*Information in this article is as of the event on January 27, 2024.
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2024
Venue: Daiwa House Group MIRAI KACHI KYOSO Center（Kotokurie）(Nara City, Nara Prefecture)
Suburban housing complexes were developed in large numbers during the period of rapid economic growth in Japan, and calculations put their number at approximately 3,000 nationwide. We also developed Neopolis large-scale detached housing complexes in 61 locations throughout Japan, and are currently engaged in the community revitalization. ■Conference on the Revitalization of Suburban Housing Complexes Organized by: Foundation for Senior Citizens’ Housing and Senior Housing Association Co-organized by: Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. Endorsed by: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Supported by: Lifelong Health and Wellness Association and Smart Wellness Community ■Neopolis Summit 2024 - Toward the Revitalization of Neopolis Organized by: Neopolis Summit Executive Committee Supported by: Lifelong Health and Wellness Association and Smart Wellness Community
Housing complexes provide a good living environment, but many challenges are surfacing with the passage of time since their development. To find clues to the solution, we held a Housing Complex Revitalization Symposium, where residents of these complexes and experts from industry, government, academia and communities brought together their experiences and knowledge and explored the future through dialogue.
(Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (representative), residents of each housing complex, Foundation for Senior Citizens’ Housing, and Senior Housing Association)
Opening Remarks
Toshio Kato, President, Foundation for Senior Citizens’ Housing
On behalf of the organizers, Mr. Kato expressed his hope that the event would contribute to the revitalization of suburban housing complexes into ones where people of all generations can continue residing in good health and with peace of mind.
Remarks by Guest of Honor
Shigenori Kenzaka, Director-General, Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
There are approximately 3,000 housing complexes nationwide. They are home to about 15% of the country’s population. With many housing complexes built 50 years ago, there are concerns about the challenges they face, including aging residents, deteriorating buildings, and vacant homes. Mr. Kenzaka expressed his willingness to solve these problems through promoting cooperation among the government, experts, and the industry.
Lecture 1
Revitalization of Housing ComplexesShogo Yadomoto, Deputy Director-General (Housing Bureau), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
In addition to the already noted issues, Mr. Yadomoto raised another problem of a rise in vacant homes even without the supply of new housing, in light of the current market status. He expressed his belief that the revitalization of housing complexes requires the participation of various players. He also reported that discussions are currently underway to relax building regulations to allow commercial facilities to be built within complexes and that the bureau is supporting community revitalization through a comprehensive residential urban development project. He expressed a hope for a chemical reaction to be induced by discussions and cooperation among diverse people, including new players such as startup companies.
Lecture 2
Toward Residents-driven Housing Complex Revitalization:
Case Study of a Community Development CouncilToshio Ootsuki, Professor, Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Mr. Ootsuki has long served as a member of the judging committee for the Housing Townscape Contest organized by the Housing Production Promotion Foundation, awarded prizes to 100 housing complexes and conducted several times as many interviews. Based on this experience, he introduced specific examples of solutions to issues common to housing complexes: the composition and management of residents' organizations and cooperation with outside organizations and talents. He also explained about the background and efforts of the revitalization project in Mejirodai, Hachioji City, in which he is involved.
Lecture 3
Daiwa House Group's "Our Hopes for the Future"Livness Town Business Promotion Department, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Chika Sakuta, General Manager, East Japan Management Group
Sakuta introduced the Livness Town Project, a revitalization project for creating new appeal of suburban housing complexes promoted by the Company, along with efforts being made at eight Neopolis locations. She shared the fact that employees make frequent trips to, or sometimes even relocate to each Neopolis complex, and thus have built relationships of trust with the residents. Her “hope for the future" is to co-create a sustainable and developing community together with local residents.
Closing Remarks
Koji Harano, Managing Executive Officer, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Harano expressed his appreciation for the many suggestions for revitalizing housing complexes provided in the lectures. Sharing the knowledge gained in the event, he concluded with his aspiration to revitalize suburban housing complexes in Japan through cooperation among the company, the government, and experts, with residents playing a leading role in the future.
■Program
■Facilitator
Hideki Koizumi, Professor, Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
■Presenters
Neopolis residents
■Commentators
Toshio Ootsuki, Professor, Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Akiko Ito, Former Commissioner, Consumer Affairs Agency
Keiichi Yoshii, Representative Director and President, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Opening Remarks
Keiichi Yoshii, Representative Director and President, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
When he was appointed to Representative Director and President in 2017, he asked himself whether the Company had been fulfilling the twelfth SDG, which is “Responsible Consumption and Production,” and decided on the revitalization of communities. After six years, we reached this day on which like-minded people came together. Commenting that the day would be remembered forever, he pledged to continue taking on the challenge of promoting sustainable community development in cooperation with residents and the government. He also reiterated our request to residents for their understanding and support of our employees traveling to Neopolis complexes and working hard on the front lines to be of help to society.
Tokorozawa Neopolis (Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture)
Tokorozawa Neopolis has seen progress in aging population and faces such problems as a lack of transportation means after giving up driving, shortages of leaders for community association activities, and a rise in vacant houses. Meanwhile, new activities are sprouting. A vacant house where the grandparents of the university student who spoke at the event used to live has been transformed into a child-rearing house named Kotori. A so-called third place for children is also being planned for students who are not attending school. There is a shift from shuttered vacant houses to open places to stay. The residents expressed their desire to grow the town into a sustainable and growing community by incorporating new ideas and mixing all generations of people together.
Kamigo Neopolis (Sakae district of Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)
It is challenging for residents to revitalize their community on their own. With this in mind, the residents approached Daiwa House Industry and are advancing activities through collaboration among industry, government, academia and community. They have been involved in a series of progressive initiatives, such as Noshichiri Terrace, a community center combined with a convenience store. The initiative won the 2023 Housing Townscape Contest, and the Minister of State for Regional Revitalization recently toured the complex and exchanged opinions with them. The residents also presented a town management concept, in which they become town creators to bring about revenue to the community.
Kaga Matsugaoka Housing Complex (Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
About 50 years have passed since the first residents moved into the complex. While various activities have been carried out mainly by the neighborhood association, they started a resident council in 2021 to exchange opinions on community development with Daiwa House Industry. For its 46th summer festival in 2023, the residents received the cooperation of Daiwa House Industry. The environment surrounding the town is also about to change. The complex is within walking distance from Kagaonsen Station, which is connected to the Hokuriku Shinkansen line that was extended in March 2024. They shared their expectations for future new developments now that the area has changed from a suburban residential area to a one near the train station.
Toyosato Neopolis (Tsu City, Mie Prefecture)
This Neopolis is implementing a wide range of community activities such as get-together sessions, and disaster prevention and welfare activities, through cooperation among various organizations, centering on the neighborhood association. They operate welfare buses as a transport to and from supermarkets, hospitals, and train stations to help vulnerable members of the community. An emergency network was also established in the event of missing children. Activities had been undertaken with the residents’ independent mindset opting for self-supporting life, but the leaders of the activities have aged with a decline of younger people. The residents expressed their hope for Daiwa House Industry's cooperation in passing on the community activities to the next generation.
Hannan Neopolis (Kanan, Minamikawachi district of Osaka Prefecture)
Fifty-two years have passed since the sale of dwellings began. The pandemic put a stop to most community events, coupled with a decrease in the number of people acting as leaders in community activities. Together with Daiwa House Industry, residents have been thinking about the future of the community for four years. Junior high and high school students have participated in opinion exchange meetings on community development, and a nearby university also helped with research. After holding seminars and family meet-up events, they revived a local festival. They spoke about the festival that they revamped to make it fit with the times, such as inviting food trucks. They also expressed the will to incorporate good ideas of other Neopolis complexes.
Hankyu-kita Neopolis (Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture)
With access to five train stations, this town is popular among the younger generation. The percentage of elderly is gradually declining, and it is the only town within the city where the population of children is increasing. With a mutual aid system based on community currency, a local information magazine and other efforts, this community boasts a 80% membership rate of the residents' association, and is acting with the first priority given to maintaining that ratio. Recently they revised rules adopted to parks in the complex, lifting some prohibitions to make it easier for the residents to use the parks. They shared their efforts to make the parks beloved by the community, where people can enjoy ball games and fireworks, which are currently underway with reference to a survey of the current situation and workshops co-hosted by the community, the government, and a university.
Midorigaoka and Aoyama Neopolis (Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Although the percentage of elderly is high, the number of households with children is increasing due to the proximity to train stations and commercial facilities. The residents are enthusiastically involved in activities such as Takahashi’s House, a community facility that utilizes a vacant house, as well as workshops on continuing living within the community. As a community revitalization policy to update the town, an intermediary corporation was established to introduce new services. They also introduced housing development that are being considered to allow residents to continue living in the community. At the pre-summit, which was held independently prior to the main summit, it was reported that issues faced by the town and the role of the intermediary corporation had been clarified.
Hideki Koizumi, Professor,
Department of Urban Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Toshio Ootsuki, Professor,
Department of Architecture,
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Akiko Ito,
Former Commissioner, Consumer Affairs Agency
Keiichi Yoshii,
Representative Director and President, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Utilizing the Past 50 Years for the Next 100 Years
Along with Neopolis complex residents, the three experts and Keiichi Yoshii, Representative Director and President of Daiwa House Industry took the stage for a panel discussion to share their opinions and impressions of the presentations from each housing complex. Mr. Ootsuki felt that we are now at a point where we need to think about how to expand the activities that have continued for 50 years since the development of the complexes into the next 100 years, taking advantage of the history, wisdom, networks, and other local resources that have been cultivated by each housing complex. Ms. Ito remarked that in community management, it is essential to foster cooperation among residents, who are the main players, and industry, government, academia and communities. Yoshii expressed renewed confidence in Daiwa House Group's direction and its commitment to continuing its revitalization efforts.
Challenges and Prospects Common to Suburban Housing Complexes
Residents then presented their opinions and impressions of the lectures and presentations from other housing complexes. What emerged were challenges common to these towns: The aging of residents, a lack of leaders in community activities, the rise in vacant houses, inconvenience of shopping for elderly people who have returned their driver licenses, and difficulty in attracting younger people without driver licenses to these areas.
These problems can be possibly resolved through digitization, ride-sharing and other new developments. Some commented that, to that end, residents should unite with a sense of camaraderie and take full advantage of the collaboration with industry, government, and academia. Residents from housing complexes undertaking vigorous activities emphasized the importance of participation by diverse people, as they had witnessed broader social networks possessed by women and the flexibility of children's ideas.
Many participants at the venue nodded in agreement to an opinion underlining the urgent need to pass the baton to the next generation. One of the speakers, a high school student, talked about his interest in community development as influenced by his parents. The facilitator Mr. Koizumi offered an insight into how experiences of involving in community activities as a child can lead to participating in community development as they grow up.
Yoshii believes that the most important point in solving the issues is to create attractive towns appealing to younger generations. He said that he is encouraging employees in Neopolis complexes to bring back closed kindergartens, nursery schools, elementary schools or junior high schools in the town, even just one class. He thanked residents of Neopolis complexes and delivered a powerful message that we will continue our efforts until the communities are fully revitalized.
A New Step Toward the Future of Neopolis
Finally, Mr. Koizumi proposed a declaration statement to share the unique efforts and initiatives of each housing complex and to mobilize the power of the communities. The Neopolis Summit 2024 Declaration was adopted with applause from the audience.
In our community development,
Residents' Roundtable
After the summit, a roundtable discussion was held among the residents of each housing complex and Daiwa House Industry executives and employees. A question-and-answer session was held regarding the concept and initiatives for revitalization, and opinions were exchanged about the future vision of communities. The day coincided with the mountain burning festival of Mt. Wakakusa, a traditional event that heralds early spring in the ancient capital of Nara. From the terrace of Kotokurie, we watched the flames scorching the night sky and fireworks lighting up the sky.
COCOLAN Arrangement Experience
We grow Daiwa House Industry's original miniature orchids COCOLAN at a facility in Midorigaoka and Aoyama Neopolis, Hyogo Prefecture, jointly with members of the community as workers. The venue welcomed the guests with a wall of COCOLAN orchids, and applicants enjoyed the arrangements.
Neopolis History Exhibit
We exhibited panels showing the long history of the 61 Neopolis complexes, along with pamphlets distributed when they went on sale. Visitors to the venue eagerly viewed the nostalgic photos and documents.
Interaction with Residents
At the dinner party to thank visitors from all over Japan, we saw many Daiwa House Industry employees, who commute to or live in Neopolis, fitting in very well with the residents and chatting with them as acquaintances and neighbors.
The Housing Complex Revitalization Symposium, where residents representing Neopolis complexes came together for the first time, is not a goal but a waypoint. Viewing today as a new starting point, the Daiwa House Group will continue to take on the challenge of revitalizing communities together with the residents.
*Information in this article is as of the event on January 27, 2024.