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This October, the World Bank’s Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) celebrated two decades of advancing livable cities with a dynamic event in Tokyo. Hosted by actress and refugee advocate Sahel Rosa, the event drew over 300 participants, spotlighting Japan’s groundbreaking urban solutions and their global impact. Ming Zhang, Global Director of the World Bank’s Urban, Resilience, and Land Global Department, set the tone, emphasizing the critical role of cities in tackling global challenges.
Japanese Cities Leading the Charge
Leaders from TDLC’s City Partnership Program (CPP) shared their innovative approaches:
- Kobe: Mayor Kizo Hisamoto highlighted lessons in disaster resilience from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, balancing urban growth with satoyama (countryside) preservation.
- Toyama: Mayor Hirohisa Fujii showcased the city’s compact city model, driven by SDGs and smart public transit to combat population decline.
- Fukuoka: Deputy Mayor Eiichi Nakamura described how citizen feedback and data-driven policies fuel urban growth and vibrant startups.
- Kitakyushu: Deputy Mayor Kenichi Katayama presented the city’s transformation from a polluted industrial hub to an environmentally friendly and sustainable city.
- Hiroshima: Deputy Mayor Mikiharu Nakai emphasized peace-centered urban development and disaster preparedness to build stronger communities.
Global Reach: Japanese Solutions in Action
TDLC’s knowledge-sharing has delivered Japan’s expertise to diverse cities worldwide:
- In Madagascar, flood mitigation protects 500,000 people in Antananarivo.
- In the Philippines, seismic retrofitting strengthens schools and hospitals in Manila against earthquakes.
- In Tanzania, flood control and parks rejuvenate Dar es Salaam’s Msimbazi River Basin.
- In Bangladesh, canal restoration and waste management have transformed Narayanganj’s environment.
The Power of Mutual Learning
Takahiro Tsuda, Director at Japan’s Ministry of Finance, congratulated TDLC for connecting people and ideas, and curating Japan’s expertise and knowledge for sharing to address global urban challenges.
The Path Ahead
With its strong partnerships with its CPP cities and other key Japanese cities, with key government ministries, the private sector and academia in Japan, TDLC remains a vital bridge between Japan and World Bank clients around the world. As it enters its next phase, TDLC will continue to inspire urban transformation, helping make cities more livable and sustainable.
* Our article is now featured on the World Bank's Sustainable Cities Blog.
Read the full article here: Japanese cities, global impact: the Tokyo Development Learning Center turns 20.
Related Links:
- Tracing 20 Years of Knowledge Sharing for Livable Cities https://youtu.be/ZD5_JYaQIvc
- Transforming Cities, Shaping the Future https://youtu.be/2XLjm-aIF8Y
- TDLC's Impact Stories https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099501210302437364/idu1bcd8559e1434614c3a18e81168693ec0dc39
