Dr Mike Duignan reports from Tokyo.

With respect to subject focus, I sought to examine various place and tourism management, marketing and sustainable development opportunities challenges inherent in the lead up and soon to be live staging of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The project is entitled: ‘#TokyoZones’ and sought to specifically examine ten inter-related research themes:

  • RF1: TOURIST MOBILITY AND CONNECTING PLACES
  • RF2: SLOW TOURISM AND AUTHENTICITY IN PLACE BRANDING, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT
  • RF3: URBAN ZONING
  • RF4: ENTREPRENEURIAL LEVERAGING
  • RF5: SOCIAL TOURISM
  • RF6: OVERTOURISM
  • RF7: ACCESSIBILITY AND UNIVERSAL URBAN DESIGN
  • RF8: LOCAL, STREET FOOD AND DRINK CULTURE AND PRODUCERS REPRESENTATION
  • RF9: TOURIST MOTIVATIONS, INTENTIONS TO VISIT TO – AND BEHAVIOUR IN – THE HOST CITY AND COUNTRY
  • RF10: TECHNOLOGY AND TOURISM AT TOKYO 2020.

For a detailed overview of the research, I produced a 20 minute ‘Introductory’ video to the #TokyoZones project alongside a further x2 videos outlining key data analysis and themes produced as a result of walking ethnography, participant observation and interview data – available here. Whilst I was out in Japan I sought to develop a network of network of Tokyo 2020 Olympic policy makers and government officials as part of data collection and/or dissemination activity. To help raise the profile of the research I worked closely with the Coventry University PR to develop a media package released on the 24th July, one year before the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo 2020. This led to Mike and the #TokyoZones project being quoted in The Guardian. Related to the themes of the research, I have worked with Prof David McGillivray to release a call and galvanise interest in a new guest edited Special Issue of Annals of Leisure Research (ABS 2) on ‘Events, Urban Spaces and Mobility’ closely linked to the current and critical themes of #TokyoZones and the wider EventRights project. Full details here: https://michaelduignan.uk/2019/06/01/cfp-for-special-issue-of-annals-of-leisure-research-on-events-urban-spaces-and-mobility-duignan-and-mcgillivray-2020/.