This October, the World Bank’s Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) celebrated two decades of advancing livable cities with a dynamic event in Tokyo. Hosted by actress and refugee advocate Sahel Rosa, the event drew over 300 participants, spotlighting Japan’s groundbreaking urban solutions and their global impact. Ming Zhang, Global Director of the World Bank’s Urban, Resilience, and Land Global Department, set the tone, emphasizing the critical role of cities in tackling global challenges.
Sahel Rosa, Master of Ceremonies, welcoming participants including from the diplomatic corps, donor community, private sector, representatives of Japanese national government, officials from Japanese cities, and academia.
Ming Zhang, World Bank Global Director, Urban, Resilience, and Land Global Department giving his opening remarks.
Japanese Cities Leading the Charge
Leaders from TDLC’s City Partnership Program (CPP) shared their innovative approaches:
- Kobe: Mayor Kizo Hisamoto highlighted lessons in disaster resilience from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, balancing urban growth with satoyama (countryside) preservation.
- Toyama: Mayor Hirohisa Fujii showcased the city’s compact city model, driven by SDGs and smart public transit to combat population decline.
- Fukuoka: Deputy Mayor Eiichi Nakamura described how citizen feedback and data-driven policies fuel urban growth and vibrant startups.
- Kitakyushu: Deputy Mayor Kenichi Katayama presented the city’s transformation from a polluted industrial hub to an environmentally friendly and sustainable city.
- Hiroshima: Deputy Mayor Mikiharu Nakai emphasized peace-centered urban development and disaster preparedness to build stronger communities.
CPP city leaders in the Mayors Forum: Mayor Kizo Hisamoto (Kobe), Mayor Hirohisa Fujii (Toyama), Deputy Mayor Eiichi Nakamura (Fukuoka), Deputy Mayor Kenichi Katayama (Kitakyushu), and Deputy Mayor Mikiharu Nakai (Hiroshima).
Global Reach: Japanese Solutions in Action
TDLC’s knowledge-sharing has delivered Japan’s expertise to diverse cities worldwide:
- In Madagascar, flood mitigation protects 500,000 people in Antananarivo.
- In the Philippines, seismic retrofitting strengthens schools and hospitals in Manila against earthquakes.
- In Tanzania, flood control and parks rejuvenate Dar es Salaam’s Msimbazi River Basin.
- In Bangladesh, canal restoration and waste management have transformed Narayanganj’s environment.
The Power of Mutual Learning
Takahiro Tsuda, Director at Japan’s Ministry of Finance, congratulated TDLC for connecting people and ideas, and curating Japan’s expertise and knowledge for sharing to address global urban challenges.
"While there is much to learn from Japan, knowledge sharing is always a two-way process, bringing new insights to both sides," Hiroshi Takami, Special Representative, Japan, World Bank.
Professors Takashi Onishi (University of Tokyo) and Yoh Sasaki (Waseda University) emphasized that Japan’s urban experience—such as in land readjustment and community-based planning—offers valuable lessons for developing nations. They also stressed that Japan also gains insights from these collaborations.
Professor Emeritus Takashi Onishi of the University of Tokyo delivering a lecture on Japan’s role in urban development in developing countries.
Professor Yoh Sasaki, President of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers and Waseda University professor noted that listening to local voices and experiences of citizens can help Japan’s urban planning.
The Path Ahead
With its strong partnerships with its CPP cities and other key Japanese cities, with key government ministries, the private sector and academia in Japan, TDLC remains a vital bridge between Japan and World Bank clients around the world. As it enters its next phase, TDLC will continue to inspire urban transformation, helping make cities more livable and sustainable.
* Our article is now featured on the World Bank's Sustainable Cities Blog.
Read the full article here: Japanese cities, global impact: the Tokyo Development Learning Center turns 20.
Related Links:
- Tracing 20 Years of Knowledge Sharing for Livable Cities https://youtu.be/ZD5_JYaQIvc
- Transforming Cities, Shaping the Future https://youtu.be/2XLjm-aIF8Y
- TDLC's Impact Stories https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099501210302437364/idu1bcd8559e1434614c3a18e81168693ec0dc39