A study on ways to implement waterfront enhancement projects
properly reflecting the views of local residents[Abstract]
In urban areas, people's interest in the sea and seashores is waning owing to theecono mically oriented use of seashores, and, as a consequence, seashore culture is declining.
Conventional waterfront projects tended to create things according to particular values(mainly of suppliers), and the waterfronts thus created are not always satisfactory to the
public. In order to make the waterfront of Tokyo Bay more attractive, therefore, it isnecessary to let a wide range of stakeholders take active part in waterfront projects in ahorizontal cooperation relationship.

In this study, with the aim of making the Tokyo Bay waterfront more attractive throughcooperation among diverse stakeholders, a goal was set and ways to capture the views of thelocal residents in the Tokyo Bay area were studied. Then, a tool (information sharin gthrough a Web site named "UNGAN") for enabling diverse entities to share views andfeelings by sharing information so that even more effective efforts can be made throughhorizontal cooperation was created, and the Tokyo Bay Rediscovery and Enhancement
Program was drawn up as a way to form a waterfront enhancement project by using the Website.

1.Study items

Figure 1 shows the study flow (study items).
P r o s e i de a s f or b a si c s t ud y me t ho d s f o r ma k i n g To k y o Ba y

more attractive

Hearing survey
o f N P O s, e t c

Set goal for making Tokyo Bay more attractive

Identify me ans of capturing the views of local residents
in Tokyo Bay area

Propose measures to form waterfront enhancement projec t
to make Tokyo Bay more attractive

Figure 1. Study flow

2.Study method(1) Collecting and collate information

Information concerning seaside development projects (including overseas projects) wascollected and collated to gain basic information that can be used to make Tokyo Bay more
attractive. The information thus obtained was studied to consider principles and goals fo r
efforts to make the Tokyo Bay waterfront more attractive. Information on port, river or otherinfrastructure projects for which consensus building was achieved through cooperation
between the government and citizens' groups or local residents was also collected toconsider ways to make a waterfront more attractive, such as the allocation of tasks to be
performed in sharing information. Furthermore, information concerning examples ofprojects that are providing new ways of spending time at seashores, projects that have madewaterfronts and coastal waters more attractive by deregulation or other means, and examplesof systems for keeping a waterfront attractive was collected and collated.

(2) Hearing survey

A hearing survey on sea-, seashore- and canal-related needs was conducted of NPOs andother organizations that are actively engaged in such activities as seashore environmental
learning, community building involving the hinterland areas and water recreation such as
canoeing in the sea, seashores or canals in the Tokyo Bay area.

(3) Meetings of the Committee on Creation of Attractive Tokyo Bay Waterfront

The Co mmittee on Creation of Attractive Tokyo Bay Waterfront (chaired by Prof. Takeshi
Kitazawa, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo) composed ofacademic experts, experts on tourism, community planning, ports and harbors, etc., andadministrators (port authority personnel) was formed to obtain guidance on ways to makeTokyo Bay more attractive. As an organization subordinate to the committee, the Space
Working Group (chaired by Mr. Nobuharu Su zuki, Associate Professor, Yokohama City
University) was formed to deliberate on concrete measures to be taken and tasks to be
performed to make Tokyo Bay more attractive.

3. Study results

3-1

The goal of making Tokyo Bay more attractive

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in waterfront evaluation, people may be poorly aware of thefact that the number of facilities that can be used by the public, such as public accessfacilities and green open spaces, is increasing.
Se a s h o re a c c e s s i bi l i t y c o m pa re d w i t h 1 0 y e a r s ag o
（㎞）
100.0

(Note: Questionnaire
survey of people who said
"went to the seashore")

Increase of about 48 km in about 10 years
85.9

75.0
55.4
50.0

38.0

0.0

August 2000 survey(2,017 respondents)

22.3

50.8

October 1994 survey(1,858 respondents)

21.0

54.5

7.3

17.1

47.8

9.6

17.3

80%

90%

February 1986 survey(1,432 respondents)

25.0

1993

2000

Became more difficult
No change
Don't know
Became easier

2004

25.3

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

7.6

60%

70%

19.3

100%

Source: Survey on Seashore Needs, Cabinet Public Relations Office

F i g u r e 2 . C h a n g e s i n l e n g t h o f To k y o B a y p u b l i caccess facilities over time(1986, 1994 and 2000 surveys)

Fi g u r e 3 . Se a s h o r e a c c e s si b i l i t y c o m p a r e d w i t h 1 0
years ago

One factor contributing to this, it is thought, is the fact that as Tokyo Bay has become
increasingly more artificial in the nature-poor Tokyo area, people became gradually
estranged from the bay. As a result, various events, play, industries and maritime
transportation that used to be part of the local seascape or shorescape have been rapidly lost.
It is necessary, therefore, to pay attention to the sea (Tokyo Bay) that exists in front of oureyes and the sea (Tokyo Bay) that has been deeply involved with the fostering of the cultureof the Tokyo area and create a waterfront that is capable, as an integral part of the living
environ ment, of meeting the public's needs. This makes it necessary to start at a more basic
level. In other words, basically it is necessary for all people concerned to jointly define thekind of seashore they wish to have and participate in seashore-based activities so that people
find a seashore-based life style enjoyable, the seashore becomes closer to an ideal form ofwaterfront, and they become aware of the fact that the seashore is their shared property.

In view of the above, the goal of the efforts to make Tokyo Bay more attractive has been
defined as "establishing a life style and creating a waterfront culture so that people
become aware of the fact that the waterfront of Tokyo Bay is their shared property andact accordingly."

3-2

Proposed system for information sharing designed to achieve the goal of making Tokyo

Bay more attractive(1) Basic concept

In order to enhance the attractiveness of Tokyo Bay, it is important that people haveopportunities to go to the seashore and experience its atmosphere and pleasures so that they
can discover the charm and pleasantness of the seashore through experience and various
events. As shown in Figure 4, the process in which people notice the charm and problems of
the seashore through experience so that by participating in various efforts, they discover
their own ways of enjoying seashore experience and come to think that they want toparticipate again is important.

Interest

Information
Participating
seriously

Information

Participating to
see what happens

Inviting

Information

Repeaters(increase･in
participants)

Learning while enjo yin g; learning about the present
state(gaining first-hand knowledge from experience)

Becoming a leader

Noticing the fact that the act of participating
itself is enjo yable; noticing problems

Main management

Acting on one's own; becoming aware of one's
own responsibility
Vi r t u o u scycle

Accumulating
Enhancing the ability
experience
to solve problems
Information onother efforts
Participating as a leader
Participating as repeater
Informationfrom experts
A v a r i e t y o f e f f o r t s t o m a k e To k y o B a y m o r e a t t r a c t i v e(horizontal cooperation)

Giving momentum to efforts

Participation ofa variety ofentities

Making more in-depth efforts

M a k i n g To k y o B a y m o r e a t t r a c t i v e = > E n j o y i n g p r o c e s s
and result(Continuing efforts over a long period of time while enjo ying)

Figure 4. Basic concept (system) for achieving the goal

(2) How the system works

If a system for sharing information is to be developed in order to realize the process
mentioned above, it is necessary to take into consideration the fact that unlike other types o f
infrastructure such as roads and rivers, the sea and ports are not the kind of space familiar toordinary people as shown in Figure 5.

When trying to organize efforts involving the public for a sea- or port-related project, before
moving on to the consensus building stage, we need to take time at the stage where theawareness of a particular problem such as a problem concerning the present state of the sea
or a port is to be shared by many people.

P r oj e c t r el a t e d t o a ro a d , ri v e r, e t c

It is familiar to people because
they see it often in daily life
P e o p l e u s e i t f r e q u e n t l y.

There are many wishes and requests.
People are highly interested in it.
Etc.

People are actively involvedin projects

Project related to the sea or a port

It is an unfamiliar place thatis not closely related to daily life.
There are relatively few
opportunities to take action inconnection with a seashore or
have experience related to aseashore.

There are not many wishes orrequests, and public interest is
not high.

Public interest in projects is notvery high.

It is difficult to makea seashore attractive
unless problems at
this stage are solved.

In order to capture theopinions of local residents
a c c u r a t e l y, i t i s i m p o r t a n t
to establish a s yst em for
information sharing tocreate opportunities todevelop interest in theseashore or take action.

Consensus building efforts involving the public are made at the stages ofconceptualization, development planning and project planning.

Project implementation

Fi g u r e 5. Di ff e r e nc e s f r o m t he c o n se n s u s bu i l di n g pr oc e s s f o r o t he r t y pe s o f i n f r a st r u c t ur e

It is important, therefore, to (provide opportunities to) share information among various
people and entities. It is believed that such opportunities will serve as the most basic meansof stimulating public interest in and concern about seashores and promoting cooperation
among various entities so that people can share thoughts and feelings and cooperate with agreater number of people by enjoying seashore experience themselves and working to makeseashores even more attractive.

In the area of information sharing, a growing number of local govern ments are using
community-based SNS (social networking service) and blogs by involving the public inediting and disseminating locally generated information for the purpose of revitalizing the
local community and pro moting public involvement in local administration.

In view of these trends, it is thought that methods using the Internet (Web sites), whichenables its users to exchange views and information without heeding where and when they
are sent or received and to exchange information and views with many unspecified
individuals, are very useful. A system for Web-site-based information sharing, therefore,
has been developed.

【 A d v a【メリット①】
ntage 1】
Easy access for anyone
誰もがアクセスしやすい∥
P e o p l e c a n p a r t i c∥
i p a t e e a s i l y.
I n f o r m a t i o n参加が容易
can be shared.

情報共有が可能【 Advantage 2】

U s e o f We b t o p r o m o t e
P参加と情報共有を促す
articipation and
WEBの活用information sharing

I n f o r 【メリット②】
mation can be collected,
情報の収集・更新・追加を容u p d a t e d a n d a d d e d e a s i l y.
易に行うことができる∥
Up-to-date ∥information can always
be provided.
常に最新情報が提供可能

D e s k t o p1
デスクトップS サーバ
erver【 A d v【メリット⑤】
antage 5】
P a r t 参加の楽しさがある
icipation is enjoyable.
∥∥
H u m a n 輪が広がる
networking【メリット④】 【 A d v a n t a g e 4 】
A large amount of information can be handled at
膨大な情報量に対してコスト
reasonable cost.
がやすい∥∥Great appeal
訴求力が高い【Advantage 3】【メリット③】
L他のWEBなどとのリンクを
i n k i n g t o o t h e r We b s i t e s
i s e a s y.
容易に行うことができる∥∥o r k c a n b e
The netw
e ークが広がxpanded るネットワ

D e s k t o p1
デスクトップ
Sサーバ
erver

F i g u r e 6 . A d v a n t a g e s o f We b - s i t e - b a s e d i n f o r m a t i o n s h a r i n g(3) Setting up the Tokyo Bay portal site "UNGAN"

UNGAN, a Tokyo Bay portal site, was set up with the aim of collecting a variety of
information related to Tokyo Bay mainly from people interested in the seashore and canals
in the Tokyo Bay area and sharing and exchanging various information including theinformation thus collected among users (Figure 7).
A major feature of this Web site is that four search methods, namely, "search by keyword,""search by category," "search by news" and "search by map information," are available sothat users can easily search for and view information from various angles.

1. Search by word

Listingof search
results

2. Search by category

Detailed
information

3. Search by map

Wa i Wa i M a p

Area Information Map

4. UNGAN News

5. Login
Registration of
information

6. Membership registration

Registrationf r o m We b s i t e
Membershipregistration flow

Open theverification page
to complete
registration
procedure

Registration
notice mail issent to registerede-mail address
Sent to server
Automatic reply【 Information to be registered】
E-mail address * (non-freemail address)
NicknameName*/sex/age/self introduction*:

Clicking on the
URL in mail text

required

Fi g u r e 7 . Se t t i n g u p t h e To k y o B a y p o r t a l s i t e " U N G A N "3-3

Proposed measures using the Tokyo Bay portal site

The Tokyo Bay portal site "UNGAN" mentioned above is a tool designed to generate "seeds"
and "needs" and create an attractive waterfront by involving many and diverse people andsharing information so that the public can take part in the efforts to create an attractive
waterfront.
In order to achieve that goal, measures to be taken by using the Tokyo Bay portal site,
including the method of cooperation among related administrative organizations and otheradministrative measures, have been proposed, and the Tokyo Bay Rediscovery andEnhancement Program has been drawn up as an action plan for achieving the goal of forming
a waterfront enhancement project designed to make Tokyo Bay more attractive.

C o m m e n t s o n w i s h e s , p r o b l e m s , e t c . , c o n c e r n i n g a t t r a c t i v e s p o t s p o s t e d a t t h e To k y o B a y p o r t a l s i t e

Coordination related to the posted information regarding a project candidate• "Potential candidate" refers to measuresthat could be implemented to solve
problems or realize wishes.

• Each entity views the posted information and discusses andc o o r d i n a t e a b o u t a p r o j e c t c a n d i d a t e i f n e c e s s a r y.

Coordination from posting of information about a project candidate to project study (adopted as a project)• The related entities deliberate to evaluate the needs indicatedby the posted information about a project candidate and decide
whether to adopt the candidate as a project.
(If a project study is deemed to be necessary)
Study for project implementation (establishment of local council, etc.)• Establishment of local council to deliberate on the necessity ofthe project, needs, etc.

Concept development and planning; study on deregulation• A local council, etc., deliberates on project details(e.g., scheme, plans) for community consensus building.

Implementation of structural and nonstructural measures

Example of public access【 Structural measures】• A bridge over a canal links
promenades isolated by the canal.

Example of a project for creating
an attractive waterfront spot
【 Structural measures】• A floating restaurant built by a
private-sector developer to createa lively waterfront
Site: A floating
restaurant in
Te n n o z u , To k y o

S i t e : Ta k a h a ma C a n a l , To k yo P o r t(promenades on both sides of the canal;
the left side-hand side in the photo
being no longer isolated)【 Nonstructural measures】• Development of a waterfront
pronemade scheme through aworkshop held jointly by the local
community and the government【 Nonstructural measures】• Deregulation of water surface occupancy
for the "Canal Renaissance" project in
To k y o

F i g u r e 8 . P r o p o s e d m e a su r e s u s i n g t h e To k y o B a y p o r t a l s i t e