Uploaded on 2017-08-24 by Yuichi Oka

Step 1 List the five most liveable cities that I know, based on my own experience and judgment, placing the most liveable city at the top of the list 1 Tokyo 2 Yokohama 3 Berlin 4 Singapore 5 Honolulu Step 2 Describe in my own words five characteristics that according to my opinion make a city liveable. Order them placing the most important at the top of the list. 1 Safety (against disaster & crime, business, energy) 2 Convenience (transportation, shopping, medical, welfare, education) 3 Comfort (climate, landscape, environment, living price) 4 Stability / growth potential (politics, economy, law, commercial practice, infrastructure) 5 Features (History, Innovation, Culture, Art) Step 3 Describe the status of my own city, Tokyo, in terms of the five characteristics that I listed above. Propose how Tokyo should/could be transformed in relation to these characteristics in order to be more sustainable. 1 In Tokyo, Crime rate is low, business is concentrated and easy to do. It is better to improve fire resistance of densely packed areas of wooden buildings, to diversify energy supply sources and to enhance power storage function. 2 Enrichment of the public transportation network and scheduled operations are wonderful. Shopping facilities, medical institutions, higher education facilities are also substantial. If medical institutions and educational facilities capable of responding to foreigners are further enhanced, the international nature of the city should be further improved. 3 Living price is stable, but pretty expensive than other Japanese cities. Climate is temperate, but is hot and humid in the summer months. In addition to proper use of air conditioners, we should also emphasize the creation of cool spots such as enriching green parks. In order to harmonize traditional architecture such as the Imperial Palace, the historic temples and shrines with the latest urban development, careful attention must be taken not to hinder the main historic landscape in a large-scale development. 4 Japan's politics and economy are relatively stable in the world, and there is safety and stability that allows business and life to be safe from international viewpoints on laws and business practices. In addition, public transportation network, electricity, gas, water supply and sewerage, highway network and so on are developed, and supplies of these are stable. In order to enrich further, it is desirable to expand international airports and harbors, enhance accommodation facilities, and improve multilingual correspondence capability to attract international businesses and tourists more. 5 There is a charm that the history from the Edo era which was opened about 400 years ago and the latest pop culture coexist. The place where they are mixed is the attraction of Tokyo. On the other hand, designs of office buildings and houses are relatively homogeneous and feel a little insufficient personality. I think that it is possible to represent Tokyo with more individuality if artists and designers are used more effectively in the design of urban space while making landscape adjustments.