街路構造、歩行環境、公共交通へのアクセス、商業施設の立地など、移動や外出を規定する環境要因が、身体活動や健康とどのように関係するかを扱います。日常的な移動環境の質が、健康行動の維持や健康リスクに及ぼす影響を明らかにすることを目的としています。
This area examines how mobility-related environmental factors—street networks, pedestrian infrastructure, public transportation access, and the location of destinations—relate to physical activity and health. The aim is to clarify how the quality of everyday mobility environments supports health behaviors and shapes health risks.
Detail
居住地周辺の街路連結性や歩行環境、交通アクセスが、身体活動、抑うつ、認知症、慢性疼痛などと関連することを、地理情報や縦断データを用いて分析してきました（Chen et al., 2022；Tani et al., 2021；Matsumoto et al., 2024）。アウトカムワイドスタディでは、ウォーカビリティの健康影響が都市部と農村部で異なることを示し、地域特性を踏まえた検討の必要性を示しています（Kawaguchi et al., 2025）。
また、商業施設などの日常的な移動先の存在が、歩行行動と関連することを示し、移動環境を「経路」だけでなく「目的地」を含めて捉える視点を提示しています（Matsuoka et al., 2024）。
Using geographic information and longitudinal data, we have evaluated associations of street connectivity, pedestrian environments, and transportation access with physical activity, depression, dementia incidence, and chronic pain (Chen et al., 2022; Tani et al., 2021; Matsumoto et al., 2024). Outcome-wide analyses suggest that walkability may have different health implications in urban and rural contexts, highlighting the need to consider regional characteristics (Kawaguchi et al., 2025).
We have also shown that the presence of everyday destinations such as commercial facilities is associated with walking behavior, framing mobility environments as systems that link routes and destinations (Matsuoka et al., 2024).
Perspective for Urban / Spatial Design
歩行や外出を支える都市・空間デザインの基礎的エビデンスを提供します。街路や歩道の整備、公共交通や商業施設へのアクセスは、移動効率だけでなく、心理的健康や長期的な健康リスクとも関係する可能性があります。天候や身体条件に左右されにくい移動環境を構築する視点が重要です。
This area provides evidence relevant to designing environments that support walking and outings. Street and sidewalk conditions, as well as access to transit and destinations, may relate not only to mobility efficiency but also to mental health and long-term health risks. Designing environments that remain usable across varying weather conditions and physical abilities is an important design consideration.
Selected Publications
- Chen, Y. R., Nakagomi, A., Hanazato, M., Abe, N., Ide, K., & Kondo, K. (2025). Perceived urban environment elements associated with momentary and long-term well-being: An experience sampling method approach. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 4422.
- Chen, Y. R., Hanazato, M., Koga, C., Ide, K., & Kondo, K. (2022). The association between street connectivity and depression among older Japanese adults: The JAGES longitudinal study. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1–12.
- Tani, Y., Hanazato, M., Fujiwara, T., Suzuki, N., & Kondo, K. (2021). Neighborhood sidewalk environment and incidence of dementia in older Japanese adults. American Journal of Epidemiology, 190(7), 1270–1280.
- Matsumoto, K., Hanazato, M., Chen, Y. R., Matsuoka, Y., Mori, Y., Yoshida, H., & Kondo, K. (2024). Proximity to public transportation and incidence of depression risk among older adults. Preventive Medicine, 108204.
- Kawaguchi, K., Nakagomi, A., Chen, Y. R., Kondo, K., & Hanazato, M. (2025). Neighborhood walkability and subsequent health and well-being in urban and rural Japan: An outcome-wide longitudinal study. Health & Place, 96, 103549.
- Matsuoka, Y., Yoshida, H., & Hanazato, M. (2024). A smartphone-based shopping mall walking program and daily walking steps. JAMA Network Open, 7(1), e2353957.