Linxuan Tan and Dingyuan Liu
This study examines visual communication in the most recent operative Urban Planning Master Plans of Tokyo’s 23 wards available on 1 May 2026. Direct inspection identified 620 outcome diagrams and 13 types (A–G map-based; H–M non-map-based). Only 38 diagrams (6.1%) directly displayed citizen voices, across 10 wards; 13 wards had none. Types B and I formed a shared visual foundation, while participation-oriented types appeared in only 1–5 wards. Exploratory information-density proxies showed no statistically significant association with High-visibility share (Pearson r = −0.14; Spearman ρ = −0.24; p > 0.05; n = 23). Four leading wards exhibited three orientations: statement mapping, participation-outcome display, and process transparency. Systemically, the findings show how statutory participation may become visually compressed through administrative and representational processes. The typology supports comparison and design guidance for making citizen input more traceable in planning diagrams.
Keywords: urban planning master plan; outcome diagrams; information design; citizen participation visibility; diagram typology