In any corner of the world, the development of a Smart City requires considering and meeting the needs and constraints of the local community, which even a large company cannot accomplish on its own. Accordingly, in November 2009 eight leading Japanese and international companies jointly launched the Smart City Project in which, as of January 2013, a total of 27 companies are participating to develop total solutions in collaboration with each other.

In order to provide a model for solving a problem commonly faced by world cities, Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City will be created under the Smart City Project in 2014, through collaboration between the public sector (Chiba Prefecture and Kashiwa City), private sector (companies and citizens) and academia (the University of Tokyo and Chiba University).Based on the three themes “Environmental-Symbiotic City,” “City of Health and Longevity,” and “City of New Industry Creation,” Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City will be developed as a sustainable Smart City where people of all age groups, including both children and the elderly, can lead their lives safely and with ease of mind.