中野区基本構想（英語、えいご）/Nakano City General Plan

In March 2021, Nakano City revised its general plan.
Our general plan lays out a common goal for all people living, working, studying or otherwise active in Nakano City to enjoy a peaceful and more prosperous life. It also presents the core guidelines for managing the city, which reflect the trust and wishes of its residents.

Nakano City has more than 330,000 residents, and many other people gather and interact here through commercial, cultural and other activities. Japan has in recent years entered an era marked by a declining population and a super-aged society on a scale no other country has ever experienced. These demographic changes could seriously affect the local economy and the finances of Nakano City as well as the local community’s vitality.

In addition, natural disasters such as floods caused by record-setting typhoons—believed to be the result of climate change—as well as large-scale earthquakes are becoming more frequent all over Japan, causing tremendous damage to people’s lives and property. Nakano City has also experienced localized torrential rains that have overloaded the city’s drainage capacity, causing urban flooding. Since Nakano City includes areas with many narrow roads and neighborhoods densely filled with wooden houses, there is concern that the level of damage could intensify in the event of a disaster. We have been steadily taking measures to address these issues, but need to take further action.

Starting in 2020, the world faced another crisis of historic proportions due to the spread of COVID-19. Looking at Japan and local communities, the virus has massively affected people’s lives and health. It has also altered various aspects of our day-to-day activities such as going out and taking care of daily chores, education, the local economy and local medical care, as well as spurring discrimination against infected people.

As the world begins to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control and learn how to coexist with the virus, there has been a shift to new lifestyles. These include changes in industry and market, work-styles, housing preferences and methods of communication between people. Even the overall values and behaviors of society are changing, such as the growing awareness of the importance of family and daily life. The city administration must respond to these changes as well.

Nakano is a city full of diversity where people of all generations and origins live, visit and pursue various activities. For example, Nakano is a popular place for young people to live. The number of foreign residents has also rapidly increased in recent years, and these people come from about 120 countries and regions.

Traditional cultural and artistic activities have also taken root in the city, and entertainment options such as comedy shows, theatrical performances, and live concerts inspire the dreams and hopes of many people. In addition, the city is a treasure house of subcultures such as manga and anime, and continues to promote its charms and singular culture to the rest of Japan and the world.

As we move forward on urban development plans around Nakano Station, the next decade will be a time of great opportunity to create a better future for Nakano. The use of AI, IoT and big data is progressing at a rapid pace, and we are witnessing the digital revolution take hold in all aspects of society. We must link this wave to the provision of high-quality administrative services—such as education, watching over our senior citizens, and providing consultation support—to ensure that Nakano City residents are living comfortably.

In these times it is crucial to reevaluate the way people relate to and connect with their local communities. Our mission is to ensure that Nakano’s diverse assets and the city’s lively nature are passed on to the next generation while ensuring safe and active lifestyles. To do that, we must create an environment where all residents can demonstrate their full potential and make that power part of our city’s strength.

We strive to bring people closer together to realize a richer life for everyone while nurturing the history, culture, traditions and charms of the city that we have cultivated over the years. That is why we developed the Nakano City general plan—to serve as our common goal and guide us through achieving our vision of Nakano City.

To realize a more peaceful and prosperous existence for all the people who live, work, study and are active in Nakano City, we place importance on the following:

• Nakano’s greatest asset is its people, and we respect the rights of all people and all ways of life, personalities and values
• We will build a safe community where expanding human interaction and connections leave no one behind
• We will deepen collaborations of strength and co-creation to generate new value
• We support each individual in taking on new challenges that lead a richer life

Given our focus on the above, we see Nakano City in a decade as:

Nakano: Spurring Connections and Beginnings

(1) A city where people connect with each other and generate new vitality

(2) A city where the entire community supports the growth of children

(3) A city where everyone can live with peace of mind throughout their lives

(4) A sustainable city where people feel safe, comfortable and want to stay

Human connections are a source of security, ideas and vitality. By taking advantage of Nakano’s characteristics as a place where people of various nationalities and values gather, we will expand connections between people, enhance their interest in and participation in the community, and promote self-governing activities to link them to the community. Furthermore, we will develop new places where people gather and engage in activities, thereby enhancing the city’s vitality. We will show the pleasure of living and visiting Nakano to the whole city, the rest of Tokyo, Japan, and the world.

Creating new value by taking advantage of our diversity

Regardless of nationality, cultural background, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and other factors, everyone can live safely as a member of the Nakano community and help generate new local characteristics and new values.

Expanding love for the community and connections between people

Human connections are gently yet proactively spreading in Nakano, making it easier for people to casually get involved in the community at any place and time according to their lifestyles and interests. Residents are also working together to solve local problems by combining their individual strengths.

Developing culture and art to create a city full of entertainment and attractions that feed your curiosity

All of Nakano City is a stage for entertaining and interesting activities born from the city’s unique traditions, culture and rich ideas. Nakano continues to evolve as a place where people feel at ease and express themselves fully, so the city is full of vitality and attracts many people.

Stimulating local economic activities

The sustainable development of the city’s industries and the entry of new companies here have created products and services that enrich the lives of the city’s residents and revitalize the local economy. Shopping streets are becoming more attractive and fulfilling a variety of social roles.

Transmitting Tokyo’s new vitality to the rest of the world

The area around Nakano Station offers a vast variety of convenient urban functions and excellent pedestrian mobility, and is home to countless economic and cultural activities. The area is the central hub spurring the development of this sustainable and vibrant city, and is being presented to the world as a symbol of the new vitality on the west side of Tokyo’s twenty-three special wards.

Children grow up by taking on challenges that lead to a better future. With the support of the local community, families with children can raise them with peace of mind in Nakano. We will build a city where the entire community encourages the growth of children, who are our hope for the future.

Protecting the lives and rights of children

Children are respected as individual human beings. Systems are in place to protect the lives and rights of all children, including the prevention of abuse and support for learning.

Realizing high-quality education that responds to changes in society

This city offers a fine educational environment in which children learn to value themselves and others as well as acquire the capability to handle the practicalities of life. The connections and exchanges among nursery schools, kindergartens and schools for higher education are smooth, and a distinctive educational system is being created in cooperation with local families and communities.

Upgrading childrearing abilities throughout the city

With various residents and organizations becoming more active, the city’s childrearing capabilities are increasing. Nakano provides a variety of services that meet the needs of families, and has a system in place that allows people to have and raise children with peace of mind.

Creating a city where families with children want to stay

In addition to comfortable housing for families raising children, Nakano encourages the development of attractive spaces and facilities that children and their families love. The city advances development plans that motivate people to stay in Nakano.

Supporting the challenges of the younger generation

Young people take on challenges and grow through a wide range of interactions and opportunities for various activities. Nakano City has a system to support individuals in resolving their issues and finding better solutions.

The fact that everyone is different is natural. As society continues to age, Nakano City will create an overall environment in which everyone can live full lives regardless of age, illnesses or disabilities. That includes:

Building a system that allows people to live with peace of mind even in this age of the “100-year life”

Senior citizens are supported through comprehensive nursing care, welfare services and medical care—including public services—as well as through community ties where neighbors watch over and mutually support each other and the use of information and communications technology. Nakano’s citywide system allows them to live as they wish until their lives end.

Creating an environment where people can work vigorously and actively throughout their lives

In Nakano City, senior citizens will find new reasons to stay active through social connections made through employment, hobbies and social contributions during their lives, regardless of age.

Building a support system that ensures no one is left behind

There is a system in place to ensure that people who have disabilities, are living in poverty or are facing other complex issues receive appropriate advice and support, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Creating a community where everyone can shine in their own way

Even if they have disabilities, dementia or other conditions, people in Nakano City are able to shine in their own way through employment, social participation, and various exchanges and activities that make use of their individual characteristics and strengths.

Creating an environment where people can enjoy a lifetime of good health

Nakano City offers an environment where people can naturally maintain a healthy lifestyle, allowing everyone from children to senior citizens to enjoy exercising, playing sports, and learning about things that interest them.

Urban development connects not only people with each other but also our past with the future, and shapes the city’s security as well as its appeal. Through the cooperation of various entities—and in accordance with the characteristics of each district—we will build a sustainable city resistant to all kinds of disasters, as free as possible from crime and accidents, so that it becomes a place where people want to stay forever.

Promoting resilient, disaster-resistant urban development

By pursuing urban development designed to prevent disasters that improves local capacity for disaster prevention, we will make our communities resilient, minimize damage and recover quickly.

Promoting urban development that matches the changing times

Urban development done according to the characteristics of each district and our project to eliminate ground-level rail crossings have made the Nakano Station area and other parts of the city safer, more comfortable and more convenient. Nakano City is developing in ways that match the changing times.

Creating a more comfortable and more attractive living environment

A more comfortable and more attractive living environment is taking shape, with streets that are pleasant and inviting to walk along, attractive parks, and a variety of transportation options.

Creating a sustainable city with a smaller environmental footprint

Nakano residents have taken up lifestyles that have less impact on the environment, and the city’s promotion of greening has permeated their lives as well as influenced corporate activities in the city. The development of a carbon-free city is ongoing.

Promoting a safe living environment and urban development that combine to discourage crime

Thanks to cooperation between related organizations and communities, the city maintains a good living environment that also minimizes crimes, accidents and other incidents. At the same time, city residents are changing their behavior as they become more aware of crime prevention, consumerism and infectious diseases, ensuring a safer and more comfortable lifestyle.

To realize our vision of this future Nakano, we will manage the city based on the following principles:

We will base city administration on dialogue with and participation by city residents.This will include actively providing information to residents, maintaining a high level of accountability, encouraging resident participation in city administration, and enhancing opportunities for the city to appropriately reflect their ideas and opinions.

To enhance the appeal of the city and strength of the community, city officials and other staff will actively participate in community activities to discover the issues the community is facing, and find solutions to those issues through cooperation and collaboration with various entities.

We will build a more stable financial base as an independent municipality. To achieve this, we will formulate policies based on objective evidence, allocate resources optimally through selection and concentration, and always seek to secure financial resources. Our operations will be based on sustainable financial management that achieves maximum effect at minimum cost.

We will pursue continuous improvements and reforms to achieve effective and efficient administrative management that can flexibly respond to various challenges, including cross-organizational issues. We will also accelerate digitalization and promptly provide high-quality administrative services to all people, with an eye toward social change.

We will conduct thorough risk management and crisis management to ensure that we are able to protect the lives, health and property of city residents if a natural disaster, infectious disease outbreak or other crisis occurs. This includes strengthening the systems and functions needed to provide administrative services that are closely linked to the lives of city residents.

• 中野区基本構想（英語）Nakano City General Plan（PDF形式：127KB）