2025 Activity Report vol.32:Yokohama City University

From March 1 to March 8, 2026, Yokohama City University (YCU) hosted a program under the JST Sakura Science Program, welcoming one professor and seven students from the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), Taiwan. The program was organized under the theme “Learning Environmental and Urban Policies and Urban Waterfront Regeneration in Port Cities.” YCU students also participated in the program, which combined lectures, site visits, and walking tours in Yokohama, Tokyo, and Kamakura.

This program was designed in connection with a workshop held at NUK in September of the previous year. It was structured as a continuation of the issues addressed by students participating in YCU's Overseas Urban Studies Fieldwork program. Through comparative perspectives between Yokohama and Kaohsiung, participants deepened their understanding of urban sustainability challenges in port cities.

One of the central components of the program focused on urban regeneration and decarbonization initiatives in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama. Activities were conducted based at the YCU Minato Mirai Satellite Campus and consisted of lectures combined with on-site visits.

During the lectures, participants learned about Yokohama City's decarbonization policies and environmental initiatives in the port area. The Minato Mirai 21 district has been selected as a “Decarbonization Leading Area” under a national initiative organized by the Ministry of the Environment. Participants also visited the district heating and cooling plant operated by Minato Mirai 21 District Heating & Cooling Co., Ltd. In addition, they learned about the Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) plan for the Port of Yokohama, including initiatives such as next-generation marine fuel supply systems and the utilization of offshore wind power. These diverse measures attracted strong interest from the participants.

In the field of urban regeneration, participants studied the urban design strategies implemented by Yokohama City since the 1970s in districts such as Kannai, Minato Mirai 21, and Yamate through lectures and walking tours. By walking through the pedestrian networks themselves, students experienced how sustainability goals and pedestrian-oriented planning principles have been embedded in the city's urban planning from the early stages. Participants also showed strong interest in the incentive-based planning system used in Yokohama, in which developers receive incentives in exchange for preserving historic structures and providing publicly accessible open spaces. This approach stimulated discussion from the perspective of institutional comparisons with Taiwan.

As an example of community-based urban regeneration, participants visited the Koganecho district, where cultural and artistic initiatives have played a key role in area revitalization. The Suzuki Laboratory has been involved in this effort for many years. Participants learned how spaces beneath elevated railway tracks—once associated with safety and social issues—were gradually transformed into a creative cultural hub through collaboration among local government, artists, and community residents. The participants were particularly interested in how the project emphasized not only physical environmental improvements but also the rebuilding of social connections and local identity.

Participants also experienced a demonstration of a participatory urban design tool that enables residents and planners to share ideas in real time on a digital platform using VR-based visualization. This led to active discussions on the potential applicability of such tools in Taiwan.

In Tokyo, participants visited the Otemachi–Marunouchi–Yurakucho (OMY) district with the cooperation of Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., where they observed area management initiatives. The proactive role played by private companies and local associations in improving public spaces and pedestrian environments provided a valuable comparison with urban governance and management in Kaohsiung.

On the final day, participants visited Kamakura and explored historic sites such as Hokokuji Temple and the Great Buddha of Kamakura. The preservation of natural landscapes and historical environments within their cultural context left a strong impression on participants, demonstrating how urban planning, cultural heritage conservation, and sustainability can intersect in diverse ways.

Throughout the eight-day program, students from YCU and NUK actively engaged in learning at various sites and enriched their discussions by sharing diverse perspectives. The connections built between students and faculty members of both universities through this program are expected to serve as a foundation for future collaborative research and continued academic exchange.

Yokohama City University and the National University of Kaohsiung will continue to strengthen their international collaboration in education and research toward the development of sustainable cities.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to JST and to all the organizations, companies, and individuals who supported the implementation of this program.