ABSTRACT
Given the diversity of East Asian cities, I take a great risk in trying to make any generalizations about the patterns of new urban approaches in the region. Hence I will narrow the focus to what I know best: Japan. In this chapter, I begin with a brief overview of traditional and contemporary urbanization trends in East Asia, before considering recent approaches to urbanization in Japan in greater detail. Japan is an economic powerhouse with an urban tradition that dates to the eighth century AD. Its people enjoy a standard of living comparable to that in the West, while its cities exhibit some of the features that Western authorities define as sustainable: high density, compact form, mixed use, and extensive use of public transportation. A brief review of Japan’s approach to urbanization casts some doubts on the universality of new urbanism premises and promises.
