The Japan of today has grown into a country that plays an integral role in the global economy. In order for Japan to make an even greater contribution to the peace and prosperity of mankind as a member of the international community, it must attempt to strive to become a culturally-oriented country that is respected by the world, endeavoring to enrich and strengthen fundamental science, develop creative science and research and create new industries while at the same time continuing to preserve and promote Japan's own unique culture along with creating and proposing new culture through exchange and fusion with different cultures throughout the world.

As the basis for striving to develop creative science and research, there is a growing need to construct a new city that is able to accommodate the possibilities of the future by providing a sound natural and domestic environment together with utilization and collaboration of the integration of existing culture and scientific research.

In order to respond to this need, construction of the Kansai Science City attempts to create a new base for the deployment of creative, international, interdisciplinary and interindustrial culture and scientific research from the following fundamental viewpoints in the Keihanna hills, an area blessed with a rich history, culture and natural environment, by taking advantage of the integration of the abundant culture and scientific research that has been cultivated in the Kinki region. In addition to contributing to the genesis of a new Kinki region, this construction contributes to the development of culture and scientific research in Japan and the world along with the growth of the domestic economy.

(1) Cultural Creation and Exchange

In addition to promoting the creation of a stronghold for the creation of culture to lead the way for the promotion of culture in Japan, international contributions and transmissions will be performed through culture by promoting international cultural exchange and cooperation.

(2) Promotion of New Scientific Research

Comprehensive promotion of scientific research will be implemented to contribute to resolving human issues through collaboration between natural science and cultural and social science with respect to problems relating to the basics of human existence, problems relating to ensuring conditions for the survival of mankind and so forth. In addition, efforts will be made to contribute to the development of the economy and society along with the prosperity of mankind through promotion of science and technology and utilization of those results.

(3) Construction of a Pilot Model City for the 21st Century

By aggressively dealing with new efforts suitable for the civilization of the 21st century from various aspects of human habitation, including incorporating the results of various cultural and scientific research activities, ensuring safety and protecting the environment, efforts will be made to realize a pioneering city that indicates the ideal form of future cities, and contribute to the resolution of various problems confronting modern cities in terms of urbanization.

Efforts will be made to realize a city that fuses culture, scientific research and urbanization by attempting to achieve urbanization by providing the functions listed below.

(1) Efforts will be made to provide functions of a center of cultural creativity in the form of a scientific research city crowned with culture, along with functions that lead the way to the ideal state of future scientific research and industrial activities.

(2) Efforts will be made to provide functions that allow the results of activities conducted in the city to be transmitted not only throughout Japan but across the globe in order to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the entire world with respect to the aspects of culture, scientific research and industry.

(3) The creation of a pleasant city rich in culture that is open to the world will be promoted in the form of a base that supports these activities while giving the impression of comfort suitable for the core of culture and scientific research.

In order to comprehensively secure functions suitable for a culture and scientific research city, the following facilities will be provided so as to enable the establishment of the city by the first part of the 21st century in consideration of local historical, culture and natural conditions while attempting to achieve improvement of disaster prevention facilities, reduction of the burden on the environment, and coexistence with nature.

(1) Providing of Culture and Scientific Research Facilities

In addition to attempting to provide and promote facilities for the purpose of the development of culture and promotion of scientific research and development suitable for a city to serve as the center of culture and scientific research, efforts will be made to provide and enhance the Facilities for Exchange of Culture, Scientific Studies and Research for promoting exchange and joint research relating to the development of culture, promotion of scientific research and development.

(2) Promotion of Industry

Efforts will be made to create and foster research and development-oriented industry that takes advantage of cultural and scientific research results as well as industry that supports cultural and scientific research activities.

(3) Providing of a Residential Environment

The providing of high-quality housing, residential land and so forth will be promoted in order to secure a comfortable residential environment rich in human amenities suitable for a cultural and scientific research city.

(4) Providing of Urban Functions

The providing of comprehensive urban functions will be promoted, including public facilities, information and communication infrastructure facilities, suitable for a cultural and scientific research city that accommodate economic and social changes such as internationalization, sophisticated information utilization and an increasing proportion of elderly in society. In addition, in this case, considerations will be given to securing convenience for residents and researchers as well as the safety of the city that deals with advanced urban functions.

(5) Providing of Wide-Area Transportation Facilities and Information and Communication Infrastructure Facilities

The providing of roadways, railways and other transportation facilities as well as information and communication infrastructure facilities will be promoted in order to ensure collaboration with other cities and research and development centers both within and outside Japan, including those in the Kinki region, to effectively accommodate internationalization and sophisticated information utilization. In addition, together with promoting the providing of safety facilities and so forth required accompanying the providing of transportation facilities, the introduction of new roadway transportation systems will be attempted through the utilization of sophisticated telecommunications technology.

Kansai Science City Construction Promotion Office
Metropolitan Areas Development Division
City and Regional Development Bureau
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
at TEL: +81-3-5253-8111 (ext. 32-383) , FAX +81-3-5253-1587