Sustainability of Science City Tsukuba: From the viewpoint of cognitive–cultural capitalism

Abstract

This study examined the sustainable growth of post-suburban cities based on the cognitive-cultural capital economy. The case of Tsukuba, located in the Tokyo suburb, is suitable for examining an important aspect of social contexts that has been overlooked by conventional cognitive capitalism. Since 2000, Tsukuba has experienced a continuous outflow of research institutes and their associated high-level human resources. As a result, factories and logistics facilities have been relocated to the former research institute sites, and the share of wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and transportation services has increased. The findings suggested that the restructuring of the Tokyo metropolitan area had opened up local employment opportunities in Tsukuba and strengthened the centrality of the urban system in the suburbs. The city's success in sustaining its growth as a cognitive-cultural capitalist hub resulted from its ability to leverage the local potential of the suburbs. The Tsukuba case highlights the importance of recognizing the potential of suburban areas as well as the need for a comprehensive approach that considers the diverse interests of different population. Tsukuba's experience offers lessons for other urban centers seeking to balance economic growth with social and environmental sustainability.