(From left to right) Noriaki Nakayama, Senior Manager, Tokyu Corporation; Masao Kakiuchi, Executive Director of the International Department, Kobe City; John Kher Kaw, Senior Urban Development Specialist, World Bank; Wataru Tanaka, Senior Executive Officer, Nikken Sekkei; Angelica Nunez, Manager of the Urban, Resilience, and Land Global Department, World Bank; Yasuhiro Okada, Mayor of Kakogawa City; Satoko Tanaka, Chief Representative, JICA USA Office; Tomoko Abe, Manager of the Overseas Department, ALMEC Corporation; Christopher Pablo, TDLC Team Lead, World Bank.
~Showcasing the Initiatives of Kakogawa City, Kobe City, the Private Sector, and JICA at the World Bank URL Forum~
Japanese cities consistently rank among the most livable in the world. They can therefore offer insights and inspiration to other cities worldwide on how cities can provide high-quality infrastructure and living standards, and also how to address rapid urbanization, environmental challenges, and demographic changes.
At the World Bank’s Urban, Resilience, and Land (URL) Forum on February 3, 2025, in Washington, DC, the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) hosted a session exploring how Japanese cities shape livable and resilient urban environments. The Mayor of Kakogawa City, the Executive Director of the Kobe City International Department, and key representatives from the Japanese private sector, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) shared their perspectives on livability of cities during the forum.
Hideaki Imamura, Executive Director for Japan at the World Bank, opened the event by stressing the importance of urban planning, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and community participation for sustainable growth. He highlighted how Japanese cities have overcome challenges to become smart and disaster-resilient, underscoring the need to share these insights globally.
Hideaki Imamura, Executive Director for Japan at the World Bank, delivering his opening remarks.
Initiatives of Japanese Cities
Mayor Yasuhiro Okada described how Kakogawa City’s Livable Wellbeing City Indicators (LWCI) to prioritize policies that enhance public health, public spaces, community engagement, and art and culture. He also shared the city’s efforts to revitalize its riverfront green spaces in partnership with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) and private companies, transforming them into recreational areas with cafés and leisure facilities. By leveraging PPP, the project reduces financial burden on the city government while ensuring sustainable development.
Mayor Yasuhiro Okada presenting Kakogawa City’s urban policies.
Masao Kakiuchi, Executive Director of Kobe City’s International Department, presented the city’s post-disaster reconstruction and sustainable urban development initiatives. In the aftermath of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Kobe has prioritized urban reorganization and disaster resilience. Its waterfront redevelopment project has featured a pedestrian-centered design, integrating cultural and commercial hubs near transport stations. Today, the city restricts high-rise construction to prevent excessive urban density and promote balanced development. Suburban areas are being revitalized around railway stations, while rural areas focus on sustainable agriculture and urban-rural linkages. These efforts aim to create a resilient, sustainable, and livable city.
Masao Kakiuchi, Executive Director of the International Department in the Office of the Mayor, introducing Kobe City’s post-disaster reconstruction and sustainable urban development efforts.
The Role of Public-Private Partnerships, Community Engagement, and Mutual Learning in Urban Development
Panelists discussing public-private partnerships, community engagement, and knowledge sharing.
Public-private partnerships (PPP) are essential for creating livable cities, with Japan’s private sector playing a significant role in urban development. During the session, representatives from JICA and major Japanese private companies involved in urban development shared their experiences and insights.
Wataru Tanaka (Nikken Sekkei) emphasized the importance of creating space in urban areas and introduced several redevelopment projects in Japan that utilize land readjustment schemes. The speaker highlighted the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station and Miyashita Park in Shibuya Ward. In particular, the Miyashita Park redevelopment project used public-private partnership (PPP) methods to integrate private commercial facilities into the urban park.
Noriaki Nakayama (Tokyu Corporation) highlighted the importance of developing high-density, safe, mixed-use communities near stations that are pedestrian-friendly, known as Rail Integrated Communities. The speaker introduced Granberry Park, a collaborative project with Machida City, as an exemplary model.
Tomoko Abe (ALMEC), shared that Japanese cities could contribute to improving the livability of cities in developing countries by demonstrating how to create visions that form the core of master plans and projects and by showcasing local government efforts in public-private partnerships and citizen participation.
Satoko Takana (JICA) introduced JICA’s initiatives in sharing Japan’s urban development knowledge to cities in developing countries. An example is the "Local Revitalization Program," which connects local governments in Japan and Thailand. This initiative fosters mutual learning, enabling both Japanese and Thai cities to exchange ideas on regional revitalization strategies.
In her closing remarks, Angelica Nunez, Manager of the World Bank’s Urban, Resilience, and Land Global Unit, thanked the Japanese speakers for their participation in the gathering of World Bank urban practitioners and to the Government of Japan for the continued support to the Bank’s urban, resilience and land work.