The 2025 edition was held at the France Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka on May 30, 2025, bringing together 100 Foreign Trade Advisors (CCE) from around the world.

Presenting a retrospective of 12 years of action since 2013, with 115 speakers and 1,900 participants, the day closed the 2023–2025 action plan and showcased MVV's vision of cities that are "Smart, Sexy & Green": Better Living in the City.

This 2025 edition looks back on the key themes explored by Better Living in the City in France and Japan: technological innovation, better renovation, building the city together, new economic models and green cities. Through original and replicable experiences from our two countries, it shows how a holistic and cross-cutting approach, grounded in international collaboration and collective intelligence, can make cities more sustainable and desirable.

MVV 2024 in Review

The 2024 REVIEW is available!

The MVV 2024 symposium was held on June 12, 2024 at the University of Tokyo, with a live link to INALCO in Paris. Under the theme "For Smart & Sexy Cities: A New Conception of Sustainability", it welcomed 300 participants on campus, with a further 200 following online.

Opened by Philippe Setton, French Ambassador to Japan, and Mr. Takumi Moriyama, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo. The day was organized in four sessions with speakers from France, Japan and beyond.

The Review captures the essence of the 2024 edition. MVV was founded in 2013 to put people back at the center of the reflection on the cities of tomorrow, and this year it widened its scope to the living world as a whole. The testimonies gathered here, from public institutions, universities, local governments and companies in both countries, explore collective intelligence, the greening of cities, urban design and mobility, and the legacy of Paris 2024. It looks ahead to the next edition at the Osaka Expo in 2025.

MVV 2024 Symposium

MVV 2024 is an initiative of the CCE-Japan, co-organized with the University of Tokyo, with the support of the French Embassy in Japan.
Simultaneous interpretation (French/Japanese), free admission, webinar and live video link with INALCO in Paris.

Inaugurated by Philippe Setton, French Ambassador to Japan,
and Mr. Takumi Moriyama, Vice President of the University of Tokyo, the event showcased
28 initiatives for the cities of the future: Better Living in Smart & Sexy Cities.

The program for the symposium on June 12, 2024, at the University of Tokyo is available HERE .

This 2024 edition gave a voice to leading figures and key players in the "Better Living in Cities" movement, both in France and Japan, drawing on original experiences from our two countries and beyond. These diverse experiences revealed an innovative and inspiring side of sustainable city projects that mobilize often original and unprecedented expertise and a strong dose of collective intelligence.

We hope that from these cross-cultural perspectives "France-Japan" new avenues and complementarities will emerge to imagine new "harmonies" serving our cities of tomorrow, the spaces to be animated, where and how to move around or meet up better, and more generally, to develop our shared living spaces for the benefit of the greatest number. 

MVV 2024 "For Smart & Sexy Cities, a New Conception of Sustainability" (program subject to change)
1:45 PM - Session 1 "Collective Intelligence and International Complementarities"
The concept of sustainability now encompasses economic, demographic, and ecological aspects. Imagining innovative responses to the complex framework of our cities' future requires harnessing collective intelligence and leveraging our international complementarities.
Opening remarks by Philippe Setton, Ambassador of France to Japan, and Professor Takumi Moriyama, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo. Presentations by Kota Machida (University of Tokyo), Virginie Sandilya (Shizen Energy), Denis Musard (Cerema), Ken Hasebe (Mayor of Shibuya), and Gentiane Venture (University of Tokyo).

Session 2 "Sharing Public Spaces"
City life is a lesson in acceptance, as spaces must be designed to meet a growing number of diverse needs: health, safety, Beauty, attractiveness, efficiency, etc. How can we pool our common spaces?
Presentations by Matthieu GOBBI (Aerophile), Shuichiro KIMURA (Lecturer), Rémi DAUDIN (Materi'act), Catherine JEGATASNAV, Dany JOLY (Nantes Métropole), Pierre-Emmanuel MARAIS (Deputy Mayor of Nantes), Nicolas BAILLON (Hydrostadium), Michel HEINRICH (President of the Épinal Agglomeration Community), Patrick JOUIN (Urban Designer)

Session 3 "SMART & SEXY in all its Diversity"
Our languages, our environments, our cultures shape our unique characteristics and our complementarities. Globalism must become a factor of peace and progress because Better Living in the City is also Better Living Together.
Presentations by Julia CORNALBA (Inalco), Takashi OSHIMA (Asahi Shimbun), Léo VALLS (professional skateboarder), Lucas LOPES (City of Bordeaux), Jacques MAIRE (France Pavilion Osaka 2025), Pierre RABADAN (Deputy Mayor of Paris), Alain SOULAS (Foreign Trade Advisor, United Arab Emirates Committee).

Session 4 “France-Japan Dialogues: Better Living in the City and Professional Opportunities”
On-site discussions with the CCE-France network: International trade, professions, and the role of language in the development of Japanese companies in France or French companies in Japan; testimonials from business leaders; and discussions with Inalco students and the public.
Introduction by Sophie Sidos-Vicat, President of the French Foreign Trade Advisors, with Patrick Baruel - President of the French Foreign Trade Advisors Commission and Raphaël Keller, Minister-Counsellor, Head of the Regional Economic Service Japan – South Korea.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORTS IN PDF FORMAT: REVIEW-2023 ‍ ‍REPORT - 2022 ‍ ‍REPORT - 2021

BETTER LIVING IN THE CITY 2023-2025

With a commitment to placing people at the heart of the overall thinking on the cities of tomorrow, “Mieux Vivre en Ville” (Better Living in the City) has been working since 2013 to define the priority trends and issues of the coming years and to better share best urban practices in France and Japan, with a view to fostering sustainable and fruitful collaborations worldwide.

Supported by the French Embassy in Japan, “Mieux Vivre en Ville” is a working group of the Japan Committee of the French Foreign Trade Advisors. Over the past 10 years, and through various formats (major symposia, bilingual publications, online exchange sessions), MVV has gathered more than 86 testimonials from all sectors (embassies, ministries, elected officials, private companies, academics, NGOs) with over 1,250 participants and published more than 244 pages. Our ambition is to contribute to the search for concrete, replicable, and original solutions for all stakeholders involved in improving urban life.

Our 2023-2025 project incorporated into its planning the major events bringing France and Japan together, in particular the World Expo in Osaka (April to October 2025).

DOWNLOAD THE REPORTS IN PDF FORMAT: REVIEW-2023 ‍ ‍REPORT - 2022 ‍ ‍REPORT - 2021

Contribute to a Better Life in the City

- Looking for innovative and stimulating approaches to tackling the future challenges of urban planning?
- Ready to share and listen to original and replicable experiences that put people at the heart of the process?
- Determined to change urban life in a concrete and positive way?
Propose ideas, participate in, or speak at the conference. Contact us: mvv@exprime.co.jp

You can also promote Better Living in the City by subscribing to our mailing list and sharing our information within your network.

MVV 2023 conference and publication of the MVV 2023 journal / 52p., 2500exe and free online.

On June 28, 2023, the French Embassy in Japan hosted the "Better Living in the City" symposium, and 90 participants and 260 spectators enjoyed the live broadcast on the theme: CITY STORIES, PERSON STORIES, DIVERSITY OF TOMORROW'S CITIES !

Download the 2023 magazine in PDF format.

Download the 2023 program in PDF format.

The presentations were structured around six themes:
Smart & Sexy : "Smart" cities that leverage technology to enhance the well-being of their inhabitants; cities where the vitality of citizens and the history of the place resonate, are attractive and "sexy," trigger economic and cultural growth, and generate a virtuous cycle of continuous development.
The Little Prince : Building Innovation Together: The creativity and relevance of solutions stem from the diversity of individuals who initiate change and build their cities together.
The Good Market : Economic Models: The circular economy, Uber, and crowdfunding illustrate our transition and our quest for new economic models.
Manon of the Spring : Infrastructure: The technical and geopolitical challenge of ensuring access to water, energy, information, mobility, and healthcare for all.
The Ballad of Narayama: Everybody Happy—Inclusion: A city where everyone is a full member of the community, can find their place, and thrive.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Let's imagine...and create: City projects capable of making us dream and transforming us towards new ways of living.

2021/2022 Online Experience Exchange Sessions / 600 Participants, 22 Speakers

Distribution of the “MVV 2022” report / 32p., 2000exe and free online

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT - 2021-2022 IN PDF FORMAT

For its 5th edition, the Better Living in Cities committee chose to focus on cities' participation in reducing their carbon footprint, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The objective is to share replicable and inspiring case studies at the local level, at different scales, notably by leveraging French expertise and Franco-Japanese partnerships.

Three online experience-sharing sessions each brought together a panel of French and Japanese cities and experts:

- Session 1: Building Better Cities (Session 1 Report)

- Session 2: Breathing Better in Cities (Session 2 Report)

- Session 3: Thinking Better about Cities (Session 3 Report)‍ 　‍

2020/2021 Compilation of innovative urban initiatives / 72 pages, 1500 executables and free online

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT - 2020-2021 IN PDF FORMAT　

For 2020, the Better Living in the City committee chose as its means of action to create a compilation of articles in French and Japanese describing innovative urban initiatives and contemporary reflections contributing to Better Living in the City, in France and Japan, having exemplary value and transposable into other contexts.

The working group members proposed themes and concrete examples of projects, illustrating French and Japanese expertise. A variety of urban contexts were sought, from small towns to large metropolises.   

Five main themes emerged, each representing a pillar of Better Living in the City: 
- Living environment 
- Services and uses 
- Participatory democracy 
- Ecological footprint 
- Mobility 

2019 Seminar with interactive session / 110 participants

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM - 2019 IN PDF FORMAT

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT - 2019 IN PDF FORMAT

The 2019 seminar focused on cities' concerns regarding citizen participation in decision-making, the implementation, and the sustainability of projects. In an environment where public funds are scarce, innovative financing solutions, ecosystem diversification, and the ability to be flexible are becoming essential for urban dynamism.

- How to envision the city?
Public services and public spaces

- How to finance urban dreams?
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) / Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) / Public procurement / New business models, etc.

- How to sustain urban dreams?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the vision of cities / The reality of modern metropolises

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME - 2017 IN PDF FORMAT

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT - 2017 IN PDF FORMAT

The round table highlighted the desire to integrate technological solutions into social needs and to better adapt legislation to a constantly changing environment.

- Innovations for cities
- Identity and user-friendliness of public spaces
- Resilience and anticipation of the urban fabric
- City projects: from the “Compact city” to city projects, multiple approaches

Thank you to all the participants for giving us permission to share these photos. Please do not use these photos for commercial purposes. Please credit the following photo: CCE Japan/exprime

2017 Seminar with moderator roundtable / 98 participants

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME - 2016 IN PDF FORMAT

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT - 2016 IN PDF FORMAT

The wide variety of themes and topics proposed during the 1st symposium demonstrated the difficulty of defining the very term "smart city" or city of the future.

At the end of the day, one of the major and unanimous findings was that humans must be put back at the center of the discussion and that technology must be at their service and not the other way around.

- How do we define a "smart city" or city of the future?
- New technologies, Big Data and the Internet of Things
- Security and respect for privacy

2016 Flash presentations of 5 minutes, debate-brainstorming / 90 participants