opportunities for residents’ participation and strengthens collaboration between local actors and government. However, its sustainability depends on the continuity of local deliberative practices and the leadership of key individuals. Sustainable local governance requires institutional design that fosters interpersonal trust and intergenerational dialogue.

With rapid AI development and digital transformation, data centers have become critical national digital infrastructure, requiring specialized spatial and technical characteristics. In Japan, expanding demand for data centers intensifies challenges related to land use, energy and water resources, disaster resilience, and local community acceptance. Drawing on Greater London, a leading European data center cluster, this study analyzes land use regulations, Green Belt policies, and multi-level governance to identify institutional dilemmas and urban planning challenges. Findings suggest four policy directions for Japan: strategic spatial planning, streamlined regulatory coordination, diversified site evaluation criteria, and clear urban policy perspectives. Integrating national strategy with local consensus and standardizing technical guidelines is essential for sustainable and socially compatible data center development.

In recent years, sustainable economic growth and enhanced international competitiveness have become critical urban regeneration challenges due to new technologies like AI and IoT, globalization, and rapid socio-economic changes. This study examines "Innovation Districts"—areas strategically designed to generate innovation—focusing on Nihonbashi Hamacho and Yaesu-Nihonbashi-Kyobashi districts to clarify domestic applicability and private developers' roles. Through literature reviews, site surveys, and interviews analyzing sequential development projects by single developers, the study found that developers play significant roles in "physical assets" by establishing coworking spaces and community facilities, with cost and time reductions through utilizing owned properties. For "economic assets" representing innovation-creating companies and "network assets" promoting collaboration, developers leverage their position for corporate recruitment and area management activities. Collaboration with stakeholders sharing the district's vision from upstream to downstream enables realization of district goals and high-quality community formation.

This study aims to clarify suitable types of guidance signage according to the spatial characteristics of railway station concourses. As concourse layouts have diversified, signage design has become increasingly important. Field surveys were conducted in concourses outside ticket gates along the Osaka Loop Line. Spaces were classified into three types—center-column, peripheral, and gate-to-gate—and their characteristics were analyzed. A total of 66 signs were categorized by installation type (suspended, wall-mounted, floor-mounted) and by features such as direction, illumination, and pictograms. Suspended signs showed higher visibility due to illumination, while wall-mounted signs provided richer information for spatial understanding. Impression evaluation experiments revealed that spaces with signage types suited to their configuration gained higher ratings for visibility and comprehensibility. These results indicate that signage design should correspond to spatial form, and that improving visibility through suitable height and orientation can promote smoother user movement. The findings provide basic knowledge for future signage design in complex public spaces.