Great urban functions and infrastructure are essential for creating comfortable and safe cities, but a livable city is truly achieved when people living there are healthy and happy. Well-being, a term that has come into widespread use in recent years, is also an important factor for cities.
General Incorporated Association Smart City Institute Japan (SCI-Japan) promotes the expansion and advancement of smart cities with the goal of improving the well-being of residents. It shares knowledge and expertise with local government and companies in Japan leveraging its proprietary “Liveable Well-Being City Indicator (LWCI).”
On July 15, 2025, SCI-Japan hosted a special forum co-organized by Nikkei Inc. titled “Expanding Digital Public Goods Linked by Liveable Well-Being Indicator and Regional Revitalization 2.0 -Toward a Well-Being Society through promoting Regional DX/GX/AX-.” Haruka Miki, Operations Officer at World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) participated in one of the panel discussions.
During the session themed “What is Well-Being City Development Aiming for Sustainable Happiness?” where Governor Yasutomo Suzuki of Shizuoka Prefecture presented on his prefectural governance focusing on well-being, TDLC shared opinions alongside SCI-Japan's Representative Director Takehiko Nagumo. During the session, Miki pointed out that the components of urban development projects by the World Bank and those of well-being-focused urban development are similar and emphasized the fact that a well-being city is a livable city.
