No. , May 2015

Special Feature:

Green Cities / Green Infrastructure
Published by the City Planning Institute of Japan
Edited by International Affairs Committee of CPIJ,
Member in charge is Takeshi Kinoshita【Contents】
PrefaceThinking of Green Cities in Terms of Footprints
A Program to Protect Tokyo’s Greenery
Nagoya City’s Efforts to Make Effective Use of Urban Regeneration Special Areas
under the Act on Special Measures Concerning Urban Reconstruction
Creating of Forest in Tokachi
Policy Direction of Green City in Korea

Preface
Takeshi Kinoshita
Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University
In this feature, development of green infrastructure insuch as use in wildlife preservation and humancities as well as the latest efforts in the preservation/

recreation or the preservation of cultural treasures, etc.

creation of green spaces viewed from a broad

Even closer to this meaning are what is known asperspective is reported. Green infrastructure is a“greenways” in the United States. The general

concept that began to be used in the mid-1990s in thedefinition of a greenway is a network of land that is

United States. In this concept, the natural environment

planned, designed, and managed to be suitable foris emphasized in land use. In addition to emphasizing

sustainable multipurpose use of land in such areas asa robust soil/hydrological environment suited to the

biologicalnaturalplant/animal

ornamental use. As its name implies, a greenway is a

development, recent years have seen an emphasisway. In other words, it can be distinguished fromplaced upon swell routes having the capacity togreen infrastructure because of its concept of space

manage stormwater runoff such as retarding/drainingthat emphasizes the passage of humans and otherrainwater from sudden downpours, open spaces thatorganisms.

ecosystem

network

and

study

or

recreational,

cultural,or

At any rate, the definition is not limited to thecan cleanse polluted rainwater, and green spaces/green

spatial functions within range of the classical park

networks at the local level.

system and green belt and includes responses to

In addition, in places like Great Britain where
intensive land use is required, there are instances inclimatewhich green infrastructure is used emphasizing thesustainableaspect of complex functionality to answer the various

preservation of natural heritage/cultural heritage, etc.

space requirements where tradeoff relationships exist

as well as the modern challenges presented by1change,maintenancecommunities,ofbiodiversity,

environmental

health,multifunctional urban infrastructure. The importantthe contrary, although intricate strategic tools arepoint when making comparisons to the green cities

well-developed in Japan, this can be said to be thediscussed below is that the green infrastructure has

result of sectionalism, while there is a tendency forland/spatial

Great Britain’s green space-related strategies to haveconcepts

centeredonthenaturallow independence as departments, but for individual

environment.
On the other hand, the “green city” is a concept

plans to have cross-sectional context as well as highthat means a municipality with a low environmental

functionality. In practice, the green space strategies

impact from the standpoints of carbon dioxide, energy,

employed by Great Britain in recent years do not stopbuildings, traffic, water and sewage, waste processing,at the Parks and Green Projects or urban planning andland use, the atmosphere, environmental governance,

administration level, but are characterized by theiretc. Cross-sectional efforts across a wide range ofcomprehensive

administrative sectors are required, and in the last few

environmental, societal, and even economic spheres.

content

thatencompasses

theyears this is one of the main administrative issues forThis feature consists of five (of which one iscity governments the world over. The meaning of

foreign) distinctive factual reports predicated on the“green” as it is used here is not only the green of theabove broad definitions and up-to-date concepts of thespatial concept represented by parks and green areas,term “green”. Mr. Taniguchi integrated the thought

but interpreted as also having the broad meaning of

behindbeing environmentally sound (minimal environmental

creation/preservation

impact). In addition, when the relationship between(especially of area) of green space such as ecologicalthe aforementioned green infrastructure and green

footprint and green footprint when realizing green

cities is examined, it can be understood that green

infrastructure/green

infrastructure is one of the core elements securing theAccording to Mr. Taniguchi, it is preferable toland and space of green cities.

simultaneously calculate not only the environmental

futureissuesofcitiesregarding

substantive

into

his

the

indicators

explanation.

Just as they do overseas, efforts in Japan that

impact aspect, but also the area that contributes to thecorrespond to green infrastructure mainly fall underenvironment (for example, the amount of food thethe jurisdiction of the Parks and Green Projects

relevant area produces and the amount of carbon

section. However, the current situation in Japan indioxide it absorbs).

which individual strategies are carried out in

Mr. Ootsuka presented information about Tokyoaccordance with ordinances optimized for green

and its municipalities, the first cities to introduce

spaces (City Green Area Laws) and the Basic Green

concrete plans regarding the contradiction presented

Plans (Green Area Basic Plans drafted by each basic

by the green areas simultaneously disappearing andmunicipality) based thereupon are unique whenbeing created. It is a revolution in the history of green

viewed from an international perspective. For example,

area planning in Japan to specify a land’s position andin Great Britain, even with the classical green belts,

scope as wide-ranging and systematic vegetationand the modern green space/open space strategy(including private land) that should be secured, and is(plans are pursued at each basic municipality), there isindicated as a type of collateral. Mr. Aoki reported ona strong tendency to handle the above on a large scaletheas a strategic menu at the city or region planning andredevelopment and green area conservation. The

administration level rather than as the exclusive

mechanisms for linking the preservation and use ofjurisdiction of a Parks and Green Projects section. On

green areas and historic structures in the suburbs with2

effortsin

Nagoya,which

linkedurban

advancing

These efforts are comprehensive policies that include

preservation and improvement of the whole city

economic and social strategies, and which support theenvironment, and positioning the plans surrounding

central core of low carbon/green growth strategies

green areas within the large framework of urban

advanced against the backdrop of the government’s

regeneration, makes this mechanism highly regarded

considerable political strength. The important point is

as methods for securing effectiveness. In addition, Mr.

that the green associated plan is positioned as an

Kanekiyo explained the example of the green belt

influential method for establishment of international(forest building) that was carried out over a wide area

prominence and QOL improvement (one of the three

in Obihiro city through methods involving citizen

main goals). There, the position as green infrastructure

participation and the citizen-centric forest building inthat is a spatial system supporting a green city can beneighboring municipalities that occurred as a ripple

confirmed.

developments

in

urban

areas

and

effect. These citizen projects, which are not limited toWhat can be derived from the above is that thethe environment, are comprehensive and long-lasting,goal of green associated plans is of a cross-sectional,

and enjoy a good reputation connecting vocations

complex nature and that therefore where a guaranteesuch as agriculture and fishing as well as theof the ability to carry out a program is concerned, apromotion of the local society.

system and organization for securing local complianceand broad-based support while involving various

Mr. Mun introduced the green city strategies

stakeholders is required.

being pursued by the South Korean government.

Thinking of Green Cities in Terms of Footprints
Mamoru TANIGUCHI
Professor, University of Tsukuba

1. Introduction

Without knowing how much of this space to turn toWhen thinking about sustainability, it is extremely

greenery, we may create too little and undertake

important to know how much of a burden people place

excessive development.
However, it is not easy to measure the size of theon the environment. When we know this we willrecognize to what extent we are placing an excessive

burdenburden on natural resources and the environment, andenvironment in particular, are of various types. For

only then will we be able to make an appropriate

example, CO2 emissions from the use of cars place adecision on what must be done to compensate for that.

burden on the environment, but so does the necessary

For example, Japan’s population has begun to decline,

farm land to raise cows for people to eat. How should

and there has been a noticeable increase in city lotsthese different units for measuring the burden on thethat are under-used or not used at all. A system to turnenvironment be handled? The key is whether it iseven some of those spaces into greenery could bepossible

expected to not only to reduce our burden on theeasy-to-understand, uniform measure of the various

environment, but also improve our living environment.

types of burdens placed on the environment.

3

on

to

the

environment.

discusstheBurdens

issue

on

using

the

an

2. Ecological Footprint and Its Possibility

ecological footprint is no more than the actual area if

Focus has recently fallen on the leading concept of the

we are aiming for sustainability.

“footprint”. We “consume” natural resources and theenvironment during our lives, and the footprint is an

3. Excessive Burden Ratio

attempt to express, in terms of “area”, the overall

Since the ecological footprint takes into consideration

amount of natural resources and the environment we

CO2 emissions (area of forests necessary to absorb

squish. The footprint concept is often used, having

these emissions), it includes the components of thealready been employed to develop several indicators

carbon footprint and green footprint mentioned above.

including the carbon footprint, which focuses on the

For many regions of the world, the forest area

volume of CO2 generated, and green footprint, anecessary to absorb CO2 emissions accounts for aconversion into green land. In addition, research islarge percentage, around 50%, of the total ecologicalbeing conducted at various locations on the idea of an

footprint.

“ecological footprint” which also takes into accountWhen thinking about particular areas, the people

food and consumables. In this paper, I look at theliving in the area place a burden on the environment,

ecological footprint, the most inclusive of the various

but the area also includes natural resources such asfootprint indicators, and discuss the possibility offorests that absorb that burden. When calculating theusing it to promote the creation of green cities.

actual footprint, consideration is only given to the

Many people are aware of the ecologicalburden aspect. When thinking of future green cities, itfootprint as an indicator calculated by organizations

would be desirable to also calculate “contributions” tosuch as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) tothe environment such as how much food is locallycompare the burden on the environment on a national

produced and CO2 that is absorbed. How many times

or macro level. The indicator is created by calculating

the ecological footprint, the burden area, is greater

the area required by people for various purposes suchthan the contribution area is referred to as theas farms, pastures, cities, forests to absorb CO2,

excessive environmental burden ratio. If this ratio is

forests to supply lumber and paper, etc. and then

1.0 or less, that region can be called environmentally

totaling up the areas for these individual purposes.

sustainable within the scope of the items considered.

The impact on the environment is expressed in terms

After calculating such figures for the variousof “area”. This makes it possible to not only compare

prefectures, Hokkaido is the only one that meets suchthe burden placed on the environment from different

criteria.

factors using the same measure (area), but also to
calculate the total impact by summing up the impact

4. Moving Forward

caused by the various factors. Looking at the global

Recently some local governments have started tototal (average figures) for the middle of the 1980s, ourmake use of the idea of an ecological footprint in theirecological footprint was greater than the area that thecity master plan in order to realize a green city1. Some

Earth provides. We are able to live even though ourdesignated local governments have already started

ecological footprint is greater than the actual area of

trading CO2 emissions rights. In the long run it would

the world because we rely heavily on fossil fuels

be desirable, however, to create a mechanism tocreated in the past and are putting a burden on theachieve a comprehensive and area-wide balance thatenvironment that is accumulating. In extremely roughfocuses on the overall environment, not to undertake

terms, we must change how we live so that our

individual efforts that focus only on carbon. This4

would incorporate an intermediary organization suchon an area level. It is the hope that researchers inas an environment bank and require creating acountries throughout the world are working on solving

cap-and-trade type market for the environmental

these related issues.

carrying capacity of the area based on its ecologicalfootprint. Creating such a system can be expected toReference:
1) Tsuyama City: Master Plan for Urban Planning, 2008. (inJapanese)2) Ujihara,T., Taniguchi,M. and Matsunaka,R.: Interregional
Cap & Trade Program by Using Ecological Footprint, ―National Land Use Planning for Balanced Environment ―,Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan, No.43-3, 2008.
(in Japanese)create incentives to promote compact cities with little
burden on the environment in urban areas and ensurevolume and quality of greenery in rural areas. There
are still problems related to calculating a precise
ecological footprint indicator such as a lack ofconsideration of waste treatment and insufficient data

A Program to Protect Tokyo’s Greenery―Creating a Comprehensive Plan to Secure Greenery
Takao Otsuka
Tokyo Port Terminal Corporation
concept of wind corridors that sea breezes from Tokyo

1. Introduction
In

December

2006,

the

Tokyo

Bay can flow through.

Metropolitan

Government formulated Tokyo’s Big Change: The

However, how does this new greenery compare

Ten-year Plan, which depicts Tokyo’s next stage ofwith the existing greenery that people have nurtured

development. This is the direction that Governor

since the Meiji Era (1864-1912) and includes

Shintaro Ishihara feels Tokyo should move toward inridge-line greenery, trees around residences andthe near term. The plan refers to eliminating the

agricultural land remaining in urban areas andvarious negative legacies created during Tokyo’ssatoyama (semi-natural areas that coexists with agrowth period, and particular focus is placed on

nearby populated area)? Urban sprawl and othergreenery and scenery including the plan’s main goal offactors have resulted in forests shrinking 800 ha andreviving a beautiful Tokyo surrounded by corridors ofagricultural land declining 1,600 ha in Tokyo between

water and greenery.

1997 and 2007. This lost area is about the size of

Minato-ku (20.34 km2).

In particular, the plan calls for forming a networkor greenery stretching from the Umi-no-Mori (SeaIn aerial photographs, the remaining greenery

Forest) built on reclaimed land within the central

looks like a small island in a large sea. Seeing the

breakwater to parks and roadside trees in the center ofgreenery with one’s own eyes, one is reminded of theTokyo and developing 1,000 hectares of new greenery

scenery of Japan of years gone by; it is truly beautiful.

in Tokyo through various efforts such as introducing

This greenery is becoming more important not only inlawns into school yards, building parks, and creating

terms of its sentimental value, but also in various

greenery during redevelopment in Tokyo’s central

scientific aspects including absorbing CO2, acting ascore (within the Central Circular Route) based on thecool islands, catching rainwater, and ensuring

5

land, the local community desires. The final objective

biodiversity.

is to develop actual projects to l ead preservation

During the process of developing the 2010
implementation program for Tokyo’s Big Change: Theefforts.

Ten-year Plan, the importance of not only creating(2) Entities that created the plan

new greenery, but also strategically preserving

The

existing greenery was affirmed, and creating a newmunicipalities (all local governments excludingplan to preserve greenery was ranked as a highTosho)

priority.

(3) Plan period

Tokyo

Metropolitan

Government

and

53

Created and announced in May 2010, theThe plan extends for ten years from 2010 and, as aComprehensive Plan to Secure Greenery assured thegeneral rule, will be revised every 5 years. A revised

importance of this plan and is an attempt to induce

plan will be formulated in about two years to makegreen city planning in Tokyo in the near futureadjustments to the initial plan.

through novel administrative approaches.

(4) Mechanism for examining issues
Opinions were collected and efforts coordinated and2. Outline of the Comprehensive Plan to Secureorganized

Greenerycommittees–Expert Review Committee, Joint Review

2-1 Policy Structure

Committee, and Internal Liaison Committee.

(1) Objectives(5) Public comments

The plan was created to achieve three main objectives.

The prefecture and municipalities accepted comments

The first is to clarify what type of greenery should befrom the public during the proposal stage; 185protected throughout the area and to systematicallyopinions were collected, and some of these were*1

throughasystemofthreereflected in the plan.

secure it since the loss of existing greenery is mainly
occurring on private land. The second objective is toprovide guidelines for seamlessly linking together the

2-2 Details

various efforts, such as building parks and introducing

The plan consists of the following three pillars ingreenery into the city, and determining, at the planningorder to achieve its objectives.

state, what forms of greenery, including that on private(1) Protecting existing greenery

Figure 16Greenery on private land such as that on hills andplanning to one another and to clarify what type ofridge lines, trees around temples and shrines, trees

greenery local communities want, it was decided thataround homes, and agricultural land is unstable. This

the first stage would consist of determining city

greenery is a natural resource that should be passed on

development projects*3 related to urban greenery thatto the future. The greenery was organized based on theare expected to be undertaken over the next 10 years

concept of type, and the locations of the various types

in the 107 zones in Tokyo, and mapping the projects.

of greenery were determined and then mapped (figure(the map was not included in this paper because of its1). For each type, the number of locations and area

size)that should be preserved over the next ten years using(3) New measuresvarious systems such as laws and ordinances were

It is necessary not only to clarify information such as

clarified according to the ability to guarantee its

what locations will be preserved, but also to develop*2

preservation .

new measures to encourage the preservation offorested areas and agricultural land. The following are

As for the matter of raising the ability to guarantee
preservation even if preserving the greenery will takeexamples of these measures.

longer than the plan period, the decision was made to Viewing

greenery in hilly areas that is being

select possible candidate areas and increase theencroached upon as a single park and creating a hilly

strategic nature of the preservation (figure 2).

area super park concept that specifies a preservation(2) Green town planning guidelines

scheme.

In order to link the various measures related to town

 Establishing a committee comprised of related local

governments
Secured Land
Body that
secured theland

Secured land (Level 1)

Secured land (Level 2)

Secured land (Level 3)

Locations

Locations

Locations

Area (ha)for Tama ridge-line greenery

Area (ha)

Tokyo

8

33.32

0

0

0

0

Special zone

19

6.1

2

0.25

0

0

Municipality

42

252.3

4

6.32

1

1

Total

69

291.72

6

6.57

1

1

Body that
secured theland

Secured land (Level 1)

Secured land (Level 2)

Secured land (Level 3)

Locations

Locations

LocationsTokyo

Area (ha)0Special zone

2

0.43

2

0.24

0

0

Municipality

0

0

2

5.68

0

0

Total

2

0.43

4

5.92

0

0

Level 1

71 locations

292.15 ha

Level 210 locations

12.49 haLevel 3

1 locations

1.00 ha

0

0

0

Park
Tokyo

Preservation
areas
Special zone
Municipality
Total

Total

Forested land
Locations

Area (ha)
204

≈ 20

≈ 500

0

to designate areas as special
greeneryspaceconservation

zones, the leading system insupportsystem in

order

to

increase such designations.
 Launching

Agricultural land

14

that remains in Tokyo.

Japan, in addition to the national

Candidate Areas
Body to secure the land

protect the ridge-line greeneryto support municipalities’ efforts

Area (ha)

0

Total

(around 70 km), in order to Establishing a prefectural system

Agricultural area
Area (ha)settingpreservation guidelines, initially

Forested area
Area (ha)and

Locations

Area (ha)0aProtect

Tokyo

Greenery Project in cooperation0

withprivate

funds

and

157

41

22

9

supporting efforts by bodies such

76

224

21

124

≈ 267

≈ 969

43

133

as citizen groups that promotepreservation.

≈ 310 locations ≈ 1,100 ha

 Developing

Figure 2

7

the

Tokyo

Kleingarten (small garden) Project that allows moreexamination. GIS made it possible not only todiverse use of land than community gardens in orderstandardize resource information that has a tendency

to employ and preserve unproductive agricultural

to differ between areas, but also formed a common

land.

foundation so that the prefecture and 53 municipalities

 Examiningasystemofagricultural

could conduct examinations of the same precision.

scenerydevelopment zones that use various methods(3) Making full use of the coordination system andincluding urban planning to preserve land such as

tools made it possible to clarity aspects of the

agricultural land and trees around houses that are

greenery that should be protected such as location andrelatively concentrated in a single area.

area. This was the first time in the history of Tokyo’s
efforts to preserve greenery that it was possible to

3. Distinguishing features and significanceshow the people the policy direction of preservation

When creating the plan, administrative agencies

efforts throughout Tokyo.

adopted new approaches and were very successful.
*1

In this paper greenery refers to agricultural and surviving
wooded areas that have been nurtured on account of their rolein people’s daily lives (ridge-line greenery, trees around houses,
satoyama, etc.)*2
The ability to guarantee preservation was broken down into
three levels.
Level 1: Guaranteed preservation by purchasing the land or
through strong legal restrictions
e.g. special green conservation areas, city planning parks andopen spaces, conservation areas under municipal ordinance,purchase of productive green area, etc.
Level 2: Preservation through restriction on land use andpreferential tax treatment based on laws and regulations
e.g. designated scenic zones, protection forests under theForest Law, public green areas, etc.
Level 3: Preservation through loose regulations such asconcluding agreements with owners and having owners registerland use based on laws and ordinances
e.g. protected trees under local government ordinance,landscape district under the Landscape Act, green spaceagreements, etc.
*3
Parks appearing in the city plan, productive greeneryzones, district plans that designate redevelopment promotion
zones, land readjustment projects, and urban development
projects

The following are these main approaches. (Onlyefforts to protect existing greenery are looked at below
since it is still unclear how successful the green town
planning guidelines will be).
(1) The Joint Review Committee, which wascomprised of members from the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government, 53 municipalities, and one municipality
and village not included in the city plan, waspositioned as an important platform to coordinate thejoint examination of common issues faced by theprefecture, special zones, and municipalities. The
committee raised local governments’ and employees’
awareness of green measures, fostered exchanges of
information, and integrated actions by clarifying goals.
This is a new administrative system to promote broadand cross-sectional coordination on plans that caneasily be assigned to areas and to spread thesepolicies.
(2) The cutting-edge geographic information system(GIS) was an important tool to undertake this8

Nagoya City’s Efforts to Make Effective Useof Urban Regeneration Special Areas
under the Act on Special Measures Concerning
Urban Reconstruction
Kimihiko Aoki
City Planning Department, Residential and City Bureau, Nagoya City

1. Introduction

2. Examples of Urban Regeneration Special Areas

Nagoya City is striving to create a world-class cityThree areas within Nagoya City have been designatedcenter overflowing with vitality, fun, and warmth thatas areas for urgent urban reconstruction: Nagoya

stretches from the area around Nagoya Station to

Station/Fushimi/Sakae area (approximately 348 ha),Sakae. To accomplish this, the city is creating a lively

Nagoya Chikusa/Tsurumai area (approximately 24 ha)urban reconstruction hub that is rich, enjoyable, andand the area around a station on the Aonami line,

international

promotingwhich is operated by the Nagoya Seaside Rapid

reconstruction projects undertaken mainly by the

Railway (approximately 56 ha). Projects in four areas

private sector.

within the Nagoya Station/Fushimi/Sakae area havebyappropriately

Located in areas designated as emergency urban

been highly praised for their contribution to urban

revitalization districts based on the Act on Special

reconstruction in the area, which include expanding

Measures Concerning Urban Reconstruction, whichpedestrian zones by creating quality open spaces,came into effect in June 2002, the hubs are being

promoting urban greenification by (raising) green

developed through various efforts such as adopting

coverage ratio, increasing energy efficiency bycity planning projects for urban regeneration special

introducing district heating and cooling, and otherareas that are in line with the development guidelines

efforts to solve the particular problems of each areaof the particular area.

and make the area more attractive, and the areas havebeen designated as urban regeneration special areas.

The system of urban regeneration special areas
makes it possible to use urban development plans to

As for individual cases, in the Nagoya Station 4

set regulations related to use, floor-area ratio, height,

chome-7 banchi zone (Midland Square), it has been

etc. that supersede existing ones in order to contribute

possible to make intensive, rational, and sound use of

to urban reconstruction and make extremely rational

land and improve the disaster prevention capabilities

and sound use of the land within an area for urgentof the area by concentrating lots and undertaking joint

urban renewal.

renovations when the aging Toyota Building andIn this paper, I discuss not only Nagoya City’s

Mainichi Buildings were renovated, forming anexperience using urban regeneration special areas but

extensive commercial and business hub. In particular,

also its urban regeneration special area guidelines

on privately owned land, the underground pedestriancreated and announced last year to make it easier tozone was expanded and safety improved by creating

use the system.

underground corridors, which can be used as bypasses
for the underground shopping areas and sunken
gardens.
9

In the Nagoya Station 4 chome-27 banchi zone,

banchi zone. For this zone, the goal is to create a

the Mode Gakuen Spiral Tower, which includes arelaxing, but lively urban space by forming not only avocational school and shops on the lower levels, wasregional and international commercial and businessconstructed to make the area more conductive for

hub that is fitting for an area neighboring Nagoya

cultural activities and community interaction. Green

Station, but also a multi-level pedestrian network

areas and open public spaces were also created along

through the joint renovation of various structuresneighboring streets and other locations. In addition,

including the former Nagoya Central Post Office andcongestion at intersections was reduced and pedestrian

the Nagoya Terminal Building located in front ofzones were expanded through various efforts such as

Nagoya Station.

creating pedestrian underground passages that connect

For each of the areas, the plan is to achievelots on the opposite sides of main roads atvarious goals such as creating a relaxing atmosphereintersections.

and richness in the city through numerous efforts

Third, for the Sasashimau-raibu 24 area (tentative

including creating green areas so that the green

name Global Gate), which was approved as an urban

coverage ratio is at least 20% and building anddevelopment project last year, the goal is to create an

introducing district heating and cooling equipment

international reception and exchange hub that will

within the areas.

bustle with not only residents of Nagoya, but also
visitors from other areas of Japan and overseas. The

3. Urban Regeneration Special Area Guidelines

plan calls for concentrating regional and international

Nagoya City is becoming more and more urban as cancommercial and business functions in the area andbe seen by the fact that 93% of the city has been

attracting various facilities such as first-class hotels

designated as urban areas; however, the greenthat are able to hold conventions, creating a new hubcoverage ratio remains low for the overall area atfor international exchanges.

24.8% (as of 2005). In addition, valuable privately
owned forested areas are slowly disappearing due toFinally, there is the Nagoya Station 1 chome-1

Nagoya Chikusa/
Tsurumai Area

Nagoya Station/Fushimi/Sakae Area
Nagoya Station 1 chome-1 banchi Zone

Nagoya Station 4 chome-7 banchi Zone

Aonami line Area
Nagoya Station 4 chome-27 banchi Zone

Sasashimau-raibu 24 Zone●: Urban regeneration special area
Emergency Urban Revitalization Districts and Urban Regeneration Special Areas in
Nagoya City

10

Examples of the Urban Regeneration Special Areas in Nagoya City
Zone

Nagoya Station 4chome-7 banchi

Nagoya Station 4chome-27 banchi

Sasashimau-raibu 24

Nagoya Station 1chome-1 banchi
South

North

Photo orartists
impression

Date ofdecision orchangeFebruary 14, 2003

July 22, 2005

August 25, 2010

Dec. 3, 2010Area

≈ 1.8 ha≈ 0.8 ha≈ 2.4 ha≈ 2.9 haUse

Offices, stores, movie
theater, etc.

Offices, stores, hotel,
etc.

(North) offices, stores,
bus terminal, etc.
(South) offices, stores,
hotel, bus terminal, etc.

Floor
space

≈ 193,900 m2≈ 157,000 m2(North) ≈ 180,000 m2(South) ≈ 264,000 m2

School, stores, etc.

≈ 49,900 m2

Height≈ 247 m(47 aboveground floors
and 6 undergroundfloors)≈ 170 m(36 aboveground floors
and 3 undergroundfloors)≈ 174 m(37 aboveground floors
and 2 undergroundfloors)(North) ≈ 202 m(41 aboveground floors,and 3 undergroundfloors)(South) ≈ 220 m(46 aboveground floors,and 6 undergroundfloors)Max.
floor-area
ratio

1,420%(designated floor-arearatio of 1,000%)

1,350%(designated floor-arearatio of 1,000%)

790%(designated floor-arearatio of 500%)

1,200%(designated floor-arearatio of 1,000%)

strong development pressures. Under these conditions,the suburbs and historical buildings and to promote

the city is working to promote greenification and to

the preservation and improvement of the urban

preserve green areas through numerous efforts

environment for the overall city. In particularly, theincluding building public green areas such as parks,

Nagoya City Urban Regeneration Special Area

adding greenery such as trees to roads, andGuidelines were established in September of last year,

introducing a system of greenification areas where

which clearly show a stance of actively and broadly

owners of private land are required to add greenery.

using urban regeneration special areas to achieve the

As for other issues such as historical buildings, many

above goals when undertaking development projects

were lost not only during the Second World War, whenthat makes use of these special zones such as those inaround 1/4 of the city was reduced to ashes, but also

the city center. This stance is evident in the fact thatduring the subsequent growth of the city.

contributions made to urban reconstruction and theUnder these conditions, a decision was made topreservation and use of assets such as quality green

use urban regeneration special areas as a mechanism

areas and historic building are also considered when

to link the development of the city center to theevaluating urban reconstruction projects.
There have not been any cases in which thispreservation and use of assets such as green areas in11system has been used to evaluate the preservation andregeneration special areas will encourage projects thatuse of green areas and historical buildings outside ofare based on the original ideas of private companies tothe urban regeneration special areas, but setting forth

be examined, and the hope is for the system to be

the basic ideas that underlie the system of urban

actively and broadly used.

Outline of Urban Regeneration Special Area Guidelines
1. Basic concept(1) Based on proposals from businesses
The guidelines are based on urban planning proposals from businesses in order to make the most of theingenuity of private businesses.
(2) Individual evaluations not based on uniform standards
Each proposal from a business is evaluated individually and a comprehensive determination is made of its
necessity and appropriateness
2. Perspective evaluations are made from
(1) conformity to local development guidelines, the city master plan, etc.
(2) consideration of the surrounding environment (wind damage, sound, vibrations, sunlight, greenification,
scenery, etc.)(3) harmony with the city infrastructure (such as plans to appropriately handle traffic)(4) impact on urban reconstruction
Proposals are aggressively evaluated in terms of not only traditional standards such as ensuring effective open
space or building urban facilities, but also their broad benefit for urban reconstruction, their contribution to
improving the functionality of the city, improving the environment, and revitalizing the local economy
Examples of factors to be evaluateda Strengthens the area’s weaknesses such as making it more disaster resistant and conductive for culturalactivities and exchanges
b. Creates facilities such as related public facilities outside the areac. Generates creative urban appeal that makes use of unique characteristics of the aread. Preserves and uses urban assets such as green areas and water front areas in the city and historical buildings.

Evaluation of public
contribution

Loosening regulations on floor-area ratio

Preservation and use

Preservation

Urban green areas, etc.

Land under development in the

Historic buildings in the city

city center(5) Standards such as maximum floor-area ratio
A comprehensive determination is made on standards such as floor-area ratio proposed bybusinesses based on whether it is appropriate for contributing to urban reconstruction(6) Review of urban reconstruction proposals
Guarantee that proposed facilities will be built, related maintenance costs, etc.
(7) Consideration of other opinions such as those of local residents
Appropriate response to parties such as local residents, etc.

12

Creating of Forest in Tokachi
Norihiro KanekiyoCEO, TAKANO LANDSCAPE PLANNING Co., Ltd.

1. Introduction

the securing of an urban environment that people canWritten here are views of forest creation in Tokachi

enjoy in their free time.

including the Douritsu Tokachi Ecology Park and

The concept of the Obihiro forests was put into

Tokachi Thousand-year Forests. The opportunity toaction by Haku Yoshimura, the 5th Mayor of Obihiro.

look back on Obihiro forests was the 35th anniversary

The urban planning theme of the Obihiro Mayor’sof tree planting, which began in 1975.

Comprehensive Plan for 1959 was designated as “A
Modern Park City”, and the upper limit for the size of

2. Obihiro Forests

the city was set at “the ideal size for an urban

2-1 Concept

population in which a government can fulfill its

The Obihiro forests have an area of 406.5 ha, an

responsibilities while maintaining a favorable living

approximate width of 550 m, and a length of 11 km.

environment shall be 200,000.” The land use plan ofThis large-scale park plan was accomplished bythis overall plan contains the stipulation “a green belt

establishing a green belt with the Obihiro forests at its

shall be designated on the outskirts of the urban

center and connecting the Tokachi River and theplanning use area, and shall be maintained as a scenic

Satsunai River, thus enveloping the urban center ofzone for the Obihirokawa riverside”. In this way, the

Obihiro. Controlling the sprawls of residential land

plan encompassed green belt ideas.
The following is an excerpt from “Fusetsu Ujou”,

space into suburbs, the urban areas and agriculturalareas were divided, forming an area that could

which was written by Mayor Yoshimura.

function as a place for interaction between the two and“ … Although it may take 200 years to grow aperforms the functions of suppressing pollution as aprimeval forest, I believe it is in the cooperation

municipal forest, preventing municipal disasters, thebetween citizens--all citizens, from the young to theslight easing of weather and the environment, theelderly, each planting and raising a single tree orpreserving of a living environment for wildlife, andflower--that there is the advancing of forest creationand that the tradition of good citizenship and the pride
of being citizens lies. I may not be a dream if thecenters of towns are connected to the forest in a
network of green and if a green line was further
connected to the Hidaka mountain range, that birds
and squirrels may trace the loops of green and evensettle in the city.…”

2-2 Current Issues and Prospects
Over 30 years have passed since we beganlandscaping. Forests have taken root in various

13locations where it is now possible to see forested

Until the present, the way in which thescenery. With the progress of development in the areas

bureaucracy and citizenry interacted with the forests

used for large events such as citizen’s tree planting,changed in accordance with the stages of forest

there has been a decline in the areas in which suchgrowth. As a result, a wide range of efforts thatevents can take place. This brought about the

involve government, citizens, and businesses, from theconclusion of the citizen’s tree planting event in 2004

Increase the Green Plan to the Evergreen Project, haswith its 30th installment. It has become more difficult

begun to take place in Obihiro.

to guarantee the safety of individuals presiding overtree planting festivals as the trees have grown, leading

3. Tokachi Ecology Park

to an end to the festivals in 2005 with their 15th

The Tokachi Ecology Park is a park of 409.2 ha ininstallment. Thereafter, the focus shifted to a location

total area located on the site of the Tokachi River. The

where citizens can make more everyday andPark stretches across the villages of Otofukecho,

continuous contact with forests by placing an

Makubetsucho, and Ikedacho. Tokaichi Kendoritsu

emphasis on voluntary forestry activities due to small

Koiki Park accounts for 141 ha of the Ecology Park’s

scale tree planting/tree growing efforts and natural

total area. All green space in the Tokachi area isobservation meetings centered on Haguku-mu, whichconnected in the form of dots, lines, and planes into a

opened in 2010 as a headquarters for the growth

network centered on the Tokaichi Kendoritsu Koiki

management and use of Obihiro forests.

Park. It is the aim of this park to become a location

The Obihiro forests are a project that can be said

that is the starting point of a rich environment-a

to be a symbol of Obihiro urban development. Moresymbol of the realization of “Tokachi’s coexistence

citizens developing the feeling of “Nurture the forests

with nature”.

and be nurtured by the forests” and interacting with

Although the Obihiro Forests were conceived to

the forests as part of daily life will surely lead tosurround the urban area of Obihiro, the Tokaichi

attractive urban development and the fostering of a

Ecology Park is located in the middle of the course of

unique regional culture.

the Tokaichi River, and is the main focus of theTokachi’s environment that is located near the Hidaka

With the methodology of urban planning in theforests of Obihiro, it is possible to think in accordancewith the changes in the main ideas of urban planning.
Obihiro forest planning, which began as something led
by the bureaucracy, has grown to encompass thecitizenry with the firming up of modern rural city
concepts, and diverse debates on the subject. During
this timeframe, citizens’ groups have participatedactively in debates, and, in addition to being debatedin assembly, Obihiro forest planning became a topic
for lively debate between the bureaucracy and thecitizenry.

Thereafter,

ObihiroforestCarrying Out Environmental Cultivation Management
Using Natural Powerplanning

established itself among the citizens with tree planting

mountain range, Taisetsuzan mountain group andfestivals and tree cultivation festivals predicated on

Shiranukakyuryo, and is the origin from which thecitizen participation.

great scenery continues and spreads outward.
14

years, and it was a big vision but one that began withthe casual planting of trees. Forests and people alikeare maturing with the passage of time. The Obihiro
forests, which are becoming more forest-like all thetime, are developing into programs to increase green
space in the urban areas, and for the surrounding
towns and villages, Obihiro forests are developing ona large temporal and spatial scale as the Tokachi
Ecology Park and thousand-year forests. In Tokachi,
Creating Commercial Opportunities through Forests
and Art, Forests and Activities, and Forests and Food

where this forest creation which is conducted by many
generations can be keenly felt, it is believed that there
exists the basis for moving ahead with efforts like the

4. Tokachi Thousand-year Forests

Tokachi Ecology Park and thousand-year forests

Due to the fact that local newspapers began to acquire

without resistance.

a large quantity of forests as a carbon offset business,

This forest creation encourages expansion into

this commercial venture took shape out of a desire to

agriculture and forests, fishing and forests, etc. andmake use of the land, people’s increased awareness ofholds the possibility of supporting part of Tokachi’sthe environment, a desire to contribute to society as aimage as a local brand of an environmentallycompany, and as a source of information on Tokachi’s

advanced region.

environmental efforts.
The business plan of “Thousand-year Forests”is aReferences
1) Haku Yoshimura, Fusetsu Ujou, Shinjidaisha, 1973. (inJapanese)2) Haku Yoshimura, Modern Rural Districts for an Ideal
Society, Hokkaido Jichi Kenkyu, No.34, 1971. (in Japanese)
3) Section of Greenery, Urban Construction Group, Obihiro
City, Creating of Forest by Citizen Participation -Regarding
Obihiro Forests-. (in Japanese)4) Mitsugu Suzuki, Study on the Structure of Cooperative
Community Planning in Hokkaido, Bunkyo University
Research Paper, 2007. (in Japanese)

promise to vigilantly guard and partner with theforests over a thousand years, a span longer than ahuman life.

5. The Importance of Forest Creation
The cultivation of the Obihiro forests started with theidea of growing it into forests over a period of 100

Policy Direction of Green City in Korea
SeongYo MUN
Director, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs
1. Implementation Framework

15

Korea is setting "Low Carbon, Green

Three Objectives

Ten Policy Directions

Growth" as a national vision for the
future and implementing relevant

1. Effective mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions

policies to actively address climate

Ⅰ. Mitigation of climate changechange, which is becoming moreand energy independence

2. Reduction of fossil fuel use and enhancement ofenergy independence
3. Strengthened capacity to adapt to climate change

serious everyday. Korea is making
such efforts not only to cope withclimate change and energy crisis, but
to discover a new growth engine for4. Development of green technologies
5. Greening of existing industries, promotion of green

Ⅱ. Creation of new engines forindustry

economic growth

6. Advancement of industrial structure

economic take-off and to improve thequalityofpeople's

lives.

7. Development of structural foundation for green economyToeffectively take on the task of our time,
which is to realize "green growth,"

8. Greening the land and water, creation of green

Ⅲ. Improvement in quality of lifetransport infrastructureand enhancement of

9. Bringing the green revolution into daily life

international standing

10. Becoming an international green growth role model

Korea established the "Presidential
Committee

on

Green

Growthfulfilling the people's demand for pleasant lives. To be(PCGG)" in 2009. The PCGG sets the general policy

specific,

direction and strategies regarding green growth, whichthepolicyincludesdevelopmentofenergy-saving cities, expansion of resource-recycling

forms the basis for the central and local governments

urban infrastructure and creation of eco-friendly urban

to formulate and implement policies. In January 2010,

spaces.

the "Framework
Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth" was enacted

2-1 Development of Energy-saving Cities

to serve as a legal framework for efforts to realize(1) Construction and Management of Eco-friendly

green growth. Based on the Act, national strategy and

Buildings

a five-year action plan have been prepared. National

As of 2008, the building sector accounted for 22.2%

strategy, the top-level national plan regarding greenof total energy consumption in Korea. Therefore, it's

growth, sets the basic policy direction as follows.

all the more important to construct and manage

The Ministries and local governments arebuildings in an eco-friendly way to cut carbon

effectively implementing the five-year action plan,emissions of cities.

which specifies concrete measure according to the

In order to construct eco-friendly buildings,

national strategy, in close collaboration with the

Korea is strengthening the energy standard for new

PCGG.

buildings to construct eco-friendly buildings. It
reinforces the design standards, including insulation

2. Policies on Green City

standards for windows and doors, to reduce heating

Among the ten policy directions, “Greening the land

energy consumption and requires new buildings to be

and water, creation of green transport infrastructure"

fitted with energy-efficient equipment. For existing

carries its importance since it improves the quality ofhomes,

people's lives and national competitiveness whilethegovernment

encourages

voluntary

participation of the private sector and provides more

providing a physical foundation for other green

support for homes to improve energy efficiency. The

growth policies. The policy aims to pursue economic

government is working on a plan to require an energy

growth and environmental protection at the same time,

consumption certificate, which indicates annual
16energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,urban structures that can minimize the traffic demand

for the sale and rental of housing. It also plans toby transforming cities into compact cities with the

expandbuilding

least amount of transport energy consumption andcertification scheme from some new buildings topushing for the mass transit-oriented city development

include existing buildings. The government alsoof urban centers.

theapplication

of

a

green

expands its support for the efforts to increase energy

Also, public transit services continue to beefficiency by providing some costs or low-interest

enhanced with the development of intermodal transfer

loans for existing homes that try to improve theirstations

energy efficiency with partial or complete renovation,

Transport

redevelopment and reconstruction. Furthermore, it

System(BIS).

encourages tenants to save their energy.

Thedeveloped as a cutting-edge futuristic city which

Negotiated Agreement, which establishes annual

combines IT and ecotechnology to provide a wide

targets and promotes energy saving of large public

range

buildings, is now in force. Also, the Carbon Point

information. In U-Eco City, an integrated urban

System, which offers incentives such as gift

management center, which not only integrates thecertificatessavingurban resources and energy but also monitors carbon

performances of buildings like electrical and gas

emissions trend, is established. Smart Grid Network issavings, encourages people to voluntarily participate

also built to realize optimal energy efficiency byin energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction

exchanging information in real-time between utilities

campaigns.

and consumers. Currently, U-City projects are(2) Development of Green City Infrastructure

implemented on a pilot basis in Incheon City and

In addition to construction and management of

Busan City. Also, Korea will make the plan for theenergy-efficient buildings, it's important to cut carbon

Great Train Express(GTX) which is a kind of express

emissions that are generated from the movement ofrailway and has operated airport railway named as

people and vehicles. Accordingly, Korea is creating

AREX. BRT and median bus lane systems, which aredependingontheenergy

and

of

the

establishment

System(ITS)
Moreover,transport,< BRT >

17

Intelligence

BusIntelligenceU-Ecoenvironment< Intermodal Transfer Station >< GTX >

andof

< AREX >

City

and

is

being

welfarenow being operated to improve efficiency of arterialis "Geomdan New City." Geomdan New City is being

road networks and convenience of intermodal

developed as a self-sustaining new city in thetransport, are being gradually expanded.

northwest region of Incheon City and is planned to be(3) Urban Planning for the Creation of Low Carbon,

built until 2016. In an area of 268,000 ㎡ within

Green City

Geomdan New City, which represents 1.5% of the

To realize an energy-saving city, there's a need toentire new city, "Zero Energy Town" is being

consider ways to strengthen the urban infrastructuredeveloped as part of a pilot green city project. The

for a low carbon, green city in advance from the urban"Zero Energy Town" refers to a "zero-carbon housing

planning stage.

complex" that consumes no fossil fuels by introducing

Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Transport and"Passive Houses"(homes equipped with an insulation

Maritime Affairs has implemented the 「 Urban

system, high-efficient doors and windows and a heat

Planning Guideline for the Creation of Low Carbon,

recovery ventilator to save 90% of heating energy)

Green City」since July 2009. The Guideline specifies

together with new and renewable energy sources.

two basic urban planning principles. First, urban

Other than the Zero Energy Town, Geomdan New

planning should be systematic and encompass

City has been developed as an energy-saving city fromdifferent areas such as spatial structures, transport

the planning stage. By making the new city accessible

systems, environmental preservation and management,

to public transit centers by walk or bicycles within 10

energy, parks and green areas to cut greenhouse gas

minutes, Geomdan New City will help increase theemissions and address climate change. Second, urban

modal share of mass transit by facilitating the use ofplanning should reflect policies for the supply and use

bicycles, preserve the ecosystem as it is and achieveof eco-friendly energy sources like solar, wind, tidal

energy independence of public facilities such as

power and other new and renewable energy sources.

schools and government buildings.

Furthermore, the guideline requires urban planning toinclude greenhouse gas emissions survey, future2-2

forecast and reduction strategies. The Ministry has

Infrastructure

formulated standard green city planning models for

The Ministry is implementing policies to create

each city type(large, mid-sized and small cities) andresource-recycling cities by recycling used resources

provided them for local governments along with theand making effective use of rainfall.

urban planning guidelines. In 2010, some local

waste collecting facilities that gather domestic wastes

governments established green city plans on a pilot

through pipelines instead of picking trucks have beenbasis and green urban planning is expected to bebuilt in some metropolitan areas such as Songdo,

expanded to local governments around the country inIncheon, and will be constructed in new cities.

consideration of local conditions.

Rainfall management system, which has been

(4) Case of Green City: Geondan New City

introduced in some areas to increase the efficiency of

Existing cities are gradually being reshaped aswater cycle management, are now being applied toenergy-saving urban structures by reflecting green

wider areas. Moreover, integrated energy management

urban planning elements, while new cities are being

systemdesignated as pilot project areas where green urban

comprehensively manage various energy sources suchplanning elements are actively implemented.

as solar energy, geothermal energy and biomass etc.

One of the most representative pilot project areas

18

Expansion

will

be

of

Resource-recycling

developed

and

Urban

Automatic

operatedto2-3 Creation of Eco-friendly Urban Spaces

been damaged as time has passed. As a result, theEfforts are also underway to create more eco-friendly

government continues to move ahead with restoring

urban spaces. River restoration projects continue to bedamaged areas in development-restricted areas toimplemented by creating wetlands and planting water

forests and parks.

purification plants in brooks or urban streams. Urban
parks, where city residents can wind down after work,

3. Future Challenges

will be increased continuously. Today, some urban

As stated above, Korea is now transforming thepark projects are not carried out due to financial

energy-intensive and resources-intensive cities that areconditions of local governments and even if

heavily dependent on fossil fuels into energy-saving,

implemented, they have to go through complicatedresource-recycling cities that mainly rely on new andprocesses. To resolve this matter, the government

renewable energy. However, there may be somerevised “the Act on Urban Parks and Greenbelts, etc”

obstacles to implement green city policies as planned.

to add more flexibility to urban park development

Green city policies require broad consensus andsystems, including easing regulations regarding

cooperation between the public and the private sectors

creation of urban parks, and to attract privatein the process of policy implementation. Government

investment by allowing profit-making facilities inorganization should work closely together to create aparks developed by the private sector.

synergy effect between policies and provide necessary

Along with urban parks, development-restrictedfunding. International cooperation through exchangearea has served as the lung of the metropolitan areas inof information and experts etc. is also important. If we

Korea. Development-restricted areas, which have been

are able to wisely cope with the challenges before us

designated and preserved since the 1970's, areand continuously move ahead, then the ”Low Carbon,

doughnut-shaped areas around the metropolitan areas

Green City” that brings humans, nature, technology inand offer a great space for people to take a break.

harmony will be realized in the near future.

However, since development-restricted areas were
designated to curb reckless urban sprawl, they ended
up including non-green areas and some areas have19