#Japan #Tokyo #Urban Development #Shimizu Corporation #Northbound

Embracing Community Engagement: Northbound and Shimizu Corporation Collaboration

The Spark for New Research Themes

In a recent interview, Northbound shared insights into their consulting collaboration with Shimizu Corporation (located in Chuo, Tokyo). Northbound, a leader in urban development sectors, has embraced the theme of community engagement, known as "nigiwai" (meaning liveliness or vibrancy). This project originated from the ongoing quest for innovative research themes at Shimizu's Technical Research Institute.

"Our laboratory continuously seeks new significant research fields. The idea of 'vibrancy' emerged quite organically—initially a casual notion—but once we connected it with concepts of urban planning and regional revitalization, we saw its potential," explains Takashi Ishizuka, Group Leader of the Acoustic Environment Group at the institute.

Consulting Firm Developments

To elevate their research on 'nigiwai', Shimizu Corporation turned to Northbound for consulting expertise. "Our first encounter with Northbound's President, Shotaro Yamaguchi, occurred at a 2023 event at Osaka University, where we were impressed by the insights he offered on future urban planning," reveals Takuya Okazawa, Group Leader at Shimizu. After several fruitful discussions, the two organizations embarked on a collaborative journey.

Ishizuka adds, "While our institute focuses on technical and academic perspectives, we recognize our limitations in urban engagement experience. Partnering with Northbound's consultants allows us to generate new innovative ideas."

Expanding Horizons through Consulting Services

Northbound’s tailored consulting services have broadened Shimizu's research endeavors. From field studies and workshops to developing an alpha version of an application, the collaboration has diversified approaches. "Proposals from Northbound led to an expansion of our activities. The guidance during workshops yielded ideas we might not have generated alone," shares Yoshikazu Noyama, Director of Urban Space Technology Center.

The consultants' agility in tailoring approaches proved invaluable, allowing Shimizu to efficiently pivot direction when necessary.

The Importance of ‘Nigiwai’ in Urban Development

Creating a research theme centered around 'nigiwai' is a unique and strategic venture for a construction company. Noyama believes it is crucial at this juncture, stating, “Construction has predominantly focused on structural and material research. However, we need to consider holistic urban development. Our ability to propose areas such as 'nigiwai' will connect to our corporate strength and innovation.”

Ishizuka adds, “Our institute has long understood the need to go beyond construction and delve into urban management and revitalization, actively challenging previously unconsidered aspects.”

Okazawa emphasizes that Shimizu seeks to transcend traditional construction paradigms into areas such as development, which makes understanding and integrating 'nigiwai' into practice essential.

Looking Ahead: Expectations and Future Collaborations

As the partnership develops, Northbound’s role as a supportive consulting firm is showing promise. The researchers at Shimizu value Northbound’s ability to guide complex projects and wish to explore how their initiatives can be implemented in social contexts. Noyama states, "We hope Northbound will assist in driving our projects towards social implementation."

Ishizuka adds, “Given the evolving nature of this project, Northbound's dynamic, supportive approach is appreciated. It would be great to see them actively share our solutions with the external community once we solidify our direction.”

Conclusion

The collaborative efforts between Northbound and Shimizu Corporation reflect a progressive approach to integrating community engagement into urban development. We look forward to seeing how this initiative evolves and contributes not just to Shimizu’s projects, but to the broader landscape of urban planning and revitalization.

About Northbound

Northbound is a consulting partner dedicated to supporting organizations in their exploration of new territories within urban development and social infrastructure. Their commitment to assisting companies through various stages of project ideation to implementation makes them a compelling ally for businesses aiming to innovate.
For inquiries regarding new business ventures, please contact via email at contact@northbound.jp.