© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016 95
J. Jupesta, T. Wakiyama (eds.), Low Carbon Urban Infrastructure
Investment in Asian Cities, Cities and the Global Politics of the
Environment, DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-59676-5_6
CHAPTER 6Abstract Smart city (hereinafter SC) development (i.e., smartization and
improved effi ciency in the management of utilities such as electricity, gas,
water, waste, and transportation) presently represents one of the most
prominent terms in city development. The concept is often understood to
be a panacea for the pressing global issues and sources of ineffi ciency (e.g.,
growing energy consumption, scarce natural resources, waste management
issues, rapid urbanization, industrial pollution, endangered biodiversity,
and traffi c problems). The concept has recently been discussed widely
in developed countries within the context of green innovation, green
economies, and the green new deal.
Rapidly industrializing cities in developing countries are also promoting
the smart city (SC) concept. The Nikkei BP Smart Tech Institute ( 2012 )
estimates that the worldwide SC market potential will reach approximately
four quadrillion Japanese yen by 2030, and the majority of this value will
be derived from developing industrial countries. Although interest in SCs
is quite high, few studies focusing on the topic have been published in the
fi elds of urban planning and international development. This chapter treats
SCs as one of the most important historical thresholds of urban planning,
Smart Cities in Japan and Their Application
in Developing Countries
Noriko Kono , Aki Suwa , and Sohail Ahmad