Abstract:

Gyoran-zaka Shopping District locates in southern district of Minato-ward, in middle of Tokyo. It is a declining shopping district. The development of eight lane boulevards in the middle of the district and the redevelopment that followed has destroyed the network of community.

Gyoran-zaka Merchant Association consists of 40 stores of the area. It used to possess more than 100 members. Unlike thriving Azabu Juban Shopping District that locates in the adjacent area, Gyoran-zaka Shopping District seems to have a lot of problems.

In order to understand the situation of the district, a group of students of Meijigakuin University, which locates in the vicinity, has rent a meeting room in Gyoran-zaka from the Merchant Association. The meeting room has become a laboratory to conduct the study of the neighborhood.

The students were asked to do a field survey of the area including a lot of interviews to the shop owners. In addition, they have been participating in various events that are held by the association.

This paper is to investigate the effect of having the study laboratory within the study site and also outside of campus from two perspectives. One is to see the effect to the shopping district, and another is to see the effect as an educational tool for students.

The investigation of the research is conducted by interviews to shop owners and also to students who have participated in the field survey. It will also look at some similar case in order to frame the questionnaire for the interviews.

Keywords:

Hands-on Learning, Community Design, Community Marketing, Local Shopping Street.