Background
Kanazawa, a city that flourished as a castle town, is rich in historical buildings such as irrigation canals, samurai residences, temples, traditional townhouses, and modern architecture. In addition, many gardens that skillfully incorporate nature, including Kenrokuen Garden, have been preserved. These gardens and urban nature foster a diverse array of living organisms and are deeply connected to the development of cultural practices such as traditional crafts and tea ceremonies.
While Kanazawa’s rich nature and culture bestow many benefits upon us, like many other cities in Japan, it is currently facing a conservation crisis due to a declining population and an aging society. At first glance, changes in population may seem unrelated to urban nature and culture, but the aging of property owners and changes in family structures have led to an increase in vacant houses and lots, as well as unmanaged land. Additionally, gardens are increasingly difficult to maintain due to the aging of their owners, leading to a gradual decline of urban nature and cultural landscapes in Kanazawa. It has become quite common to see neglected land or vacant lots that have been turned into parking areas.
Sustainable Urban Nature Project
The Sustainable Urban Nature Project (SUN Project) was initiated in 2019, with the cooperation of various research institutions and local stakeholders, to restore nature to urban areas and enhance community resilience and recovery. As the first phase of this research, two areas have been selected as model regions.
Starting in mid-November, we will survey residents of these areas regarding “green spaces,” “ways to utilize vacant lots and houses,” and “awareness of the community” in order to understand the current state of “green spaces” and its future. The deadline for the survey is scheduled for December 14, and the results will be presented next February through workshops and other venues. Additionally, a similar survey is planned for the entirety of Kanazawa City next year.
Future Research Activities
The current survey encompasses “Stage 1,” as shown in the table below. In “Stage 1,” we will collect and analyze survey results and map information to understand the past changes and current state of urban nature in Kanazawa. We plan to introduce the progress of “Stage 2,” which involves biodiversity investigations, and “Stage 3,” which focuses on creating scenarios for the next 50 years, on this website as we move forward.
Greeting from the Lead Researcher
My name is Juan Pastor-Ivars, and I am from Spain. I fell in love with Japanese culture and the way of life of the Japanese people, which brought me to Japan in 2009. Since moving to Kanazawa in 2016, I have observed how the unique culture and natural resources of the region are integrated into the lives of its citizens. Currently, I am conducting research on sustainable urban development utilizing urban nature at the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Ishikawa Kanazawa Operating Unit. Despite being blessed with rich natural cultural resources, especially gardens and irrigation channels, two regions in Kanazawa are significantly affected by population decline and aging; thus, they serve as model areas for my research. I am also focusing on new forms of conservation activities, such as workshops that combine cleaning activities for Japanese gardens with tea ceremonies, in collaboration with various organizations and individuals.
Video Introduction of Research Content
Sustainable Urban Nature Project ① The Relationship Between People, Greenery, and the City: The Next 100 Years Brochure
