Public-Private-Academic Collaboration Launches "Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City Town-Wide Cooling Action" for Heat-Resilient Urban Development

UDCK Town Management, a general incorporated association promoting urban development in Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City (Headquarters: Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Representative Director: Yamamoto Ari, hereinafter referred to as "UDCK Town Management"), is launching the "Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City Town-Wide Cooling Action" to promote "heat-resilient urban development" through public-private-academic collaboration.

With increasingly severe heatwaves year after year, prompt and thorough measures against heatstroke are urgently needed. In Chiba Prefecture, summer heat has intensified, with last year (2025) recording an all-time high of approximately 90 days of summer days and over 30 days of extreme heat days. Furthermore, Kashiwa City saw nearly 300 emergency transports due to heatstroke last year, with the severity of cases increasing annually.

In response to these urban challenges, Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City advocates for a shift to "zero-stage prevention," which reduces risks in daily life before heatstroke occurs, rather than treating it after it happens. By leveraging the strong network of public, private, and academic sectors, the initiative aims to create a heat-resilient city where everyone involved in the Kashiwa-no-ha area can naturally prepare for the heat.

Specific initiatives include newly opening "UDCK (Kashiwa-no-ha Urban Design Center)," "KOIL," and "KOIL TERRACE" as cool spots. To encourage wider use, a "Cool Spot MAP" covering all cool spots in the area will be produced and distributed to raise awareness throughout the city. Additionally, learning and awareness programs on heatstroke prevention will be conducted for children and the elderly at nearby schools and the "Machi no Kenko Kenkyujo Ashita" (Health Research Institute Ashita).

Furthermore, in collaboration with Meiji Co., Ltd., a participant in Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City's urban development, "heatstroke countermeasures utilizing yogurt" will be widely implemented in the Kashiwa-no-ha area, proposing new dietary habits and various measures aimed at building bodies resilient to heat.

Through this project, Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City aims to establish a model case for "heat-resilient urban development" and to disseminate the achievements and knowledge gained not only within the area but also to Kashiwa City and, by extension, the entire Chiba Prefecture.

Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City Heat Resilience Project Initiatives List

1 Expansion of Cool Spots and Creation of a Cool Spot Map

Currently, Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City is newly opening parts of "UDCK," "KOIL," and "KOIL TERRACE" as cool spots to increase safe places to cool down. The total number of cool spots in the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City area will be 12. Additionally, by creating a map compiling the cool spots in the area, we aim to increase awareness of these facilities.

2 "Heatstroke Prevention Learning and Awareness Programs" Held at Multiple Facilities in the City

We plan to conduct "Heatstroke Prevention Learning and Awareness Programs" for children, parents, and seniors residing in the neighborhood. Through this program, we aim to encourage Kashiwa-no-ha residents to deepen their understanding of heatstroke risks and to recognize the danger of heatstroke as a personal issue, leading to the practice of daily prevention and countermeasures.

3 Heatstroke Countermeasures Using Yogurt with Meiji: "Summer Coolingurt Grand Operation"

Meiji Co., Ltd. joined the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City Consortium in 2023 and, together with UDCK Town Management, is working on the "Project to Bring the Future to the Town with Yogurt." They are promoting the creation of a healthy town through yogurt by regularly holding programs like "Walkingurt," which provides guidance on walking methods and information on proper nutrition and hydration, including yogurt.

Official Website: https://www.meiji.co.jp/kashiwanoha-meiji/

Essential for the height of summer is "heat acclimatization," where the body gradually gets used to the heat, becomes more prone to sweating, and improves its ability to regulate body temperature. It is important to acclimatize the body through moderate exercise before the heat intensifies. Frequent hydration is essential to prevent heatstroke, and recent research has revealed that consuming milk or dairy products immediately after moderately strenuous exercise improves thermoregulatory function and builds a body that can withstand heat. This is because "milk protein" in yogurt increases "circulating blood volume" in the body, which is responsible for sweat production and heat dissipation, making it easier to retain water. This project will leverage this scientific knowledge, with Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City and Meiji collaborating to implement "zero-stage prevention of heatstroke from food" using yogurt.

Source: https://www.meiji.co.jp/milk-protein/milkprotein-data/water/

Walkingurt Event and Stamp Rally to Tour Kashiwa-no-ha's Cool Spots

To promote heat acclimatization, we will hold "Walkingurt" events combining walking, stretching, strength training, and nutrition education. We aim to build bodies more resilient to heat by incorporating "interval walking" during walks.

On days when the event is not held, a stamp rally will also be conducted, where participants can collect stamps by scanning QR codes permanently installed at cool spots within the Kashiwa-no-ha area. Depending on the number of stamps collected, Meiji yogurt will be presented as a prize. Through this initiative, we aim to simultaneously promote the correct hydration and nutrition methods using yogurt and increase awareness of the town's cool spots.

Walkingurt Event Dates: July 9, 2026 (Thu), July 18, 2026 (Sat), August 6, 2026 (Thu), August 29, 2026 (Sat), September 10, 2026 (Thu), September 26, 2026 (Sat)

Stamp Rally QR Code Installation Period: June 1, 2026 (Mon) - September 30, 2026 (Wed) (planned)

Cooperation: R-Body, Machi no Kenko Kenkyujo Ashita

Checkingurt ~Self-Check of Body Water Content~

"Checkingurt" is a program held at various locations in the Kashiwa-no-ha area where participants can learn about their body's health status and health knowledge. During the summer, a measurement will be added to check water retention capacity, which is important for building a body that does not suffer from heatstroke. By understanding their own physical condition, participants will be encouraged to be aware of the importance of daily countermeasures, leading to increased awareness of heatstroke.

Booth Installation Period: August 29, 2026 (Sat), September 26, 2026 (Sat) (planned)

Booth Operating Hours: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (planned)

Location: Lalaport Kashiwa-no-ha

Cookingurt ~July: Making Cool Summer Sweets~

In cooperation with the "Keiyo Gas Cooking Class" at Lalaport Kashiwa-no-ha, we will hold a special cooking class where participants can enjoy learning about recipes incorporating yogurt. Through this event, we aim to support the creation of healthy bodies that can withstand summer by encouraging the regular incorporation of yogurt into daily diets and promoting its continuous consumption.

Event Dates: July 11, 2026 (Sat) 10:30 AM - , July 17, 2026 (Fri) 10:30 AM - , August 8, 2026 (Sat) 10:30 AM -

Location: Keiyo Gas Cooking Class, Lalaport Kashiwa-no-ha

*For details on the cooking class, please check the reservation page of Keiyo Gas.

Heatstroke Prevention Promotion Activities at "T-SITE Summer Festival"

We will collaborate with the "T-SITE Summer Festival" held around Kashiwa-no-ha T-SITE on July 18 (Sat) and 19 (Sun). The "T-SITE Summer Festival" is one of the largest summer festivals in the Kashiwa-no-ha area, attracting approximately 60,000 visitors and offering enjoyment for all generations, from children to adults, with Nebuta festivals, Bon Odori dances, and festival stalls. The following heatstroke prevention project activities will be implemented at the venue.

Donation of Yogurt to T-SITE Summer Festival Performers

We will donate yogurt to the performers at the "T-SITE Summer Festival" and advocate for the importance of heatstroke prevention.

Heatstroke Prevention Workshop

A workshop will be held to create original uchiwa (fans) to learn and practice heatstroke prevention in a fun way during the summer festival.

Checkingurt ~Self-Check of Body Water Content~

An experiential booth will be set up where participants can check their water retention capacity on the spot. By understanding their own physical condition, participants will be encouraged to be aware of the importance of daily countermeasures, leading to increased awareness of heatstroke.

Event Dates: July 18, 2026 (Sat), July 19, 2026 (Sun) 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Around Kashiwa-no-ha T-SITE

Organizer: Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. Kashiwa-no-ha T-SITE

About Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City

Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City is an area centered around Kashiwa-no-ha Campus Station, aiming to be a "city that creates a vision for the future of the world." Urban development is promoted through the three pillars of "environmental symbiosis," "healthy longevity," and "new industry creation" through collaboration between the public (Chiba Prefecture, Kashiwa City), private (residents, private companies), and academic (universities) sectors. With convenient access about 30 minutes from the city center, it is also an intellectual hub where leading research institutions such as the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, the National Cancer Center East Hospital, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Kashiwa Center are located within a 2 km radius of Kashiwa-no-ha Campus Station.

The city is promoting "mixed-use" urban development, condensing all urban functions such as residences, commercial facilities, offices, hotels, hospitals, universities, and parks, with a convenient living environment and rich nature spreading around the station. For new industry creation, centered around "KOIL (Kashiwa-no-ha Open Innovation Lab)," efforts are being made to create an environment that supports the growth of various companies from large corporations to startups. This includes collaboration-generating communities, demonstration fields based on the city, test circuits supporting the development of robots and drones, forums and communities promoting industry-academia-medical collaboration in the life sciences field, and data platforms for realizing enriched living through people and city data, all of which are mechanisms to promote open innovation.

HP: https://www.kashiwanoha-smartcity.com/

About UDCK Town Management

UDCK Town Management, a general incorporated association, was established in 2018 as an organization to promote area management activities, primarily the management and operation of public facilities and regional events, in collaboration with UDCK, which was established in 2006 as an urban development base promoting the creation of an international academic research city and next-generation environmental city through public-private-academic collaboration in the Kashiwa-no-ha district of Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.

HP: https://www.udcktm.or.jp/