News Releases
2011

* Information contained in this news release is current as of its date of announcement. Be aware that information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Kashiwanoha Campus–an Ongoing Collaboration in Town Creation between Government, Private-enterprise and Academia
Designated by the Japanese Government as a Region for Developing Environmental Future Cities as a Key Element of Japan's New Growth Strategy
-Comprehensive Government Support for Creation of Smart Cities, Cities of Health and Longevity, and Cities of New Industry Creation-

December 22, 2011
Kashiwa City, the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
Smart City Planning, Inc., Urban Design Center Kashiwa-no-ha, TX Entrepreneur Partners

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. announced today that a joint project for the development of an “Environmental City for the Future” at Kashiwa City with five other collaborators received approval from the prime minister of Japan on December 22, 2011. The collaborators include the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, Smart City Planning, Inc., Urban Development Center Kashiwa-no-ha (UDCK), and TX Entrepreneur Partners. The approval covers development of the entire Kashiwa City area, which is centered around Kashiwanoha Campus.

The “Environmental Future City” system was created by the Japanese government as a strategy for new long-term growth. Under the system, the government will provide financial assistance to designated areas and enact special regulatory measures. The goal is to promote the development of advanced cities that will lead the world in tackling problems related to the environment and population aging. Kashiwa City is one of 11 areas throughout Japan that have been designated as Environmental Future Cities.

Under the concept “New Style for the Next,” Mitsui Fudosan and its collaborators aim to realize a city at Kashiwanoha Campus that presents the world with model solutions for the increasingly complex challenges facing modern society. The theme for this Environmental Future City is autonomous urban management based on a partnership between the public, private and academic spheres. The project brings together new initiatives, essential regulatory easing and tax provisions, and financial support to create a 3-way model solution for social issues. Specifically, as a “smart city,” it helps tackle environment and energy-related issues; as a “city of health and longevity,” it is designed to offer solutions for an aging population; and as a “city of new industry creation,” it is a model for sustainable urban management and revitalization of Japan’s economy.

As a smart city, Kashiwanoha Campus aims to build a disaster-resistant community that operates autonomously to alleviate local environment and energy issues. Key initiatives for achieving this include local generation and storage of natural and unused energy, sharing of electricity between districts, and the residents’ participation in energy conservation activities through making energy consumption visible.

Initiatives toward creating a city of health and longevity include the establishment of a Total Healthcare Station providing comprehensive services for disease prevention and maintaining independence. The center offers local elderly residents rehabilitation, oral care, nutritional guidance, and home-visiting services. Other programs run by the center include a training course for the more energetic seniors, which also offers them a way to contribute to regional health services as “Resident Health Supporters.” Through these initiatives, the center aims to create a community that can autonomously support its members to achieve vibrant day-to-day living.

In line with its role as a city of new industry creation, the Kashiwanoha Campus project offers comprehensive support to ventures launched by universities and research institutes. In addition, an area management organization based on local rules will work to realize a vibrant urban space where people in the local area can themselves find opportunities to create new industries and employment.

As the partnership between government, private sector enterprise, and academia continues to make steady progress, Mitsui Fudosan and its partners will ramp up these initiatives to promote Kashiwanoha Campus city as a model for the “New Style for the Next” throughout Japan, Asia, and the world.