Streets that connect a grid of shops, the Machiya (townhouses) that extend deep into the back and their narrow entryways, the narrow alleys—in addition to the historical buildings, Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines, the living environment of historical city Kyoto comprises such elements in its residential areas. Tomohiko Yoshida, who specializes in urban and living environment policy, is fascinated by Kyoto as a city and is keeping track of the transition of its urban form.

He says, “The advantage of Kyoto is that it was not bombed during the Second World War, and the city’s renewal has steadily continued from the modern era to this present day.” There are quite a few townhouses in the city that were constructed more than 100 years ago. On the other hand, the aging of residents has progressed, and about 10% of the townhouses are vacant. It is not that the government is looking on with folded arms. In Kyoto City, the “Ordinance on Preservation and Utilization of Historical Buildings in Kyoto City,”—which utilizes the exclusion from application of provisions in the Building Standard Law—was put into place for the purpose of “preserving historical buildings in good condition, such as Kyo-machiya that have scenic and cultural value, and putting them in use, as well as passing them down to the next generation.” Yoshida also advocates a political direction for these old buildings based on the results of studies on the urban structure and living environment of the Kyo-machiya.

For example, there is a study that details the supply situation of previously owned residential houses in Kyoto City as one of the indicators for evaluating the characteristics of the urban structure of the city. Yoshida analyzed the geographical distribution of Kyoto City, focusing not only on Kyo-machiya but also on the location, specifications, and price of all detached houses, including older detached houses and apartment buildings. He brought to light the price differences, as well as tendencies in total floor area and number of rooms using districts, such as Higashiyama and Kita Ward, and also locations and selling prices that are often available in the market. He has also identified a characteristic referring to the “undersupply of used detached houses,” which is especially prominent in the downtown area.

In considering a sustainable city, the people who live there and the way they live are also important variables. Yoshida says, “What is ideal for maintaining residential areas is the presence of men and women of all ages, and residents of various generations.” From this point of view, he focused on the importance of households with young families living near their parents, and by targeting areas of detached houses in the suburbs of Kyoto City, he analyzed the difference between households that managed to live near their parents by moving into the area, in contrast with those that did not. “Living nearby” as used here carries more of a psychological meaning, which is to say, to live in a range where it is possible to come and go between the parent’s and child’s households within 30 minutes, irrespective of the means of transportation.

Yoshida says, “In the suburbs of Kyoto City that I surveyed, there were many of the children’s generation who lived close to the husband’s parents, and in particular, there were many households in which both the husband and wife worked.” He analyzed the results to mean that “the determining factor in moving closer was that the children were worried about their parents, rather than them wanting the parents ‘to take care of their grandchildren.’” Meanwhile, in the downtown area of Kyoto City, it seems that “the mix of residents is completed, so to speak.” While there are many suburban housing complexes in which most residents are elderly people, the downtown area of Kyoto City, where the residents as well as the city landscape continues to be renewed, can be considered an ideal format. How can such a city be preserved for the future? The importance of Yoshida’s research will further increase in the future.