Tokyo

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Cities symbolize both order and spontaneous growth. Their structures—walls, roads, and institutions—suggest central authority, while winding streets and diverse activities portray them as organic entities. Tokyo exemplifies this duality; at first glance, it appears chaotic, with old buildings alongside towering skyscrapers and a flurry of movement. However, this chaos underpins an ordered urban life, where trains operate on a strict schedule and fishermen efficiently supply the city’s restaurants. The apparent disorder is essential for the organized functioning of the city. Complexity theory and self-organization theory explore the relationship between chaos and order, showing that in cities, these elements coexist rather than oppose each other. Chaos fosters new urban orders, while established order provides the framework for chaotic behaviors. Juval Portugali, a professor at Tel Aviv University, focuses on cities as self-organizing systems and has taught internationally, including at Tokyo University. Wolf-Dieter Gericke, an architect and freelance designer, has been visiting Tokyo regularly and captures its unique character through photography.