"Hajimari-ichi": A Social Experiment to Create a Vibrant Community Through Public-Private Partnerships

四日市市では、2027年のリニア開通に合わせて道路空間の再編計画が進行中である。 これは、リニア開通に伴い四日市~東京間を90分程度で行き来することが可能となり、従来の人・モノの流れが変わり、これまで影響圏外だった経済圏を取り込んでいくことに期待する計画だ。
近鉄四日市駅とJR四日市駅を結ぶ中央通りの全長約1.6kmの区間において、車線数を8~6車線から4~2車線に削減し、「ニワミチよっかいち」というコンセプトのもと居心地が良く歩きたくなる空間づくりとしてまちなかの回遊を支える歩行空間を整備していく。今回社会実験を行った区間を含む国道１号～JR四日市駅にかけては、車道を集約することで生まれる歩行者のための空間を公園として整備し、近鉄四日市駅周辺で今は点在しているバス乗り場を集約するバスタが国直轄事業として整備されるほか、次世代モビリティの導入空間やスマートシティ機能を支える情報基盤の受け皿として、最先端の取り組みのショーケースとなる空間づくりを行うことをうたっている。また、この計画は中央通りを中心とした中心市街地の再構築を目指すものであることから、近隣の市民公園、鵜の森公園、諏訪公園の再編計画との連携や、四日市港の賑わいづくり「四日市みなとまちづくりプラン」が進められていることから、港方面への動線づくりとも連携をしていく形となっている。
「ニワミチよっかいち」という言葉には、緑とひとの豊かな関係をともに育んでいきながら、自由に立ち寄り、気兼ねなく時を過ごせる「ニワ」の役割に加え、歩行者中心の考え方に基づきつつ、市民が自分の空間として使い、様々な出来事に出会い、歩きたくなるような「ミチ」の役割を担っていきたいという意味が込められている。　“ニワミチ”の実現は、都市の発展の過程で公害を経験してきた四日市市が、環境先進都市として今まで以上に環境に配慮し、人々に楽しまれ、選ばれ、住みたくなるまちになる「リーディングプロジェクト」となるものである。
そういった具体の整備方針やコンセプトを踏まえた空間活用の可能性を検証することが社会実験の主たる目的である。

(参考リンク：中央通り再編関係者調整会議)

In preparation for the social experiment, a Social Experiment Preparatory Committee was established, consisting of Yokkaichi City, Nikken Sekkei, and volunteer citizens. The committee comprises approximately 30 members from diverse backgrounds—including local businesses, shop owners in commercial districts (Private), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and festival organizers—who were brought together through discussions between the city and Nikken Sekkei.
Since Reiwa 4, the committee has held a total of five meetings to discuss various issues, including the scope of the experiment, the program offerings, the application process, and the public relations plan.

The following four objectives were set for conducting the social experiment:

1. To test new ways of utilizing outdoor spaces
2. To identify potential future operators
3. To inform citizens about the development plan
4. To establish connections with Yokkaichi’s existing industries

Regarding “2. Identifying potential future operators,” since part of the developed space is intended to be operated under a Park-PFI model in the future, this objective implies verifying through the experiment whether the location has commercial potential.

Regarding “3. Raising public awareness of the development plan,” the goal was to allow visitors to experience firsthand how the tree-lined central median—a lush green space that had previously gone unused—is being transformed into a space for the public.

We divided the experimental area into four zones and organized the items to be verified for each zone.
In the event area, we decided to solicit events from local organizations every weekend to verify operations related to fixture layouts and the required size of storage space.

In the Street Area, we decided to explore ways to create spaces within the future sidewalk plan that make the most of the programs of the buildings along the street and their relationship with existing trees.

In the Park Area and the Culture & Challenge Area, we decided to explore the potential for utilizing the space along the camphor tree-lined avenue—which will be retained in future plans—as a public space from the perspectives of comfort and management.

The details of the weekend events and the daily vendors were selected through an open call. NAD was responsible for drafting the application requirements and handling inquiries during the recruitment process. This provided an opportunity to build relationships with vendors prior to the experiment and enabled seamless communication throughout the event period. As a result, applications were received from over 60 stores both within and outside Yokkaichi City, and 12 events were held during the period.

Through a series of community workshops, participants brainstormed ideas for how to utilize Chuo-dori. Among the proposals discussed was the idea of using the area as a skate park; to assess demand and determine an appropriate scale, a temporary skate park was actually set up as part of a social experiment.

When determining the scale and planning the “sections”—the structures designed for skateboarding—we sought the cooperation of local skaters and park builders, aiming to create a full-fledged park that, despite being temporary, could be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to professionals.

With the intention of encouraging people to try using spaces they haven’t used before while envisioning the future, we named this social experiment “Hajimari-ichi: Market 4 Beginning.”

The logo was created by the “Komono Design Institute,” a design firm based in Komono City, Mie Prefecture. It features multiple vessels modeled after Banko-yaki—one of Yokkaichi’s traditional crafts—arranged side by side to represent the diverse collection of vendors.

The “Gate of Beginnings” set up at the venue featured art panels created by local children from an art class, who painted the logo on plywood boards.

Here’s a look at what happened during the event.
In the event area, activities organized by local companies and organizations were held every weekend, providing an opportunity to explore new ways to utilize outdoor spaces.

In the street area, in addition to installing fixtures designed to encourage people to linger, a boarding and alighting area for autonomous vehicles was set up, creating a scene that evokes a vision of the future where next-generation mobility is in use.

In the Culture Challenge Area, the vendors rotated daily, and while there were many visitors on weekends and during lunchtime, allowing them to experience the cozy atmosphere of the camphor tree-lined space, we also found that the area could become quiet at certain times of the day, highlighting the need to refine store operating hours and layout.

The park area attracted large numbers of visitors on both weekdays and weekends, and I was surprised by the wide range of ages among them. On weekends, they held beginner classes and jam sessions featuring professional skaters, which generated a lot of excitement.

Although the social experiment has concluded for now, it is crucial to determine who will manage the space and how, in order to ensure it continues to be used vibrantly even after its renovation. In this regard, we hope that the private sector will take on this role. Through NAD’s involvement in this social experiment, we believe we were able to bridge the aspirations of both the city and its residents, thereby helping to lay the groundwork for the sustainable use of Chuo-dori. Through the planning of this social experiment, I feel that connections—or seeds of solidarity—between private-sector entities are beginning to take root. We intend to carefully nurture these seeds during the preparatory period leading up to the renovation and do our utmost to ensure that Niwamichi continues to be used vibrantly even after the work is complete.

Project Team: Takaaki Ueda, Soichiro Fuji, Motoka Taguchi
Photo: Masami Fujii *The fourth photo, “Scene from the Panel-Making Workshop,” is courtesy of Nikken Sekkei

Reprinted from the Nikken Activity Lab (NAD) website