Tokyo Living Lab
The historical productive urban landscape in Tokyo is characterized by a mix of urban and agricultural land uses. Within this landscape, an urban local food system has emerged at the community scale, encompassing production, distribution, consumption, and organic waste recycling. Living Lab Tokyo is collaborating with various stakeholders, including farmers, local government, and non-profit organizations, to investigate the significance of this food system and enhance the circulation of local food and resources.
Tokyo Metropolitan Region
In 1603, when Tokugawa Shogun established Edo (formerly Tokyo) as the new capital, agricultural village development began in peri-urban areas to supply fresh food and fuel. Since soil improvement was crucial due to the poor-quality Kanto Loam soil, agricultural woodlands were developed as one type of agricultural land use. Farmers utilized leaf litter for organic compost, thereby improving soil quality. They also employed various kinds of organic waste such as grass ashes, animal waste, and human night soil for fertilizer. By the early 18th century, Edo had become a metropolis of over one million people, supported by circular agriculture. Additionally, vegetables brought to Edo were selectively bred, resulting in the creation of new varieties bearing local names.
Following World War II, Tokyo’s sprawl led to urbanization, resulting in the reduction of farmland and woodland. However, legal systems such as the Productive Green Land Act were implemented to conserve urban farmland. Today, 3% of Tokyo’s land remains designated as farmland, contributing to the unique urban-rural mixed landscapes of the city. Additionally, urban farmers in Tokyo continue to produce leaf compost, thereby preserving traditional knowledge and practices. Furthermore, a project aimed at reviving Edo-Tokyo traditional vegetables is currently being undertaken by the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives.
Research Approach
We are investigating the environmental and social benefits of the urban food system at the community scale in the suburbs of Tokyo, contributing to a circular and low-carbon economy.
- Examining the extent to which traditional knowledge and practices regarding leaf composting persist within the urban food system at the community scale (Iida et al., 2024).
- Investigating the low carbonization effect of the urban food system at the community scale, such as the replaceability of leaf compost for chemical fertilizers and the reduction of food mileage.
- Exploring the socio-cultural benefits of the urban food system at the community scale, including urban residents’ participation, human-nature relationships, pro-environmental behavior, and health and well-being.
Living Lab Actions (Under planning)
In parallel with the Research Approach, we will take Living Lab Actions to enhance the circulation of local food and resources in historical productive urban landscape with the collaboration with various stakeholders including urban farmers, non-profit organizations, local municipalities, and Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Primarily, we are taking actions in three different areas of the urban-rural gradient below.
- Model I: Yashikirin (Near suburbs)
A traditional homestead woodland called “Yashikirin” is conserved as a Special Urban Green Space in the near suburbs of Tokyo. By renovating a house inside to a farmer’s restaurant, we are planning to co-create a place where local community and tourists can access to local foods. Nutrition of food scraps and leaf litters will return to urban farmland as compost.
- Model II: Zoukibayashi (Mid suburbs)
Traditional coppice woodlands called “Zoukibayashi” are conserved as urban parks or private green space in the mid suburbs of Tokyo. We are planning to enhance circularity by connecting those woodlands, urban farmlands, and local restaurants. Food scraps from restaurants are collected and mixed with leaf litters from Zoukibayashi. Then, by using traditional methods to produce organic compost, nutrition will be returned to urban farmlands.
- Model III: Satoyama (Urban fringe)
An agroforestry system called “Satoyama” remains in the urban fringe of Tokyo. However, the system has degraded due to population decline and aging. In collaboration with local community and government, we are revitalizing the Satoyama system again, using vacant house, abandoned farmland, and degraded forest. The process is intended to involve various stakeholders including children to pass on traditional knowledge and practice to the next generation.
“Onko-Chisin”
Learning new things from the past
There is an old Japanese phrase, ‘Onko-Chishin,’ which means learning new things from the past. Reflecting on urban agricultural heritage can offer solutions to contemporary global issues such as sustainability and the circular economy. Through our research, we investigate the significance of the urban food system at the community scale, which is formed based on historical productive urban landscapes. Using a living lab approach, we then connect the research outcomes to new actions involving stakeholders. Our goal is to guide society in a better direction through both our research and actions.