During the 18 years that have passed since the initial concept of the Kansai Science City, the various conditions that surround the city have undergone considerable changes both at home and abroad. These changes are considered to form the trends of a new era that call for structural reforms in both the economy and society of Japan.

In approaching its completion in the first part of the 21st century, it is necessary that construction of the Kansai Science City proceed while accurately accommodating the trends of the current age and new social requirements surrounding the Japanese economy and society.

The following provides a summary of the conditions surrounding this city along with new social requirements.

(1) New Deployment of an International Society

Following the end of the cold war, there has been increased mobilization of the international order resulting in the occurrence of various international problems caused by civil, religious and other differences. Moreover, together with the advance of globalization, the establishment of a new international order is needed that enables harmony throughout the entire world in all aspects, including cultural, economical and environmental aspects.

Locally, as Asia achieves rapid economic growth in assuming an important position in the world, Japan is searching for its role as a member of that Asian community.

(2) Transition to a Mature Society

Due to the growing proportion of elderly in society and shrinking family size, it is becoming impossible to maintain a social system premised on population growth and economic expansion like that in the past. On the other hand, when focusing on the individual, amidst the increasingly comfortable lifestyle, people's level of desire is becoming higher and there is increasing diversification of sense of values. This is causing a shift from a group-oriented way of thinking focusing primarily on organizations to emphasis on lifestyle with greater importance on the individual's way of life.

Moreover, the Great Hanshin earthquake resulted in a greater awareness of the importance of safety as the foundation of a rich lifestyle along with the importance of the local community.

In this way, in Japanese society that is moving towards a mature society, it is necessary to construct new economic and social systems premised on the general rule of self-responsibility from the viewpoint of emphasis on individual lifestyle by making a general inspection of the state of the economy and society in Japan today.

(3) Increasing Importance of Culture

Together with the formation of economic affluence in our daily lives, various problems typical of modern society have currently come to the surface that relate to the human spirit, such as bullying in school, cult religions and so on. This has resulted in an increase in the needs being placed on culture as a means of lifting the spirit. Culture is therefore becoming increasingly important in all aspects of daily life, the economy and society.

In addition, culture in addition to the economy is becoming an important bases of existence of countries throughout the world. It is therefore necessary that Japan, as a member of the world's advanced nations, work to strive towards the creation of a culture-based country by taking pride in Japan's own culture and earning the respect of the world.

(4) Development of Full-Scale Advanced Information Utilization

The development of advanced information utilization changes the communication structure that serves as a medium between human and social relationships, and retains the potential for radically reforming social systems. It is therefore necessary to seek out new social systems that accommodate this age of advanced information utilization.

(5) Increasing Seriousness of Global Environmental Issues

Global environmental issues are rapidly coming to the forefront as issues that are involved with the very existence of mankind. It is necessary to form a new relationship between man and nature in line with the framework of "sustainable development".

(6) Increased Need for Reformation of Scientific Research Organizations

Although scientific research inherently refers to the state of being able to conduct research freely in accordance with intellectual interest, there is a growing need for research on new subjects relating to the existence of mankind that are success coming to the surface, an example of which are global environmental issues. There is also a need for scientific research oriented towards the solving of problems relating to fundamentals of human existence, such as religion, philosophy and ethics. In order to proceed with this research, instead of adopting conventional research organizations for which limits are becoming increasingly clear, it is imperative that flexible research organizations be established that have greater maneuverability, including interdisciplinary efforts and mutual permeation of both fundamental and applied research.

(7) Industry Confronting an Age of Intense Competition

In contrast to the coming of an age of intense competition in which the world has formed a single market economy, together with the growing acquisition being placed on scientific technology accompanying trend towards the formation of economic blocks, the Japanese economy is being confronted with difficulties unlike anything experienced before, including long-term economic recession, increased seriousness of trade friction, and emptying of industry. In order for Japan to maintain stable economic growth in harmony with the rest of the world, it will be imperative to strive towards the formation of a country based on technology with the aim of creating new industries.

- New Culture Capitol Creating Culture and Civilization in the 21st Century -

The Kansai Science City is based on the philosophy of contributing to international society by anticipating the needs of the times and opening up the future of mankind based on the proposals of the Okuda Meeting.

In addition, as issues relating to the human spirit and the existence of mankind become clearer amidst the current trends of the times and social requirements, the human issues proposed by the meeting can be said to be changing into issues that require a prompt solution.

In order to respond to these needs, construction of this city aims at the creation of a "new culture capital" that fuses each of the fields of culture, scientific research and community creation while inheriting the results that have been achieved thus far. The Kansai region, which continues to be the cradle of Japanese culture and epitomizes the cultural capital of Japan, it considered to be the most suitable as the site for creating a new culture capital to be opened up to the world.

The concept of this new culture capital can be summarized by the three factors indicated below in reflection of this initial philosophy.

(1) Creation and Exchange of Culture

1) Formation of the Core of Cultural Creation that Leads the Way to Improvement of the Cultural Strength of Japan

When considering a growing awareness of the importance of culture, at present with increasing emphasis being placed on cultural aspects from a national perspective, this city will promote the enhancement of cultural core facilities and the creation of a community rich in culture in the form of a scientific research city crowned with culture. The city will lead the way to improving the cultural strength of the entire country in its capacity as the core of the creation of culture.

2) International Contributions to Culture through Exchange Between the Unique Culture of Japan and Different Cultures Throughout the World

In consideration of the Japan's unique culture, Japan, and particularly the Kansai region, has aggressively incorporated culture from East and West to form and accumulate a peculiar culture through mutual contact and refinement. By taking advantage of these past achievements, this city will serve as the core for contributing to the attainment of peace for all mankind from cultural aspects as a result of promoting exchange between unique Japanese culture recognized across the world and the different cultures of other countries.

(2) Promotion of New Scientific Research

1) Promotion of Scientific Research Contributing to the Resolution of Human Issues

Amidst the serious issues relating to the future of mankind that have appeared in even greater number since the time of the initial proposal for the construction of this city, efforts will be made to promote even more comprehensive scientific research that brings together culture, social science and natural science in recognition of the important role placed on this city for the purpose of resolving human issues (including issues relating to the fundamentals of human existence such as philosophy and religion, as well as global environmental issues and other issues relating to ensuring conditions for the survival of mankind).

2) Promotion of Science and Technology, Development of the Economy and Society by Utilizing those Results, and Contributions to the Prosperity of Mankind

As a member of the advanced nations of the world, Japan is obligated to open up new fields of science and technology on its own through creative scientific research in line with a direction that solves human issues in an effort to contribute to the prosperity of mankind through active utilization of those results. This city will aggressively contribute to the development of the economy and society along with the prosperity of mankind by creating new industry and reconstructing industry while maintaining a new sense of ethics.

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

This city will contribute to solving the various problems confronting modern cities in terms of community creation, such as problems facing existing new cities and the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin earthquake, with the aim of realizing an experimental city (pilot model city) that shows and leads the way to a city of the future by aggressively incorporating the results of various cultural and scientific research activities and aggressively implementing new attempts suitable for a civilization of the 21st century in all phases of human living.

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