Choosing to leave his job in order to look after his wife after she suffered a stroke, Shunzo Ueda faced a dilemma. With his savings running out, no money coming in, and little desire to leave his home, how would he be able to continue to support his wife and stay living in the area he loved so much?

To solve this dilemma, Ueda took an approach taken frequently in Japan – build upwards. By demolishing his former dwelling and replacing it with a larger building – called Tokyo Apartment –  Ueda created a home for himself and his wife, and three compact apartments to rent out. Simply by making innovative use of the land he already owned, architect Sou Fujimoto was able to provide an income for Ueda and his wife.

And this approach is typical of Japan, partly driven by geographical restrictions. With a population of almost 130 million spread across a relatively small landmass, Japan is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with 337.1 people per square kilometre. In comparison, China has 139.6 people per square kilometre, and Australia just 2.8. And due to its mountainous terrain, development is difficult in much of Japan, further increasing the density of its geographically-habitable cities.

Cultural factors contribute to Japan’s density too. As a society which places meticulous organisation and shared occupancy in high regard, dense architectural development seems inevitable.

Both technological and social advancement are also highly valued in Japan, and this open-minded attitude has crossed over into the architectural realm. Compared to many socially-Western countries – including Australia – whose local councils and national governments strictly control urban development, Japan has been able to explore new architectural ideas more fully, creating a varied urban streetscape.

And if this wasn’t reason enough, high land prices throughout the country – especially in Tokyo – mean dense development is the only way many people can afford a home.Yet Japan’s density can act as a case study for other countries. With rapid urbanisation being experienced globally, where better to look for guidance on how to manage this change than Japan? As a nation with decades of experience creating architecture for demanding urban environments, the Japanese approach to density provides a valuable insight to the rest of the world.

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