Japanese Cities Research Articles

German Theatre and Intercultural Cinema: A Study of the Japanese Film Adaptations of Gerhart Hauptmann’s Plays

In the 1920s Westernization and modernism characterized the cultural life of big Japanese cities, and the cinema quickly became the main entertainment of the urban masses. In this decade studios began to shoot movies following the cinematic techniques and narrative styles of European and American cinema, and increased production of film adaptations of Western literature works popular at that time. This paper focuses on the adaptations of German literature works, specifically of Gerhart Hauptmann plays, produced in Japan during the 1920s. While those films have been lost, stills and reviews of film magazines published at the time of screening have been archived. The study draws on these materials and examines the intertextual and intercultural relations between the films and the literary works. It provides a brief overview on the reception of German literature in Japan, compares the plays and films analysing the permutations in narratological elements, and offers insights on how cultural, political, and social context influenced the directors’ adaptation process.

Use of Mean Kinetic Temperature for Pharmaceuticals in Japan and Stability Monitoring in the 21st Century.

The guidelines of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), which was established in 1990 to streamline and standardize drug-approval review standards across Japan, the United States, and Europe. The ICH guidelines were established approximately 30 years ago, and, since then, temperatures have risen owing to global warming. Therefore, I verified whether the ICH guidelines correspond to the latest climate by using the Arrhenius equation, which is the basis for the ICH guidelines. This study used an excerpt of the test conditions described in the ICH guidelines to calculate the mean kinetic temperature (MKT) for major Japanese cities based on temperature data from 1991 to 2020 (measured by the Japan Meteorological Agency). The study confirmed that the temperature conditions prescribed by the ICH guidelines for long-term storage tests were satisfied (see Fig.1). Additionally, as drugs can be exposed to temperatures outside the specified range during distribution from the manufacturer to the final customer, data logs/loggers were utilized to calculate the MKT using the temperature history during transportation and storage.

Testing a frailty prevention program for older men during COVID-19: A 2-year mixed-methods pilot study.

Frailty is a syndrome related to declining functioning attributed to aging. As a reversible, often improved condition, preventive measures for frailty can be effective. This study aimed to evaluate a frailty prevention program for older men comprising face-to-face meetings and an original social mobile application. We also examined the effect of COVID-19-associated social isolation on the implementation of this program. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study featuring a single group before and after comparison of 11 man participants, ≥65 years, living in Japanese cities with a spouse or relatives. Program outcome measures included frailty, loneliness, grip strength, step count and mental health status. Process evaluation considered the experience of participants through a semi-structured interview. The intervention period included an interval of self-isolation owing to the spread of COVID-19. Among the outcomes, grip strength decreased after intervention. No significant negative changes were observed in other items. Themes emerging from participant experiences with the program included 'Cooperation with researchers and contributing to research', 'Greater awareness of health', 'Interest in and experience of "newness"', 'Hesitation over active engagement', 'Casual ties with members' and 'Relationships that do not breach personal boundaries'. Although the COVID-19 pandemic overlapped with the intervention, participants maintained their mental health. The program was a novel, stimulating experience for older men and demonstrated the usefulness of information and communication technology in supporting their social activities. As a community health nursing initiative for older people, we propose activities that combine group and online support. Frailty prevention programs for older men must contain content that stimulates their interests, such as 'health' and 'newness'.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN MAJOR CITIES OF JAPAN

The article seeks to identify the features of creative industries in Japanese cities with a population over 1 million people. Since there is no universal definition of creative industries in Japan and no officially adopted classification, we analyzed and aggregated various sources of information to develop a classification of creative industries, which takes into account specific features of Japanese culture and traditions. The analysis of creative industries in the largest cities has revealed that the advanced creative industry, i. e. “IT and computer services”, is the most developed creative sector in Japan. The most widely spread traditional industries include “crafts and applied arts” and “architecture”. For all 12 cities included in the analysis we calculated specialization coefficients, i.e. the ratio of the share of creative organizations and employed in the creative industries in a city to the corresponding shares of the industry in the country, and built petal diagrams for all creative industries. As a result, we have obtained an understanding about creative profiles of all largest Japanese cities. We applied a comparative-geographical method to identify territorial differences in the development of creative industries in Japanese cities, and a cartographic method to reveal the territorial structure of creative industries at the national level. The study has shown that the creative industries are unevenly distributed over the country and the territorial structure of creative industries in Japan is monocentric with hyperconcentration in Tokyo, the “creative hub” of the whole country, which is intended to become a creative center of Asia. Our study revealed that as the city’s population decreases, the number of creative organizations and people employed in creative industries is declining quite steadily. The progress of the creative sector is an important component of the “Cool Japan” national policy, which views Japanese traditions and cultural heritage as innovations for economic growth and the development of creative industries. Depending on the number of found creative industries we identified first-, second-, and third-order “creative cores” which have a potential to become creative centers in their regions.

Exploring Urban Flood Policy Trends Using a Socio-Hydrological Approach—Case Studies from Japanese Cities

Most industrialized nations have attempted to control floods through civil engineering technologies. However, these measures have failed in the face of immense natural forces. Through allomorph analysis and expert interviews, this study examined the situation of implementing urban flood rules in major Japanese cities. The river canal in the Tokyo region is mostly maintained through infrastructure, and Tokyo has a diverse network of systems linked by rivers, canals, and drainage channels, which demonstrates its dominance in structural and civil engineering flood management. In Osaka Prefecture, flood risk management is an ongoing process built on a structural engineering foundation, and local governments continue to examine and update new policies to handle the risks and difficulties produced by ever-changing flood catastrophes. To enhance public education and awareness, local administrations in the Toyama and Chiba Prefectures are implementing programs to educate locals about flood hazards and preparation. To summarize, public engagement is an important component of flood risk mitigation and management in Japanese communities. Governments may help communities become more resilient and prepared in the face of floods by involving local residents, institutionalizing public education and awareness, and building volunteer networks. This is the conclusion reached as a result of socio-hydrological intervention.

Designing the Night: Ishikawa Hideaki and Shopping Districts in Nagoya, Japan, 1920–1933

From the 1920s onwards, nights in Japanese industrial cities became increasingly resplendent and bright. This was attributed not only to an expanding urban economy, but also to the emergence of shopping districts, called shōtengai, within which small independent stores united and organised according to neighbourhood. These stores collectively participated in the installation of novel architectural elements: display windows, glass cases, and electric billboards, popularised by the concurrent, nationwide movement of commercial art — shōgyō bijutsu. The case of Nagoya indicated that formation of shōtengai and the shōgyō bijutsu movement affected each other, both promoted by calls for the modernisation of retailing and retail design. This article explicates the logic behind city planner Ishikawa Hideaki’s endeavours to create peoples’ spaces for ease and relaxation in Nagoya amid the ongoing rationalisation of small independent stores’ businesses — in shōtengai and by shōgyō bijutsu. These led him to conceptualise his notable methodology, which he called ‘City Planning for the Night’. This was a strategy to create the formula by which the essential brilliance and liveliness of recreational nightlife in shōtengai were systematically created through integration of the design and management of small independent stores and the shōtengai themselves. Ishikawa’s City Planning for the Night methodology encapsulated his commitment to enhancing the emerging cultural role of shōtengai. While urban quarters, called sakariba — referring to entertainment districts — historically comprised theatres and teahouses surrounding temples and shrines, Ishikawa’s work served to define and design shōtengai as the modern iteration of sakariba.

Molecular Diversity of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Neighboring Japanese Cities.

Human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSVs) are divided into subgroups A and B, which are further divided based on the nucleotide sequence of the second hypervariable region (HVR) of the attachment glycoprotein (G) gene. Understanding the molecular diversity of HRSV before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can provide insights into the effects of the pandemic on HRSV dissemination and guide vaccine development. Here, we analyzed HRSVs isolated in Fukushima Prefecture from September 2017 to December 2021. Specimens from pediatric patients were collected at two medical institutions in neighboring cities. A phylogenetic tree based on the second HVR nucleotide sequences was constructed using the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method. HRSV-A (ON1 genotype) and HRSV-B (BA9 genotype) were detected in 183 and 108 specimens, respectively. There were differences in the number of HRSV strains within clusters prevalent at the same time between the two hospitals. The genetic characteristics of HRSVs in 2021 after the COVID-19 outbreak were similar to those in 2019. HRSVs within a cluster may circulate within a region for several years, causing an epidemic cycle. Our findings add to the existing knowledge of the molecular epidemiology of HRSV in Japan. IMPORTANCE Understanding the molecular diversity of human respiratory syncytial viruses during pandemics caused by different viruses can provide insights that can guide public health decisions and vaccine development.

Aesthetic Values in Contemporary Daqi-zhou Ceramucs

The current research deals with an analytical study of the ceramic works of one of the most important Japanese cities in the ceramics industry, which is the city (Dachi-Cho), which is characterized by a special and unique style from the rest of the other Japanese cities, as it uses special techniques for its potters and the families to which they belong, such as the technique of grafting and neriage. And printing graphics on ceramic pots. These and other techniques have spread in various countries of Asia and Europe, all the way to America, and transformations and revolutions have begun in these techniques until they have reached the point of absurdity. With all this scientific and technological development, the city (Dachi-Chu) remained committed to And preserving the rules of its cultural and social identity in the design and implementation of ceramic works, as these works show the features and characteristics of the folklore and cultural heritage that the city of (Dachi-Zhou) has preserved until now.

Challenges in Achieving 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Mitigation Options—Insights from a Citizen-Participatory Household Experiment in Japan

Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of lifestyle changes in achieving climate change targets. However, implementing substantial changes in people’s lifestyles is challenging due to the varying availability of goods and services and the influence of the surrounding environment. To address this challenge and promote low-carbon and decarbonised lifestyles on a societal scale, a two-week household experiment was conducted in four representative Japanese cities (Kyoto, Yokohama, Kitakyushu, and Kagoshima). The experiment was based on 65 carbon reduction/mitigation options proposed in previous studies. A total of 84 participants participated in the household experiments: 29 in Kyoto, 22 in Yokohama, 12 in Kitakyushu, and 21 in Kagoshima. Due to constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, implementation was monitored through a ‘household experiment diary’. The household experiments examined the status of implementation of each option and assessed the potential for improvement over a short period. Furthermore, the study identified barriers, enabling contexts and proposed support measures for implementing household mitigation actions. This study also provided policy implications for co-creating decarbonised lifestyles.

Changes in the use of color in Japanese cities

AbstractThis study examines how the use of color in the Japanese urban landscape has changed over time and what the future holds. The colors of contemporary Japanese cities are not beautiful, but it is said that they were harmonious and beautiful in the Edo period (1603–1868). In the 1850s, as the country opened up to the outside world, Western‐style architecture was introduced and emerged side by side with Japanese architecture. As economic growth took precedence in the 20th century, there was a lack of awareness of the city's public ownership and the appearance of buildings. The attempt to achieve industrial standards and rapid urbanization were also cited as reasons for the absence of harmony in the built environment. Additionally, many outdoor advertisements appeared. The lack of effective regulations on outdoor advertising is one factor that has heavily affected the contemporary Japanese cityscape. The “Landscape Act,” which went into effect in 2004, aims to regulate landscape color use in present‐day Japan. This law allows local governments to enact regulations for urban landscape color use primarily by setting the upper limit for color saturation in terms of Munsell Chroma. It is questionable whether this will really lead to the creation of more unique cityscapes. Training in color in architecture, urban objects, and infrastructure should be compulsory as part of civic education, and more time should be devoted to the subject of color in architects' educational programs to create beautiful cities in the future. Students of architecture need time to think about the idea that the exterior of a building is part of the urban landscape, to consider the importance of color, and to study color harmony.

Comparative Analysis of the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) Effect Based on the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) Classification Scheme for Two Japanese Cities, Hiroshima, and Sapporo

The Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification system is used in this study to analyze the impacts of urban morphology on a surface urban heat island (SUHI). Our study involved a comparative analysis of SUHI effects in two Japanese cities, Sapporo and Hiroshima, between 2000 to 2022. We used geographical-information-system (GIS) mapping techniques to measure temporal LST changes using Landsat 7 and 8 images during the summer’s hottest month (August) and classified the study area into LCZ classes using The World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) method with Google Earth Pro. The urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) is used to examine each LCZ’s thermal comfort level, and the SUHI heat spots (HS) in each LCZ classes are identified. The research findings indicate that the mean LST in Sapporo only experienced a 0.5 °C increase over the time, while the mean LST increased by 1.8 °C in Hiroshima City between 2000 and 2022. In 2000, open low-rise (LCZ 6) areas in Sapporo were the hottest, but by 2022, heavy industry (LCZ 10) became the hottest. In Hiroshima, compact mid-rise (LCZ 2) areas were the hottest in 2000, but by 2022, heavy-industry areas took the lead. The study found that LCZ 10, LCZ 8, LCZ E, and LCZ 3 areas in both Dfa and Cfa climate classifications had unfavorable UTFVI conditions. This was attributed to factors such as a high concentration of heat-absorbing materials, impervious surfaces, and limited green spaces. The majority of the SUHI HS and areas with the highest surface temperatures were situated near industrial zones and large low-rise urban forms in both cities. The study offers valuable insights into the potential long-term effects of various urban forms on the SUHI phenomenon.

Historical geographies of Japanese colonial urbanism

AbstractWhile historical geographers contributed to colonial projects as surveyors, explorers and map‐makers, since the 1990s they have contributed to the critical analysis of the imaginary and material geographies of empire. However, as the only example of Asian‐led colonialism, the study of Japanese colonialism has not received anywhere near the same degree of scholarly attention as western colonialism, especially in the English‐speaking literature. This study summarizes the historical geographies on both Japanese colonialism and colonial cities in Japanese Empire, arguing the vulnerable status of Japanese colonial cities in postcolonial urbanism, and concludes with a discussion of the particularities of Japanese colonialism. It argues that there is plenty of space for geographical research in the Japanese colonial context. Japan's colonial cities have special characteristics and should receive more attention in post‐colonial urbanism as it in line with the urban scholar's call for ordinary cities in global south. It is hoped that this review can be a complete summary of relevant research and will provide useful references for future geographers to comparatively research Japanese colonialism.

Pasts of the Present

In light of today’s global boom in landmark architecture, urban megaprojects and reconstructions of cultural heritage buildings, this paper analyses two large-scale reconstruction projects at iconic historical locations in Japan: the Heijō Palace in Nara and Dejima in Nagasaki. Since the 1990s, the two projects have recreated long-lost built environments, gradually transforming the sites, turning them into museums and exhibition spaces and giving rise to thorough reform of the surrounding urban fabric. In this paper I trace the involved agents’ motivations to engage in historical reconstruction from early-phase experimental efforts to legitimise the sites’ protected status to present-day politico-economic mobilisations of important historical locations to boost city attraction values. In this way, I link these two unfolding projects in Nara and Nagasaki to issues of urban boosterism, heritage production and the facilitation and commodification of tourist experiences of past realities. Approaching the reconstructions as contemporary heritage in traditional guise, the paper argues that both sites revolve materially, spatially and thematically around the master-metaphors of flow, growth and intercultural connectivity that characterise the present age. Elucidating processes of authentication and intersections of ideological and economic interests in and around the two sites, the paper asks in what ways Japanese cities exploit lost iconic localities and reconstructed heritage under post-industrial conditions marked by globalisation and intense cultural-economic competition.

Evaluation of Urban Health Efficiency in Japanese Cities Using Network Data Envelopment Analysis

Urban health efficiency is influenced by both urban planning decisions and the functioning of the public health system. However, there is currently a lack of effective methods to simultaneously examine urban planning and public health when assessing urban health efficiency. This study proposes a two-stage network data envelopment analysis (DEA) model for evaluating urban health efficiency. The urban planning and public health sectors act as interconnected stages where the public facilities and living quality are mediating variables. The urban health efficiencies of 303 Japanese cities are examined using the proposed model, showing that most Japanese cities still have room for urban planning improvement with pure technical efficiency ranging between 0.7 and 0.9. At the same time, most public health sectors of Japanese cities reach pure technical efficiencies larger than 0.95 but are limited by the scale efficiency. Further analysis points out that public health sectors are in decreasing-return-to-scale, meaning that excessive urban scale adversely affects urban health efficiency. Furthermore, cities that joined the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC) performed better on average, suggesting that information sharing and national and international networking can boost urban health. The study shows that the proposed two-stage network DEA model can be applied to analyze urban health efficiency and identify the impact of technology and urban scale in different stages.

Formulation of web accessibility policies and publication of annual test results in Japanese cities

Formulation of web accessibility policies and publication of annual test results in Japanese cities

Short-term associations of low-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with cardiorespiratory hospitalizations in 139 Japanese cities

There have been few studies in non-western countries on the relationship between low levels of daily fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and morbidity or mortality, and the impact of PM2.5 concentrations below 15 μg/m3, which is the latest World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline (WHO AQG) value for the 24-h mean, is not yet clear. We assessed the associations between low-level PM2.5 exposure and cardiorespiratory admissions in Japan. We collected the daily hospital admission count data, air pollutant data, and meteorological condition data recorded from April 2016 to March 2019 in 139 Japanese cities. City-specific estimates were obtained from conditional logistic regression models in a time-stratified case-crossover design and pooled by random-effect models. We estimated that every 10-μg/m3 increase in the concurrent-day PM2.5 concentration was related to a 0.52% increase in cardiovascular admissions (95% CI: 0.13–0.92%) and a 1.74% increase in respiratory admissions (95% CI: 1.41–2.07%). These values were nearly the same when the datasets were filtered to contain only daily PM2.5 concentrations <15 μg/m3. The exposure–response curves showed approximately sublinear-to-linear curves with no indication of thresholds. These associations with cardiovascular diseases weakened after adjusting for nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, but associations with respiratory diseases were almost unchanged when additionally adjusted for other pollutants. This study demonstrated that associations between daily PM2.5 and daily cardiorespiratory hospitalizations might persist at low concentrations, including those below the latest WHO AQG value. Our findings suggest that the updated guideline value may still be insufficient from the perspective of public health.

Transportation modes and social participation in older drivers and non-drivers: Results from urbanised Japanese cities

Transportation modes and social participation in older drivers and non-drivers: Results from urbanised Japanese cities

Urban modeling of shrinking cities through Bayesian network analysis using economic, social, and educational indicators: Case of Japanese cities.

Shrinking cities due to low birthrates and aging populations represent a significant urban planning issue. The research question of this study is: which economic, social, and educational factors affect population decline in Japanese shrinking cities? By modeling shrinking cities using the case of Japanese cities, this study aims to clarify the indicators that affect the population change rate. The study employed Bayesian network analysis, a machine learning technique, using a dataset of economic, social, and educational indicators. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that social and educational indicators affect the population decline rate. Surprisingly, the impact of educational indicators is more substantial than that of economic indicators such as the financial strength index. Considering the limitations in fiscal expenditures, increasing investment in education might help solve the problem of shrinking cities because of low birthrates and aging populations. The results provide essential insights and can function as a planning support system.

Changes in the residents’ step counts before and after a railway improvement project

IntroductionIn many Japanese cities, local governments have been planning compact city policies to reduce environmental impact and financial costs. The resulting walkable urban form, where people live near railway stations, could potentially contribute to residents' health as a secondary effect. In this longitudinal study, we investigated changes in residents’ walking behavior in an area subject to a railway improvement project, using large-scale data on step counts. MethodsWe compared the changes in daily step counts of middle-aged and older adults in Yokohama City before and after a railway improvement project. The project aimed to improve traveling convenience to central Tokyo by developing a railway line that directly connects the existing suburban stations to central Tokyo with no transfers to shorten travel time and by opening a new station in an inconvenient area. Comparing residents’ step counts in the project intervention area (N = 733 on average) and other areas (N = 2,914 on average) before and after the project, the effect of the project intervention was examined through difference-in-differences analysis using generalized linear mixed models. ResultsAfter the project, older residents aged 75–84 years living close to the new station walked approximately 400 steps more than their counterparts with the same level of step counts before the project. Moreover, older residents aged 75–84 years living around the existing stations, which benefitted from the direct connecting service, walked approximately 200 steps more than their counterparts. However, women aged 45–64 years living around the existing stations walked approximately 200 steps less than their counterparts. ConclusionThe railway improvement project promoted older adults’ walking behavior, supporting the worldwide trend toward transit-oriented development from the population health perspective. However, the project had an adverse effect on middle-aged women. Planners should consider that the impact of projects varies according to age and gender.

ПИТАННЯ СУЧАСНОЇ ЗБРОЇ МАСОВОГО УРАЖЕННЯ ПРИ ВИВЧЕННІ ЦИВІЛЬНОГО ЗАХИСТУ, БЕЗПЕКИ ЖИТТЄДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ТА ОХОРОНИ ПРАЦІ В ГАЛУЗІ

The article deals with the peculiarities of teaching issues about modern types of weapon of mass destruction in the study of civil protection, safety of life and labor protection in the industry, as a necessary element of improvement of the educational process in the conditions of a full-scale long-term war with the country-aggressor-terrorist Russian Federation. The peculiarities of layout and lecture material on biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction by their main components and specific topical examples of use against combatants and civilians are shown. The current state of strategic nuclear forces of the main countries of "Nuclear club" (United States, Russian Federation, People's Republic of China, France, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, India) and the main tactical and technical characteristics of their dry and marine components of "nuclear triad" as the most dangerous types Weapons that can lead to full-scale catastrophic consequences, including "Nuclear autumn" and "Nuclear winter", even to "local" use. It is stated that in 2021 the total expenses of the countries of the world for nuclear weapons have already reached $ 85 billion. In the first place in terms of expenses for maintaining its nuclear arsenal is the United States – $ 45 billion. The United States is planned to spend $ 550 billion in the 1922-2040 years. In the second place of the PRC, which spends up to $ 12 billion every year, and launched a long-term program of modernization and qualitative improvement of the nuclear arsenal. In the third place of the Russian Federation, which spends up to $ 9 billion on the maintenance and re-equipment of its strategic and tactical nuclear forces. The following are: UK – up to $ 7 billion; France – up to $ 6 billion; India – up to $ 2.5 billion; Israel – up to $ 1.5 billion; Pakistan – up to $ 1.2 billion; and DPRK – up to $ 0.7 billion. This nine actual "Nuclear club" member countries can have up to 24,000 nuclear and thermonuclear warlouses in its arsenal, the total explosion capacity of which is equivalent to the explosion force of more than 10 billion tons of TNT: the USA is ~ 11,000 warriors; Russian Federation – ~ 10 thousand warriors; China – ~ 1,5 thousand warriors; France – ~ 400 warriors; UK – ~ 250 warriors; Israel – ~ 200 warriors; India – ~ 200 warriors; Pakistan – ~ 165 warriors; DPRK – ~ 60 warriors. At the same time, only in the US and the Russian Federation together there are up to 21 thousand nuclear and thermonuclear warheads, the power of the explosion of many of which is much exceeding the power of the explosion of atomic bombs, dumped on 6 and 9 August 1945 by US aviation in Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They also consider the possibility of preventive nuclear stroke "low -power" (&lt;50 CT) of the battleships on command centers and strategic objects of the enemy for "only paralyzing damage".