ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the development of eco-cities in post-war Japan based on a study of 17 representative cases of eco-city development trials. These cases are categorized into three groups based on their subjects and the terms or conditions of the trials. The study focuses on initial development stages, including realization of key challenges initiation of action, promotion of countermeasures, and the establishment of a policy framework. The six cases in Group A encouraged the development of pollution control, nature conservation, and historical preservation policies in the early 1970s. The eight cases in Group B carried out environment protection measures. Some of these initiatives preceded the Basic Environment Law enacted in 1993, widely credited to advancing the so-called “environmental amenity.” In the three cases in Group C, environmental challenges were first addressed at the local level but were later enjoined by the national government. After 2000, the national government called for the national projects and enacted laws that are encouraged the formation and promotion of various regional environmental plans. Recent eco-city trials demonstrate local values in environmental, social, and economic action.
