Housing complex
Japanese Name:
団地
Romaji Name:
danchi
Description
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A danchi is a type of large, often public, apartment complex commonly found in Japan. The term refers to residential buildings that are typically designed to house a large number of people in a relatively small area. Danchi are usually characterized by their utilitarian, functional design and are often associated with post-war urban development in Japan.
History
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Danchi are large-scale residential complexes in Japan, typically consisting of multiple apartment buildings.
They emerged in the 1950s and 1960s to address housing shortages during Japan’s post-World War II economic boom.
The government and private developers constructed danchi to provide affordable, modern housing for urban workers and their families.
Early danchi emphasized uniformity, communal spaces, and proximity to schools and shops.
By the 1970s, they became symbols of modern urban living and social cohesion in Japan.
Today, many danchi remain inhabited, though some have aged, and they continue to represent an important part of Japan’s postwar urban development.