Road to human-centric smart city governance in Japan: The case of Fujisawa sustainable smart town

Abstract

While the smart city literature extensively discusses the human-centric approach to smart city governance, empirical evidence remains limited. This study examines the practical applications of this approach and considers the remaining challenges, using the case of the Sustainable Smart Town of Fujisawa, Japan. It focuses on institutionalisation, organisational transformation, and public participation, highlighting the achievements and limitations of human-centric governance in this context. In Fujisawa, a practical approach to human-centric governance emerged to overcome bureaucratic barriers to implementing smart city initiatives. This includes formulating smart city policies tailored to the urban context and introducing institutional reforms in the local government; these allow the city to engage with multiple stakeholders and prioritise citizens' needs. However, several challenges persist, such as the limited competence of the local smart city department to drive a citywide initiative and limited governmental digitalisation. Furthermore, while public opinion is collected by certain advanced digital tools, there is no mechanism for stakeholder dialog or direct citizen participation in decision-making processes; this lack of engagement prevents the city from adequately addressing citizens' needs. Addressing these limitations is vital for achieving a human-centric approach in local smart city initiatives.