How has the town, once described as "scary and dirty," changed? — "Passing on the Story of Minami's Regeneration"

Minami offers a diverse range of entertainment and possesses a somewhat chaotic charm. Many people love its atmosphere and return to it again and again. However, more than 20 years ago, Minami was known as a "scary, dirty town." Touts and illegal signs were commonplace, abandoned bicycles blocked sidewalks, and foot traffic in the shopping districts plummeted.

Scenes from the first local crime prevention campaign (March 28, 2001, provided by Ebisubashi Shopping Street)

One of the driving forces behind the transformation of the town was the local merchants. They diligently continued patrols, consulted with the government, police, and businesses, and created a system of cooperation to create a safe and secure environment, including measures against touting and abandoned bicycles. At the same time, they repeatedly took on the challenge of transforming aging public spaces such as the Dotonbori River waterfront, Midosuji Avenue, and the area in front of Namba Station into places that people want to walk and spend time in. The Tonbori Riverwalk, the pedestrian space on Midosuji Avenue, and Namba Plaza are all the result of this accumulation of trial and error by both the public and private sectors.

A scene from the Osaka Minami 400th Anniversary Festival (2015)

"Passing on the Story of Minami's Revitalization" is a book that compiles the progress of the past 25 years, based on interviews with those involved. The Minami Community Development Network and its predecessor, the Minami Community Development Forum, have both played a part in this journey. Who thought what, how did they act, and how did they overcome the crisis facing the town? Rather than a scholarly book, this is a book that should be read as a "story of community development." Preparation began two years ago, and it took six months to complete. To ensure that the 25-year history is properly recounted, we sought confirmation from the merchants, government officials, and other stakeholders featured in this book.

After finishing this book, the familiar scenery of Minami might look a little different.

●Authors: Shinya Hashizume (Writing & Supervision), Hideo Yamamoto (Writing & Editing)
●Publisher: Yubunsha, A5 size, approximately 180 pages, List price: 1500 yen

For details and to purchase, please click here:
https://tanabe-local.net/story-of-minamis-revitalization/