Lecture by KEI MINOHARA in Vienna 2015/06/17

"From Feudalism to Modernity/ From Growth to Maturity - The Urban Development Changes of Japan from the Past to the Present and in the Future"

The lecture was given by Kei Minohara, an internationally renowned Japanese urban planner, at the City of Vienna's planning workshop for architects and urban planning experts from the Vienna City Administration. Minohara presented the history of urban development in Tokyo over the last century, starting with the Meiji period, when Japan opened up to the West and from then on began to engage with European-style architecture and urban development. This process has continued more or less up to the present day.

Referring to the different histories and their backgrounds, Minohara explained what has happened in the last century and how today's modern Tokyo could be expected to develop. In the period when Vienna, for example, as a typical representative of a historic European city, was characterized by steady growth, Tokyo had to be completely rebuilt three times, almost from scratch:

Beginning with the Meiji era, Japan opened up to the West in order to study and adopt European ways of life, architecture and urban planning.

Due to one of the largest earthquakes (Kanto) in Japan's history, Tokyo was almost razed to the ground by fire.

After the Second World War, Tokyo was completely bombed and burned to the ground.

Especially during the period of extraordinary economic development worldwide in the 1960s and 1970s, Tokyo experienced rapid growth. It was almost impossible for the government to control this growth. At the same time, a large number of private initiatives emerged, making Japan one of the most successful players in the world. On the other hand, this development, which was largely uncontrolled by the government, created many future problems for Japan.

Kei Minohara, who has worked both in government and as a freelance urban planner in Japan for more than half a century, sees a great opportunity right now to initiate a new urban development period in connection with the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In his opinion, Tokyo must embark on a quest for a better quality of life and environment, just as Vienna is aiming for these priorities in its development. Both cities, as different as they may be, are already characterized by a particularly high quality of life*. Tokyo and Vienna are striving to further develop these qualities in order to be able to offer people a liveable environment in harmony with nature and society in the future.

6 key concepts for the future of Tokyo's urban planning (from Kei Minohara's lecture on 2015/06/17)

Reclaiming access to the waterfront, improving the environment of the seascape and riverscape to enhance the quality of life, following the example of the pre-Edo era.

To show that Tokyo is sincerely committed to investing in better technologies and designs to conform to a progressive, ecological metropolis, which means to promote ecological landscape planning and the realization of experimental projects.

As a pioneering achievement, develop models in residential building construction with regard to the rapidly increasing ageing population in connection with the Olympic Village 2020,

Comprehensive reform of pedestrian traffic in connection with the connections of public transport systems with high-quality interface design of the various administrations.

Demonstrate and implement exemplary models in the area adjacent to the Olympic facilities, such as the development of sustainable communities with adequate public facilities and services for a progressive neighborhood program between the decreasing density zones in the suburban area and the simultaneous population growth in central Tokyo.

Creating a connection with local communities outside the Tokyo metropolitan area by activating existing resources, utilizing wooden structures and, for example, building biomass energy plants using wood as a raw material.

* "The Huffington Post, June 24, 2015 "Tokyo is the World`s "Most Livable City"