Course title
9M4610001
Urban and Community Design

 KUWATA Hitoshi

SHIMURA Hideaki

MAEDA Hidetoshi

HONDA Kumiko
Purpose of class
To understand Japanese urban planning and design, and overview architecture and built environment of Japanese cities.
Course content
This course provides comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Japanese urban planning and design along with overviewing architecture and built environment of Japanese cities. Each class discusses theoretical and practical aspects of planning, zoning, and design making special reference to their relationships with urban changes and sustainable development. Major topics include zoning system, district planning and urban redevelopment and regeneration with history of architecture and urbanism. The course also examines comparative analysis of urban planning and design in selected countries in the world.

* This course is for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture or related field seeking a professional education in urban and regional planning (see Prerequisites).
Goals and objectives
  1. To be able to explain the essential concept of Japanese urban planning and design
  2. To be able to explain urban planning and design in selected countries in the world
  3. To be able to recognize and explain the characteristics of Japanese urban planning and design in comparing with other countries
  4. To be able to explain some famous projects of urban design in Japan
Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

 Participation Presentation Total.
1. 10% 10% 20%
2. 10% 10% 20%
3. 10% 10% 20%
4. 10% 10% 20%
5. 10% 10% 20%
Total. 50% 50% -
Language
English
Class schedule

 Class schedule HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) Amount of Time Required
1． Honda1 Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
2． Honda2 Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
3． Honda3 Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
4． Honda4 Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
5． History of Japanese urban planning Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
6． Urban planning and land use system in Japan 1: Structure of urban planning system Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
7． Urban planning and land use system in Japan 2: Land use zones and Building Standard Law Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
8． History of city planning of Tokyo Materials will be distributed in the class 190minutes
9． Lecture and Discussion of Community Design Understanding Japanese history, Pre-reading the textbook 190minutes
10． Reading the textbook
Writing report
Textbook: Japanese Machizukuri and Community Design, Shigeru Satoh, Routledge, 2020 		Reading the textbook again, Self walking in Tsukishima 190minutes
11． Fieldwork in Tsukishima
Discussion of Community Design 		Review related topics, Self walking in Tsukishima 190minutes
12． Japanese practice of urban design 1 Collect related information 190minutes
13． Japanese practice of urban design 2 Collect related information 190minutes
14． Japanese practice of urban design 3 Collect related information 190minutes
Total. - - 2660minutes
Evaluation method and criteria
Each student is examined due to all coursework including reports and presentations with participation to class and adequate knowledge and understanding, which requires 60 in 100 points to pass. Recording key terms in your notes in accordance with the flow of the lecture will be considered a 60% comprehension level.
Feedback on exams, assignments, etc.
ways of feedback specific contents about "Other"
Feedback in the class
Textbooks and reference materials
Recommended readings
1. The Making of Urban Japan, Andre Sorensen, RoutledgeCurzon
2. Planning Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
3. Learning from Japanese City: Looking East in Urban Design, Barrie Shelton, Routledge
4. The Hidden Order: Tokyo Through the Twentieth Century, Yoshinobu Ashihara
5. The Aesthetic Townscape, Yoshinobu Ashihara
6. Nurturing Dreams: Collected Essays on Architecture and the City, Fumihiko Maki, MIT Press
7. Japanese Machizukuri and Community Engagement, Shigeru Satoh, Routledge, 2020
Prerequisites
This course is for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture or related field seeking a professional education in urban and regional planning. Request for exception for undergraduates will be taken into consideration only if the student finished at least 3 years of university studies in architecture program.
Office hours and How to contact professors for questions
  • By appointment
Regionally-oriented
Regionally-oriented course
Development of social and professional independence
  • Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge
  • Course that cultivates a basic interpersonal skills
Active-learning course
More than one class is interactive
Course by professor with work experience
Work experience Work experience and relevance to the course content if applicable
Applicable Given by professors with town planning practice
Education related SDGs:the Sustainable Development Goals
  • 11.SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
  • 17.PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Last modified : Mon Mar 16 04:02:05 JST 2026