Tadashi Higasa

JAPANESE URBAN PLANNER

University of Tokyo
July 1920- October 1997
COMMUNITY CONCEPT

• This study examines the level of acceptance of the “community”

concept and its application by urban planners in postwar Japan. It
specifically analyzes the community discourse propounded by a
leading Japanese urban planner, Tadashi Higasa (1920-1997).
• After sketching his biography, it presents a review of his research
activities at the Department of Urban Planning, Ministry of
Construction, and the Department of Urban Engineering at the
University of Tokyo. In addition, the development, practical
application, and acceptance of Higasa's community concept are
analyzed. Based on the findings of the analysis, two key points are
clarified
COMMUNITY CONCEPT

• First, Higasa's community concept can be seen to have been strongly

influenced by community concepts within sociology. Second, within the
domain of urban planning research, acceptance of Higasa's community
concept and its practical applications are evident within community and
residential district planning. While conforming to the community
concept within sociology, Higasa postulated his own theory of community
considered within the framework of urban planning. While not
neglecting the notion of community based on human life, he sought to
integrate the community concept within practical and tangible urban
planning. In conclusion, the findings of this study contribute to a better
understanding of how Higasa's successors in the field of urban planning
related to his community concept and to a rethinking of the community
concept among Japanese sociologists.
STUDY OF LAND USE PLANNING OF
YOKKAICHI CITY
STUDY OF LAND USE
PLANNING OF YOKKAICHI
CITY
PLANNING OF YOKKAICHI CITY

• Yokkaichi is a new industrial city where the built-up areas are expected to rapidly
develop owing to the successive establishment of large factories in recent years. In
order to meet this situation, the city authorities have been making investigation as
to what the city should le like in future. Expert specialists in the fields of
economics, geography, industry, housing, harbors, etc. were commissioned with the
study through the National Land Planning Association. Here is introduced a proposed
plan for land use which was prepared on the basis of the results of their respective
studies and of the results of various surveys of the actual condition of land use. The
population set for 1975 in the plan is 300,000. This is a master plan on the bases of
which the official plan according to the City Planning Law will be prepared.
• The plan was prepared by the staff members of the City Planning Research Section,
First Research Division, Ministry of Construction Building Research Institute.
• Nov. 1960
Division Chief: Goro Shinkai
City Planning Research Section:
Tadashi Higasa
Hisashi Irisawa
Akira Konno
Hiromu Sugiyama