Institute of Urban and Regional Studies(IURS) –

Research Theme

Four Research Themes
Theme 1: Research on Sustainable Urban Development and Compact Cities
We aim to shift from the over-concentration in the Tokyo metropolitan area toward sustainable development, while addressing the challenges of shrinking cities and regions. Our approach is to view metropolitan areas comprehensively and pursue transitions to better urban spaces. This includes promoting urban design that fosters vibrancy, ecological and environmentally conscious cities, and rural design. We also conduct research and projects on land-use planning, transportation access, environmental conservation and circulation, urban regeneration, healthy cities, and sustainable development.

Theme 2: Research on Resilient Cities and Disaster-Resistant Urban Development
We address the challenges of disaster prevention, damage mitigation, and the recovery of society, economy, and environment in the face of earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, and other natural hazards. Ensuring the safety of vulnerable groups and creating communities where people can continue to live with peace of mind are of particular importance. With the imminent risk of a Tokyo metropolitan earthquake, we focus on coastal and inner areas of Tokyo, advancing research such as community resilience profiling and developing practical outcomes for Shinjuku and other districts through comprehensive agreements with universities.

Theme 3: Research on Community Management in a Mature Society
We explore multicultural coexistence and the challenges of informal housing in globalized metropolitan communities, while seeking new housing models such as collaborative housing. In depopulated rural areas, we emphasize the development of small hubs that serve as essential community bases. Our work promotes social governance (multi-sector collaboration among government, corporations, and civic organizations)
and social innovation rooted in post-development regional management. Specific initiatives include research on social investment in community development companies and cooperatives, creating shared value (CSV), and social impact bonds (SIB), in collaboration with regionally oriented financial institutions and nonprofitorganizations.

Theme 4: Research on Urban Development in a Globalizing Asia
Building on Waseda University’s participation in international consortia such as the International University Network and Routes towards Sustainability, we disseminate our research outcomes globally and contribute to international society. Through action research, we promote Social Innovation Labs (SILs) in collaboration with universities and civic sectors in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and across Asia. In particular, we are advancing practical projects at our institute to improve the environment of the Imperial Mausoleums and surrounding rural villages in the World Heritage City of Hue, Vietnam.

Research Director

YAGUCHI, Tetsuya

Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering

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Project Members

Advisor

ASANO, Mitsuyuki
HIJIKATA, Masao
SATOH, Shigeru

Researchers

ARIGA, Takashi　Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering
GOTO, Haruhiko　Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering
MASHIKO, Tomoyuki　Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences
MORIMOTO, Akinori　Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering
OCHIAI, Mototsugu　Professor, School of Social Sciences
SASAKI, Kuniaki　Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering
SASAKI, Yo　Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering
SODA, Osamu　Professor, School of Social Sciences
YAGUCHI, Tetsuya　Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering

Guest Researcher / Adjunct Researcher

ABE, Toshihiko
HIRAI, Yukihiro
ICHIKAWA, Hitoshi
KATO, Kotofumi　Guest Senior Researcher(Guest Assistant Professor), Comprehensive Research Organization,
KAWAHARA, Susumu
KIMURA, Hiromi
MATSURA, Kenjiro
MIYAKE, Hiroshi
MURAKAMI, Jin
MURAKAMI, Morimasa
NODA, Akihiro
NONAKA, Katsutoshi
OH, Dok Lip
OKADA, Akito
OKI, Hajime
PREMCHAISWADI, Theeraporn
SAITO, Hiroshi
SAITO, Tetsuji
SETOGUCHI, Tsuyoshi
SHIMURA, Hideaki
SONG, Kibaek
SUGANO, Keisuke
UCHIDA, Naomi
YANAGISAWA, Shinya
YOSHIDA, Michiro
YOSHIDA, Wataru
ZAMARBIDE URDANIZ, Alba Victoria
ZHAO, Chengqi

 Research Keywords
 Research Summary
 Related Documents
 Contact

Research Keywords

Compact City, Resilience, Sustainability, Community Management, City and Regional Planning, Disaster Recovery, Disaster Mitigation, Machidukuri

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Research Summary

IURS is an interdisciplinary hub advancing practice-based research on sustainable development amid rapid urbanization and the concentration of economic, social, and cultural capital in cities. Using Action Research (AR), we establish a cycle of on-site problem identification → issue framing → planning proposals → evaluation to generate knowledge for global challenges. Our work centers on four pillars:
1. Sustainable and compact urbanism: integrate land use and mobility at the metropolitan scale; pursue environmental circularity, public health, vibrancy, urban regeneration, and rural design.
2. Urban resilience and risk reduction: systematize prevention, mitigation, and recovery from earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis; protect vulnerable groups; conduct regional capacity profiling and implementation studies across coastal and inner areas of Greater Tokyo.
3. Community management in a mature society: address multicultural coexistence and informal housing; prototype collaborative housing and small local hubs; design social governance and finance mechanisms (e.g., CSV, SIB).
4. Asian urban development: deepen international collaboration through university networks and Social Innovation Labs, with applied projects such as environmental improvements in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Huê.

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