Session 1: Dialogue/Fireside Chat - Exploring the Future of Cities after COVID-19
18:00–18:15 JST
Moderator
Victor Mulas
Senior Urban Specialist, Task Team Leader at Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), World Bank
Speaker
Ryosuke Toura
Executive General Manager, Tokyu Corporation
What is the future of cities following COVID-19? In this session, Mr. Ryosuke Toura, Executive General Manager of Tokyu Corporation, will share his perspective on how cities can change and adapt to the new urban reality after COVID-19. Drawing on Tokyu Corporation’s urban development project in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood, Mr. Toura will introduce new trends in urban planning, transportation, and city dynamics and discuss key priorities for urban planners and practitioners as we move towards a new urban context after COVID-19.
Session 2: Japanese Cities after COVID-19 – Opportunities and Challenges for Smart Cities Moving Forward (Panel)
18:15–18:35 JST
Moderator
Abhas Jha
Practice Manager, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, South Asia Region, World Bank
Panelists
- Toru Hashimoto
Director General for Development Cooperation Department, International Affairs Bureau, City of Yokohama - Koichi Matono
Director of Smart City Planning, Fukuoka City - Taisuke Matsuzaki
Director for Smart City Projects, Cross-Sector Coordination Lab, Planning and Coordination Bureau, City of Kobe
How are Japanese cities preparing for a post–COVID-19 world? What are the key challenges and opportunities resulting from altered work and lifestyles? For this session, TDLC has invited speakers from Japan’s leading smart cities—Yokohama, Fukuoka, and Kobe—to share their perspectives and visions based on their extensive experience and leadership in adapting to challenges and transformations throughout history and present their lessons learned for other cities facing similar challenges.
Session 3: Technology Trends and Impact on Cities in Developing Countries
18:35–18:50 JST
Moderator
Narae Choi
Senior Urban Specialist, Lead of Global Smart Cities Partnership Program, World Bank
Speaker
Tak Nagumo
Executive Director, Smart City Institute Japan
What are the best-suited technologies to aid recovery after COVID-19? What are the emerging trends in urban technologies, and how may these technologies impact people and businesses in the post–COVID-19 world? Mr. Nagumo from the Smart City Institute will discuss how cities around the world can learn from the experiences of Japanese cities, in terms of solutions and approaches to address these challenges.
