[Series 【 Culture Scapers] What Urban Landscapes Have Emerged from a Life Split Between Japan and Sweden? We welcomed Akihiro Matsui, CEO of Media Surf, as our guest.

The podcast series “The Economics of Culture and Urban Development: Culture Scapers”—has it become a familiar fixture by now?

Our third guest was Akihiro Matsui, representative of "MEDIA SURF," an organization that describes itself as an "urban editor."

Here is a brief introduction to the next four episodes.

• Photo_Yuma Yoshitsugu

#13 The Job of a City Editor.

Mr. Matsui of “Media Surf” is someone who has created a variety of spaces rooted in culture, such as “Farmers Market,” “Commune” in Omotesando, and “K5” in Nihonbashi-Kabutocho.

What is the concept of “Urban Editor” championed by “Media Surf”? By interpreting changes in the times and society, they generate the flow of people through food and community, thereby energizing the city. We’ll explore the ideas behind this approach—and the value of places where people gather, which cannot be measured by economic rationality alone—through Mr. Matsui’s career and the company’s 20-year journey.

#14: Lessons from Teruo Kurosaki, the Legendary Creator.

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at Teruo Kurosaki, the founder of “Media Surf.” Mr. Kurosaki is the person Mr. Matsui met before graduating from college—someone who had a profound influence on his subsequent career and his perspective on the world.

Mr. Kurosaki’s teachings—such as building an organization likened to juggling plates, an attitude that values not only economic rationality but also beauty and style, and the strength to believe in everything to the very end—are still very much alive today. What is the DNA that has been passed down to the current “Media Surf”?

#15: Scandinavian Lifestyle and Business Philosophy.

We’ll ask Mr. Matsui about his dual-base lifestyle between Tokyo and Stockholm, which he has been maintaining since around 2013.

She spends three weeks in Tokyo and four weeks in Stockholm, traveling back and forth between the two countries, and says her days are filled with encounters with different perspectives and values in each place. What insights does she gain from moving between these two cities—not just in terms of work, but also in how she lives with her family and engages with the cities themselves? We’ll explore her lifestyle, including a unique tour of Stockholm guided by Ms. Matsui herself.

#16 What Makes a City a Place Where People Gather and Feel Loved?

The theme of this session is urban development in Nihonbashi and Kabutocho. Starting with the “K5” mixed-use complex, which opened in 2020, we’ll discuss the present and future of Kabutocho as it continues to evolve.

By combining various elements—such as hotels, restaurants, and bars—people are drawn into the city and move on to other places. Behind “K5,” which has aimed to create this kind of urban environment, lies the concept of “urban curation”—connecting different people, places, and content. As we look back on the changes that have taken place in Kabutocho, we’ll consider the future of urban development.

The guest and the content were a perfect fit for a program titled “The Economics of Culture and Urban Development.”