What is it about?
This book review essay provides an account of several recently published books on various complementary aspects of Japanese history, culture, diversity, urban spontaneity, urban design, and urban policies (2019–2025). It attempts to capture nuances of the evolutionary history, cultural and travel literature, inclusive diversity and spatiality brought forth because and, in other cases, irrespective of certain public policies.
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Photo by Jaison Lin on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The review essay follows in the footsteps of a recently released thematic issue of Urban Planning on Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Japan (2026). Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Japan Open Access Academic Editor(s): Carlos J. L. Balsas (Ulster University) and Richard Smardon (The State University of New York) DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/up.i462
Perspectives
Part of its significance is that it calls attention to issues that have not been typically considered in regional science debates such as the role of place-making, events, leisure, food and gastronomy, tourism, urban amenities and sustainability, religious structures, night urbanism, disasters, gentrification, and inclusive diversity in human flourishing.
Dr. Carlos J. L. Balsas, AICP
Ulster University Belfast
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Book review, Regional Science Policy & Practice, July 2026, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.rspp.2026.100306.
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Resources
Urban Planning's SI on Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Japan (2026)
This editorial introduces the thematic issue on Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Japan. It presents our original motivations, the gaps we attempted to fill with the call for contributions, our take on sustainable urban regeneration, and the main highlights of the published articles. Our takeaways are that there are relatively distinct dynamics in large and regional cities throughout the country, with urban regeneration initiatives encapsulating multiple intensities, resources, extensions, stakeholders, collaborative and challenging practices, results, and legacies. Readers are encouraged to consider each individual contribution in relation to the thematic issue’s main rationale and scholarly goals. Finally, we suggest that readers place themselves in the shoes of the contributing authors to fully attempt to understand their positionalities, interpretations, methodologies, research processes, findings, limitations, and key takeaways.
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
What You Can Do: In Japan, paper cranes are traditionally a symbol for good health and long life -- Paper cranes (orizuru) are profound symbols of peace, healing, and nuclear disarmament in Hiroshima. There are many ways that individuals can help ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again – from sending paper cranes to decision makers to enlisting the support of city councils. Nuclear weapons were built with human hands and can be taken apart with human hands. There are no technical barriers to disarmament; all we need is the political will to act.
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