筑波研究学園都市は昭和55年に概成した計画都市である。43の国立試験・研究・教育機関とその勤務者，及び家族が移転・移住した。これほど大規模な計画都市は，筑波以前には無く，現在まで類を見ない。近年はつくばエキスプレスの開通に伴う民間ベースの都市開発により，洗練された郊外型都市に変貌しつつある。本報告はこの計画都市が最も計画都市らしかった時代（概成期）における自然と生活について検討する。筑波研究学園都市の「自然」は，周辺農村の二次的自然とは異なり，人工の緑地である。生産活動に利用されることは無く，当時植栽されたばかりの「自然」も人とのつきあいの経験が無い。それでも，学園都市の住民たちは，そうした「自然」を活用し，深い愛着を抱いてきた。特に移住者の子弟達にはそうした傾向が見られる。この移住者達は「新住民」と呼ばれていたが，その中身は一様ではない。移住時期によってタイプに分かたれ，それぞれ性格づけられていた。しかし，子供達は懸命に新たな同級生や環境に折り合いを付けつつ一様に筑波を故郷ととして開発しようとしていた。また，元々周辺農村に暮らしてきた住民達は，この新住民達，また学園都市そのものと対立することもあったが，徐々に気むずかしく見える新住民達や，人工的な自然にも慣れ親しむようになる。そして学園都市中心部で開催される「まつりつくば」は，これら旧農村部の住民達によって担われる。その一方で現在「新住民」たちの姿は見えない。彼等は「つくばスタイル」という都市開発のスローガンのもと，「知的環境」を担う要素となりつつある。また，概成後30年が経過し，人工緑地は著しく伸長した。もはやかつての子供達が遊びほうけてきた「故郷の自然」では無くなってきている。開発者の「ふるさと」は消滅しつつある。同様なことは，大規模団地で生活した多くの子供たちにも言えることであろう。ひとり筑波研究学園都市だけの問題ではない。

Tsukuba Science City is a planned city whose outline was established in 1980. A total of 43 national laboratories, research organizations, and education institutes moved there with their workers and families. It was and still is the largest planned city. In recent years, it has been transformed into a sophisticated suburban town through private urban development projects inspired by the opening of Tsukuba Express line. This report investigates the nature and life of Tsukuba, focusing on its formative years, when it was a typical planned city. The “nature” of Tsukuba Science City was artificial green spaces. It was different from the secondary nature of the neighboring rural areas. The newly afforested “nature” was not used for production activities nor had any relationship with humans. Nevertheless, residents of the science city utilized this “nature” and grew a deep attachment to it. Especially, this trend was obvious in immigrant children. Although these immigrants were called altogether as “new residents,” there were differences among them. They were categorized into different character types according to the time of immigration. All of their children, however, equally put energy into developing fondness for Tsukuba as though it was their hometown while coming to terms with their new environment and classmates. Original residents who had lived in the rural areas around the city were also getting to know new residents who looked solemn as well as man-made nature though they sometimes found themselves in conflict with new residents and the city itself. Those from the neighboring areas have been engaged in Festival Tsukuba held in the center of the Science City. On the other hand, new residents are hardly seen these days. They are becoming involved in the intellectual environment under the slogan of “Tsukuba style.” Now that 30 years have passed since the establishment of the science city, artificial green spaces have widely extended. They have become different from the “nature of the hometown” where children used to play. A “hometown” created by developers is disappearing. The same might go for many children who grow up at large-scale housing complexes. It is not a problem unique to Tsukuba Science City.

source:https://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/outline/publication/ronbun/ronbun8/index.html#no181