Japanese Public Space as Defined by Event

Abstract

The Western concept of “public” and “private” did not exist in Japanese culture until late in this century. As a result, “public space” has been a flexible notion in Japan. Often it is a public event, rather than any physical and permanent boundary, that determines the extent of a public space at any given time. Nowadays, the Western view of public space has gained ascendancy in Japan. Nonetheless, the traditional Japanese concept of flexible public space could be reintroduced to revitalize the feeling of community which is losing ground in metropolitan areas like Tokyo. This chapter will examine the source of the traditional concept and its examples in the urban environments of historical and modern Japan. Suggestions about creating event-based public space in today’s Tokyo will also be presented at the end of the discussion.