At the start of 2024, we spoke to Mr. Koizumi, representative director and professor at the University of Tokyo, and Mr. Onishi, director and chairman of the Shibuya Ward Federation of Shopping Associations, about Future Design Shibuya 's current location and where it should aim to be, taking into account its past progress. I asked you.
—— First of all,looking back on your past activities, are there any instances where you were able to feel the significance of Future Design Shibuya (hereinafter referred to as FDS)?
Koizumi: There are several projects, but one is the Creative Culture City Project. Amidst the issue of Shibuya's cultural facilities becoming less likely to remain due to urban development and rising land prices, a concrete result of FDS is that a system is being created to successfully preserve them. I think it is.
Another thing is that we were able to respond very flexibly when we needed emergency response during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, we were able to quickly launch "Virtual Shibuya," we were able to support Shibuya's small businesses through crowdfunding, and we collaborated with the Shibuya Ward Board of Education to provide online education. I think we were able to quickly implement new initiatives as a reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, such as what we were able to do in the first place.
In addition, "SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK" (SIW), which has been held every year, is gradually becoming more well-known, with many people speaking on stage, and practical initiatives are also emerging from it. I think SIW is growing into a place that successfully expresses the value of the city of Shibuya and the people who gather there.
Onishi: We are currently in the middle of a major construction project in front of Shibuya Station that happens once every 100 years, but in the past when it came to town planning, people involved in the development of buildings and spaces tended to have individual discussions. I think. However, FDS has stood up as a position that can listen to voices across the board, including local shopping districts and residents, and has been able to proceed with city development together with various companies and organizations in Shibuya. I think that is very significant.
Even during the coronavirus pandemic, as Mr. Koizumi said, you were able to communicate with people from various fields related to Shibuya. I also think that things like this can continue to change in a positive way.
I think that from the perspective of a shopping district, I can do more to convey the voices of people living to FDS, and that is something that makes me glad to be involved in FDS.
--Speaking of changes, has the role of FDS that you had in mind at the time of its establishment changed over time and experience?
Koizumi: First of all, let's talk about our initial assumptions...Shibuya Ward has always been engaged in urban development that values streets with various characteristics, not just around the station, but throughout Shibuya Ward as a whole. Streets are diverse, and Shibuya is not only a commercial area, but also a residential area, with urban areas like Jingumae and relaxing areas like Sasazuka, and has a diverse population. One of the great things about Shibuya is that people can gather there. Rather than having the government directly coordinate and proceed with Shibuya's urban development, by intervening an intermediary organization like FDS, the government can be repositioned as a player. This allows people from diverse positions to form a level relationship. I think FDS's number one mission was to explore new ways for cities and Shibuya to be by implementing such co-creative projects.
In that sense, I think we have been able to explore this to some extent by working together with companies, the ward, and people in the shopping district.
Koizumi: How has the role of FDS changed since then? Or rather, this may be an issue for the future, but of course, as Mr. Onishi said, we also have relationships with local people and people in shopping districts. That's not to say that there aren't any, but I feel that we need to take a more co-creative approach with these people and carry out projects that can give something back to everyone.
After all, building relationships with local people means taking time to build relationships of trust, and then continually working together to think about a better way for the community and taking concrete steps toward that goal. However, it is difficult to simply take the same approach as with companies. It's not that FDS isn't still playing a role in this area, but I think we need to add more.
——So, from a relatively short-term perspective, in 2024, what will FDS need now?
Onishi: With the corona virus over, the number of inbound visitors to Shibuya in 2023 has increased significantly. It has also surpassed Shinjuku and Ginza as the most visited destination in Tokyo, and this trend is likely to continue in 2024. Currently, we have a large number of tourists coming to visit us, so it is important to accept them properly and make sure they are satisfied. It would be great if an organization like FDS could take the lead and take action to properly convey the pioneering nature of Shibuya and the surprises unique to Shibuya.
I think it's often the case that something happening in a city can only be done when the city is in good spirits. Shibuya is currently attracting a lot of attention in a good way, so I hope FDS can come up with bold ideas and actions without fear of failure.
Koizumi: That's a very important point. Of course, I think it is important for FDS to take a leadership role from that aspect as well, but from a slightly different perspective, while valuing the locality of Shibuya, we also want to create a cutting-edge city of the future, a sustainable city. I feel that it is necessary to attack from both sides, exploring the state of cities from a global perspective. It would be great if we could engage in activities that consider issues at the neighborhood level from both sides, taking into account issues at the global level. I understand what you're talking about from a global citizen perspective in the abstract, but from the perspective of the lives of people living in the area, they live with the uniqueness of the place called Shibuya, and by making use of that uniqueness, for example, It would be great if FDS could coordinate efforts to effectively deal with issues such as global warming, decarbonization, and the declining birthrate and aging population.
While valuing local charm and the individuality of the people who gather in Shibuya, we look to global issues and explore the intersection of both. I hope this is a year in which we can once again begin efforts to explore a new way for Shibuya to be and a new urban image by mixing extremely big issues with local individuality.
