What Will Shibuya Look Like in 100 Years? Tokyo Tatemono's Vision for the Future of the City, People, and Education (Part 1)

What kind of sustainability perspectives and ideas will be essential for future business? In this series, members of Dentsu Inc.'sSustainability Consulting Office —a specialized organization supporting sustainability management—visit opinion leaders in this field to hear their insights.

In the third installment, Kento Yamada from the Sustainability Consulting Office interviews Hirota Seki of Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd., who is involved in the Shibuya REGENERATION Project (Shibuya 2-chome Project), the largest redevelopment in the Shibuya area. They explore how the relationship between people, the city, and education will evolve for the future, examining it from an urban development perspective. This interview is presented in two parts.

Shibuya's Largest Redevelopment Project: Where Sustainability Perspective is Essential

Yamada: As one of the 17 SDG goals states, "Sustainable Cities and Communities," I feel that urban development directly connected to people's lives is at the heart of sustainability. What role do you play in the redevelopment of the Shibuya 2-chome West District, known as the "Shibuya 2-chome Project"?

Seki: Within my team, we collaborate on various tasks while advancing the project. This includes negotiations and discussions with the government and other stakeholders involved in the project, managing the secretariat of the redevelopment association (where we co-own the project with the landowners), and planning product offerings and facility designs. My primary responsibility is to discuss product planning and facility design for the redevelopment building with design firms, general contractors, and designers, driving the physical construction forward. Additionally, I am in charge of planning the establishment of the STEAM talent development hub, which is the core of the redevelopment.

Yamada: Shibuya is currently experiencing what's called a "once-in-a-century" redevelopment boom. How did the Shibuya 2-chome Project come about in this environment?

Seki: While some may associate Tokyo Tatemono with areas like Yaesu, Nihonbashi, and Kyobashi, we weren't particularly familiar with Shibuya at the time. However, it was an area we wanted to enter, anticipating future business growth. We happened to acquire a building in Shibuya 2-chome, and after discussions with the surrounding landowners, the project was launched. The Shibuya 2-chome Project site is located in the Shibuya Station East Exit area, spanning from Miyamasuzaka to Roppongi-dori. With a total site area of approximately 18,800 square meters and a combined gross floor area of about 322,200 square meters, it is the largest-scale development planned in the Shibuya area. Currently, we are examining urban development plans for this area, divided into three blocks: A, B, and C.

Yamada: That's an enormous area, isn't it?

Sek: Given the scale of this redevelopment, initiatives contributing to the community and addressing social issues are naturally required. Examples include establishing a bus terminal to enhance transportation functions, improving pedestrian networks, and creating large-scale plazas. Crucially, establishing a "hub for STEAM talent development" is also a key component of this project.

The Affinity Between the Project's Pillar "STEAM Education" and Shibuya 2-chome

Yamada: What makes the Shibuya 2-chome Project unique is that even before redevelopment began, you focused on building community through business projects and events centered around STEAM talent. Since many people might not be familiar with the term "STEAM," could you briefly explain what it means?

Sek: STEAM education is an educational concept that has gained attention in recent years. Originally termed "STEM education," it referred to an educational plan integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to cultivate talent capable of contributing to scientific and technological advancement.

This educational plan was supported by former U.S. President Barack Obama. However, recently, the idea has been proposed that "to solve the increasingly complex challenges arising in our future society, knowledge in science and mathematics alone may not be sufficient."

This led to the emergence of "STEAM education," which adds Art (arts and liberal arts) to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is gaining attention because solving complex societal challenges requires individuals who can understand disciplines across fields and approach a single phenomenon from various perspectives.

Yamada: Why did Tokyo Tatemono focus on STEAM education?

Sekiguchi: We see the Shibuya 2-chome area as unique because it retains Shibuya's original strengths—like IT startups and youth culture—while also having educational institutions like Aoyama Gakuin University and the United Nations University nearby. It also used to have facilities for children, such as the Children's Castle and Children's Hall, creating an atmosphere steeped in educational context. In our ongoing dialogues with landowners, we've heard a strong desire to preserve and pass on this context to the future.

By nurturing STEAM talent in Shibuya 2-chome and sending them out into the world, we believe we can strengthen Tokyo's international competitiveness. Furthermore, it could offer a new approach to university education going forward. Based on these ideas, we made STEAM education a pillar of the project.

Anticipating New Innovation Through Business × STEAM Talent

Yamada: Will the planned mixed-use facility in Block B serve as the center for STEAM education?

Sekiguchi: Yes, that's correct. We plan to establish a STEAM talent development hub on the third floor of the Block B tower. The core of this plan is to gather diverse talent from all universities and research institutions, cultivate individuals capable of thriving in the future society, and send them out into the world.

If we can gather such interesting talent, pairing them with companies could spark new innovations. To that end, we also plan to establish mechanisms enabling STEAM talent to gain practical business experience and engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Yamada: I understand you're currently conducting a pilot program for STEAM talent development at the VEIL SHIBUYA building within the redevelopment area. Mr. Seki, you're involved in planning value creation programs and community events that connect STEAM talent with companies. Do you feel confident about the potential for real-world implementation?

Sek: I'm certainly confident, but to be honest, there are still many challenges. Awareness that the Shibuya 2-chome Project centers on STEAM education is still low, and building the community through events is still a work in progress. Thankfully, more companies are starting to show interest in business projects collaborating with STEAM talent, so I want to expand that circle further.

In Part 1, we heard about the overview of Tokyo Tatemono's "Shibuya 2-chome Project" and the concept of its core STEAM talent development hub. In Part 2, we'll explore the redevelopment concept shared with landowners and project stakeholders, and the full scope of the town-building plan across three blocks.