## [Kaneyama-cho, Yamagata Prefecture: “Townscape Development Centennial Movement”]

The Townscape Development Centennial Movement in Kaneyama, a town based on a long history of forestry, is aimed at creating a beautiful living environment that harmonizes with nature throughout the town.

The townscape hinges on the Kaneyama-type housing, a kind of building constructed with a traditional method using locally-produced Kaneyama cedar. It features a gable roof of dark brown or black colors, plastered walls of white or natural colors, and exterior walls made of cedar. Since 1978, the Kaneyama municipal government has organized a home building contest every year to commend “high-quality buildings” that fit the townscape (the contest is now organized by the Kaneyama chamber of commerce

and industry under contract from the municipal government). Based on the experience in this contest, the municipal government in 1984 launched a local housing plan titled “HOPE Plan,” which was designed to put forward a standard Kaneyama-type housing and show the future direction for townscape development efforts. It established the “Kaneyama Townscape Ordinance” in 1986, setting out building standards and offering subsidies to new housing construction that meet these standards.

Traditional Kaneyama-type buildings

Modern Kaneyama-type buildings

The Kaneyama municipal government sought the involvement of the architects locally associated with their communities from the very beginning. It also organized an overseas study tour for residents and town hall staff between 1992 and 2002 as part of its continued efforts to raise the awareness of the residents.

Now, more and more residents are involved in townscape development, with Kaneyama-type housing accounting for some 80% of the annual housing starts. The spread of Kaneyama-type housing, in turn, is leading to improved skills of local builders, more young people willing to become carpenters, the promotion of local forestry, and encouragement to the local growers of flowering trees and shrubs.

The Kaneyama municipal government has also taken a series of steps to support the townscape developing initiative. Among such steps are: restoring a traditional clay-walled building as a townscape development museum “Kurashi-Kan”; restoring an old post office building of modern architecture as a community center “Interaction Salon Post”; paving alleys so as to look like gravel walks; and developing parks and squares.

A cluster of Kaneyama-type buildings

The beautiful townscape that is thus being developed is attracting more visitors. This in turn is nurturing in residents a sense of confidence and attachment to the town.

Such confidence and attachment is reflected in “Taniguchi: Shiki no

Gakko," a facility which allows visitors to have hands-on experience in a rural environment; "Sugisawa: Kyosei no Mura," a space for exchanges between city dwellers and locals; and "Sanchoku Group Yumeichi," a group of residents who process and sell locally-produced vegetables and edible wild plants.

Similar initiatives by other municipalities (titles only):

Ueno city, Mie Prefecture: Town-making capitalizing on a historical townscape

Kyoto ciy, Kyoto Prefecture: Preserving traditional Kyomachiya houses, including handing them down to future generations