Mar. 26, 2026
Sumitomo Corporation
Kyushu Railway Company
Saibu Gas Co., Ltd.
Shimizu Corporation
Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Tokyu Land Corporation
The Nishinippon Shimbun, Co., Ltd.
Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.

One of Japan's Largest Smart Cities to be Established in Fukuoka by FY2028Consortium Selected as Land Use Operator for Redevelopment of Former Kyushu University Hakozaki Campus Site

As of March 26, 2026, a corporate group comprising eight companies, with Sumitomo Corporation as lead representative, has been formally selected as the land use operator for the Kyushu University Hakozaki Campus Redevelopment Project. The selection was made following a public call for land use operators for the former Kyushu University Hakozaki campus site, led by Kyushu University and the Kyushu regional office of the Urban Renaissance Agency.

* Perspective rendering of the "Innovation Core" district

Background to Project Launch

This project represents one of Japan's largest smart city developments, based on the Kyushu University Hakozaki Campus Redevelopment Grand Design. It aims to leverage the university's history and expansive site to create a hub where diverse people can gather and innovate, while integrating tradition and innovation in line with the principles of FUKUOKA Smart EAST*.
Through a collaboration where industry, government, academia and the community each fulfill unique roles, the project seeks to create and disseminate new industries, while realizing a model for future urban development that positions Fukuoka as a global leader in environmentally advanced cities.

About FUKUOKA Smart EAST

FUKUOKA Smart EAST is an initiative aimed at achieving sustainable urban development while addressing challenges such as a declining birthrate and aging population. By introducing advanced technologies, it seeks to create comfortable, high-quality lifestyles and urban spaces that future generations can take pride in. The initiative will begin with the Hakozaki redevelopment as a pioneering model, with the intention of expanding across the city of Fukuoka and ultimately beyond, reaching a broader population.

Vision for the City

Hakozaki, the site of this development, is a place where tradition and pride have been cultivated for over 100 years since the establishment of Kyushu Imperial University in 1911. Building on this historical legacy and expansive site, the project aims to create a hub where diverse people can come gather and innovate. The concept is titled HAKOZAKI Green Innovation Campus.
By incorporating the IOWN initiative*, an advanced technology development concept designed to enable Japan to compete globally through game-changing innovation, the project will establish an environment capable of continuously updating smart services and creating new ones by integrating emerging values and technologies. Through the integration and coordination of diverse smart services, the project aims to deliver more effective services and realize a next-generation smart city model.
The project aims to open in FY2028, guided by six core development principles: (1) preserving Kyushu University's 100-year history; (2) honoring Fukuoka's culture and 1,000-year heritage; (3) creating and fostering new industries; (4) developing as an environmentally advanced city; (5) creating green and open spaces; (6) enabling new lifestyles. HAKOZAKI Green Innovation Campus aims to achieve a sustainable model city delivering comfortable, high-quality lifestyles and urban spaces.

IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network):
A next-generation communications technology offering ultra-low power consumption, low latency and high-capacity data transmission. The IOWN concept envisions the realization of a digital twin of the entire city, enabling the integration and coordination of all smart services to achieve a next-generation smart city.