Tamura's Writings
Urban policy planner Akira Tamura (1926-2010) has written 368 articles (including articles and essays) and 71 books (both single-authored and co-authored). There are probably more than this, assuming that the originals are identified and made public (or accessible). There are various reasons for this: some of them were lectures and compiled lecture transcripts but have been lost and the originals cannot be confirmed; some of them are information magazines and are not available to the public because they are members-only; and some of them cannot be traced to the companies in the corporate information magazines in which they were published. Nevertheless, as we carefully read the ones we were able to confirm, we can catch a glimpse of how Tamura's own theoretical constructs were sharpened by deepening his study and practice. The 22 essays and books selected here are a cohesive selection of those that are in line with the issues that Tamura has always advocated in the course of changing times. The topics include urban overcrowding, urban policy making, urban independence, urban management theory, planner theory, municipal policy theory, training independent officials, and more. We have also taken into consideration chronological order. The publishers are diverse. Note that the first number in each title is the classification number for "Discussion," and the number with a B is the classification number for "Book. Finally, Tamura has long referred to himself as an "urban planner," but in his later years he used the term "urban policy planner. Perhaps this is because his writing gradually became more and more concerned with urban management, municipal policies, and human resource development, and the term "urban planner" no longer has a materialistic ring to it. (Toshio Taguchi, March 26, 2024)
22 Tamura, Akira: Overcrowding Countermeasures from the Viewpoint of Urban Engineering, Yokohama City University Urban Problems Course, No.1, Yokohama City University Urban Problems Course Steering Committee, pp.20-39,1968.6
This is an essay written by Akira Tamura just before he entered the City of Yokohama (1968.4). It theoretically explains the urban overcrowding problem and its solution from a comprehensive perspective. It still lacks practical details. It is a course at Yokohama City University, which was started at the behest of Mayor Asukata, with scholars including Mayor Asukata sharing the writing duties.
24 Akira Tamura and Masayasu Narumi: Urban Policy Conservatism and Innovation, Modern Socialism, Modern Socialism Research Association, pp. 76-87, 1968.8
Akira Tamura entered the City of Yokohama in a conversation with Masayasu Narumi, the political chief strategist of Mayor Asukaida. They discuss the differences between the LDP and the Socialist Party in their awareness of urban issues and their policy making. While there is no difference between conservative and innovative parties in terms of dealing with everyday issues, he expected innovative municipalities to make urban policies that look 100 years into the future.
45 Tamura, Akira: Social background of the emergence of CATV, Housing, Chuokoron-sha, pp. 41-44, 1970.11
It is surprising that Akira Tamura focused on this in 1970, when cable television CATV had not yet taken root in Japan, and he considers how the introduction of CATV will change society. It is impressive that Tamura thought so comprehensively about urban development. The original work is still missing.
53 Akira Tamura: Necessity of planners and their activities, Space Design, No. 85, Kajima Press, pp. 20-32, 1971.10
In 1971, when the Planning and Coordination Office was only four years old, Space Design featured Yokohama's urban development in its regular issue. It developed Akira Tamura's theory of planners in municipalities. He talks about why planners are necessary and what they are expected to do, based on his practice.
66 Akira Tamura: Wana of National Land Planning, Shimin, No.11, 《Citizen》 Editorial Board, Keiso Shobo, pp.28-34, 1972.11
This is a critical article on national land planning and the theory of remodeling the Japanese archipelago, written in a rather unusual magazine, "Shimin. While the Economic Planning Agency's national land planning has been politically instrumentalized and has no practical power, Kakuei Tanaka's theory of remodeling the Japanese archipelago, on the other hand, is all about short-term investment. Tamura says that national land planning requires a long-term strategy.
92 Tamura, Akira: From Urban Administration to Urban Management: An Introduction to Urban Management Theory, World, No. 362, Iwanami Shoten, pp. 43-56, 1976.1
Akira Tamura, who became Director General of the Planning and Coordination Bureau in 1972, published his theory of urban management in "Sekai" based on his achievements in Yokohama up to that time. Beginning with the philosophy of urban management, he calls for a theory of regional management by local governments and citizens, and the establishment of management autonomy of local governments by citizens. It is a powerful research paper.
124 Akira Tamura: Urban Planning and Environmental Quality, Architecture and the City a+u, A&U, pp.91-96,1979.3
This essay was written just after the completion of Odori Park. Tamura's work in Yokohama began with the project of undergrounding the expressway to secure Odori Park. He describes how urban planning is not comprehensive and how there is no planning theory that looks to the future. The realization of Odori Park was monumental for Tamura.
131 Akira Tamura: Idea and Reality of City Planning Law, Urban Affairs, Vol. 70, No. 8, Tokyo Municipal Government Research Institute, pp. 3-18, 1979.8
This is a research paper in which Akira Tamura, who has left the field of urban development, reviews the City Planning Law based on his past experience. He analyzes in detail the background from the enactment of the old City Planning Law to the enactment of the new City Planning Law and the problems each of them faced. It is interesting to point out that the new law cannot be said to be superior to the old law in all aspects.
156 Akira Tamura: On Considering the Problem of the Elderly, Research Quarterly, No. 68, Urban Science Research Office, Planning and Coordination Bureau, City of Yokohama, p.2, 1980.12
Akira Tamura, who was transferred to a new post by Mayor Hosogo, became the administrative assistant to the head of the Urban Science Research Office and wrote this article as the preface to a special issue of "Chosa Kiho" (Quarterly Survey Report). He stated that it was necessary to establish a system to support the elderly not only by family members but also by the local community.
167 Akira Tamura: Municipal Policy Planner, Juristo Zasshi Sogo Tokusatsu No. 22, The New Era of Local Government and Public Officials, Yuhikaku, pp.203-209, 1981.4
This paper discusses the need for local governments to have independent policy planners, based on the policy-making capacity of local governments, which has been inferior to that of the national government. He also mentions the system for training planners. This is a compilation of planner theory.
202 Akira Tamura: Mayor Asukita-san and I, Local Autonomy News, No.170, Center for Local Autonomy, pp.39-42, 1984.1
Wrote an evaluation of Kazuo Asukita, the former mayor of Yokohama, who moved to become the chairman of the Japan Socialist Party, and his friendship with himself. Asuka advocated and practiced the transformation of local governments into "self-governing entities that stand on the individuality of the citizens. Tamura was helped during his tenure by his personality, which was not divided into upper and lower classes but was full of humanity.
208 Tamura, Akira: High Utilization of Land in the City, Juristo, Extra General Special Issue No. 34, Yuhikaku, pp.162-168, 1984.3
The upgrading of the urban environment is aimed at improving the quality of the environment. Although there are numerous legal systems for this purpose, they have not been able to be integrated and put into operation. The only way to achieve sophistication by mobilizing the power of citizens according to the individuality of the city is to look to the local government. This paper reflects Akira Tamura's accumulation of theory and practice.
263 Tamura, Akira: Effectiveness and Problems of Municipal Headhunting, Training of Local Government Officials, Vol. 20, No. 11, Public Service Staff Training Association, pp. 45-47, 1987.11
This paper discusses measures for utilizing outside human resources for local government officials based on Akira Tamura's personal experience. Whether Tamura himself was a headhunter or not is subtle; he has moved from being a consultant who made proposals to being a practitioner. This is a kindly article that also includes some points to keep in mind for personnel who come in from the outside.
270 Akira Tamura: The Idea of Urban Planning: On Cities and Garbage, Science of Thought, No. 107, Science of Thought, pp. 32-39, 1988.9
Argues that a comprehensive viewpoint is needed on how urban waste disposal should be carried out. Introducing examples of efforts in Yokohama and other cities, he stated that material reuse should be made possible through a comprehensive socioeconomic mechanism. He stated that the attitude of local government leaders will be important based on his experience at the Roundtable Meeting of the Mayors of the Seven Major Cities.
280 Tamura, Akira: Citizens and City Planning: Toward an Attractive City, Hosei, Hosei University, 1989.10
This is a public lecture by Hosei University, which has been held annually in local cities, discussing the meaning and issues of city planning for the general public. He talks about the necessity of individualized city planning, and how citizens should think and act as their own problems in doing so. He also says that the quality of a city should be considered in terms of its living culture.
297 Akira Tamura: What Asukita Yokohama City Government Left Behind, Local Administration, No. 8380, Jiji Press, pp. 2-9, 1990.11
In mourning for Kazuo Asukita, who passed away in 1990, Akira Tamura looks back on the Asukita era of Yokohama City from the perspective of his own relationship with the city, and questions the state of local government. Asukita reformed the municipality as a subject of civil defense and also elevated the municipality as a policy entity. He concluded by stating that he would continue to usher in the "age of the region" in the future.
352 Akira Tamura: Comprehensiveness of Urban Policy and Grand Design of the City, Urban Affairs, Vol. 88, No. 9, Tokyo Municipal Research Institute, pp. 17-30, 1997.9
Akira Tamura says that urban policy first requires a grand design as an idea of what the city should be. To implement a comprehensive urban policy and grand design, a planning and coordination department is necessary in the local government, which is the secretariat for citizens. He also emphasizes the importance of developing human resources to run such a department.
364 Akira Tamura: Pride of Local Government Officials as Staff of "Citizen's Government," Training for Local Government Officials, No. 571, Association for the Training of Public Service Officials, pp. 12-13, 2008.4
Akira Tamura talks about what a local government official should be. He says that they should be aware of their position, have the necessary abilities, and take pride in themselves as staff members of a "citizen's government. They should have a sense of independence and work together with citizens to create a unique community. He says that they should work together with citizens in a comprehensive manner, rather than in a rigid, stove-piped manner.
365 Akira Tamura: No appeal, eye-covering misery, no more limits to small measures, Weekly Diamond, 2008.12/2009.1 New Year's issue, Diamond, p.160, 2009.1
This is Akira Tamura's last year's essay, in which he addresses the crisis of the decline of the central city area. The fact that self-centered, discrete, individual construction takes precedence and lacks the concept of thinking about the city as a whole refers to the lack of comprehensiveness that Tamura always refers to. Tamura's point that the appeal of a city lies in its heterogeneous interactions is the essence of Tamura's style of urban development.
B32 Political Procedures between the Central Government and Local Governments
This is a major treatise on “political procedures” between the central government and local governments by Akira Tamura. In fact, “political procedures” is a new concept by Tamura, but it is an attempt to clarify the decision-making structure between different entities. It is a theme that can only be written by Tamura, who has been practicing planning and coordination functions in Yokohama City.
B34 Issues and Prospects for Policy Research in Local Government
Akira Tamura questions the importance of policy research in local government. In order for local government officials to become policy makers, it is essential that they have pride and love for their local communities, and that they have extensive knowledge of their local communities. Tamura's character is evident in his suggestion that local government officials should be motivated and have a wealth of emotions.
B39 The Significance of the Tokushima Local Government Conference
The first general meeting and study session of the Society for Local Government, which was established in Yokohama with support from Kanagawa Prefecture in 1986, was held in Tokushima in 1987. Akira Tamura was deeply involved in the establishment of an academic society in which local government officials, researchers, and citizens participate as individuals and exchange research. Reports on the purpose of activities, etc.