## Re-establishing safe and secure cities through cooperation between crime-prevention and community development activities (Hatsuko/Hinode-machi district in Yokohama City)

In the Hatsuko/Hinode-machi district, the number of small-scale illegal shops such as prostitution providers increased to about 250 shops (in 2004), resulting in the deterioration of the environment, causing clean businesses and residents to move out, which became a serious problem and led to a crackdown by the police in 2005.

The Hatsuko/Hinode-machi Environment Cleansing Promotion Committee mainly organized with local residents and elementary PTA members has been coordinating with the police and local government to reform the town to be safe and sound without illegal businesses. Yokohama City supports these community development activities by renting those shops for promoting the restoration of the town with culture/art. Local residents organize events and workshops to communicate the revitalization activities inside and outside the community. Furthermore, the Committee guidelines have been defined for the committee and the local government organization to discuss new construction plans inside the district for the purpose of the development of a healthy and lively town.

The Committee won the "Prime Minister Award for Contributors involved in Safe and Secure Community Development" for their activities in 2009.

## “Sign board removal campaign after crackdown”

“Renovation into a cultural/art shop”

### 3. Developing a clean urban environment

## Restoring urban environment infrastructures in large metropolitan areas

In response to the urban revitalization project, "Restoring urban environment infrastructures in large metropolitan areas" (the 3rd approval) and an item under this project, "Preserving natural environments as a whole", the natural environments in the Metropolitan and Kinki areas have been reexamined to extract valuable harmonious nature sites remaining there as "Natural environments to be preserved." (Metropolitan Area: 2002, Kinki Area: 2005)

In order to preserve "Natural environment" to be preserved and to establish a network of water and greenery surrounding these environments, the "Grand Design for Urban Environment Infrastructures" has been formulated (Metropolitan Area: 2004, Kinki Area: 2006) to promote the preservation, revitalization and creation of natural environments that serve as urban environment infrastructure.

## Restoring the Lake Biwa Yodo River basin area

In order to pass down the Lake Biwa/Yodo River basin area to the next generation in a healthy state, relevant organizations in the basin area work together based on the principal concept "Water ties people/nature/culture" to realize "the revitalization of the basin/metropolitan areas that take advantage of their history/culture and co-exist with nature." In concrete terms, waterside promenades for pedestrians at the waterside/waterfront and coves/pools to preserve/revitalize the habitat environment of natural life living near water shall be developed.

The quality of the water and bed shall also be improved to revitalize the ecosystem in Lake Biwa.

## Greenery serving as the Urban environment infrastructure (Koajiro, the Miura Peninsula)

## The Yodo River (Osaka City)

### 2. Encouraging the Private Sector to Carry out Urban Development

(1) Urban development carried out by the private sector in the urgent development regions of urban revitalization

Based on the “Act on Special Measures concerning Urban Reconstruction”, up to the end of March 2010, 65 districts were designated as “urgent development regions of urban revitalization” that require planning on urgent development as an urban revitalization base, in ordinance-designated or prefectural capital cities including Tokyo and Osaka. Currently, various private sector urban development projects are continuing in every region.