Taki Crystal Town

Taki Crystal Town (多気クリスタルタウン) is a town-led urban development and commercial-industrial complex in Taki Town, Taki District, Mie Prefecture, Japan. The project was initiated by the town government to improve the local commercial and living environment after Sharp Corporation established operations in the town in 1995, which brought an influx of single workers but did not lead to family settlement. The Crystal Town Project began in 2003, with a committee of government, business, residents, and academics formulating a basic plan. The commercial and living zone was developed by MaxValu Chubu, and the Taki Crystal Town Shopping Center opened on June 19, 2008. The complex comprises three zones: a commercial and living zone, an environmental conservation zone, and an industrial zone. The shopping center is anchored by MaxValu Taki, the first AEON Group 'Eco Store' in Mie Prefecture. Other facilities include the natural hot spring Taki no Yu, the Smile Taki farmers' market operated by JA Taki District, and the Crystal Forest park. The town continues to promote the area as a center of commerce and community life.

Taki Crystal Town is a town-led urban development project in Taki Town, Mie Prefecture, Japan. In 1995, Sharp Corporation established a plant in the town, reversing a long population decline that had continued since 1955. However, the increase consisted mainly of single workers, while families tended to live in neighboring Matsusaka City, so settlement within the town did not progress. Believing the difference in social infrastructure between Matsusaka and Taki to be a key factor, the town government launched the Crystal Town Project in 2003 to improve the commercial and living environment. A Crystal Town Committee comprising representatives from the prefectural and town governments, private sector (including Sharp and commercial interests), residents, and academics formulated a basic plan during 2003–2004. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology's Life Cycle Assessment Research Center participated as an observer, and an environmental impact assessment incorporating LCA research was conducted. In November 2005, MaxValu Chubu was selected as the developer of the commercial and living zone, and in January 2006 the zoning plan was published in the town newsletter. Originally scheduled for completion in April 2008, the Taki Crystal Town Shopping Center actually opened on June 19, 2008. Subsequent commercial facilities opened sequentially. The complex consists of three zones: the commercial and living zone (about 100,000 m² bounded by National Route 42 and the new Crystal Line town road), the environmental conservation zone (an urban park), and the industrial zone (aiming for industrial agglomeration alongside the adjacent Sharp Mie Plant). The shopping center is anchored by MaxValu Taki, the first AEON Group 'Eco Store' in Mie Prefecture. Within MaxValu, there is a delicatessen called 'Senpai no Mise' operated by Saka Food Net, Inc., established on September 18, 2008, and staffed partly by graduates of Mie Prefectural Saka High School. The natural hot spring Taki no Yu opened on October 18, 2008, drawing milky white water from 1,000 meters underground. The Smile Taki farmers' market, operated by JA Taki District, opened on December 6, 2009. The Crystal Forest park opened on May 24, 2009. The project has faced criticism from local shops concerned about competition, while Sharp employees have requested large-scale commercial, hot spring, cinema, gym, and medical facilities.

• Sharp Corporation establishes operations in Taki Town, reversing population decline.

• Crystal Town Project launched; committee formed to create a basic plan.

• MaxValu Chubu selected as developer of the commercial and living zone.

• Zoning plan published in the town newsletter 'Koho Taki'.

• Taki Crystal Town Shopping Center opens.

• Delicatessen 'Senpai no Mise' opens inside MaxValu Taki.

• Natural hot spring Taki no Yu opens.

• Crystal Forest park opens in the environmental conservation zone.

• Smile Taki farmers' market opens, operated by JA Taki District.

A community-oriented shopping and lifestyle complex serving Taki Town and surrounding areas, combining retail, dining, wellness, and green space.

• MaxValu Taki

  Core supermarket, first AEON 'Eco Store' in Mie Prefecture.

• Taki no Yu

  Natural hot spring facility with 25 types of baths, fitness gym, restaurant, and barber.

• Smile Taki

  Farmers' market operated by JA Taki District, with a restaurant and coin laundry.

• Crystal Forest

  Park with lawn plaza, natural farm, and flower garden managed by Sharp Mie Plant.

1. 1多気クリスタルタウンショッピングセンターtaki-ct.jp
2. 2多気クリスタルタウン - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Taki Crystal Town - Wikidatawikidata.org