DECEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMSHIBUYA'S GRAND MAKEOVER REDEFINES TOKYO'S URBAN FUTURE BY 2034The district of Shibuya in Tokyo is undergoing a sweeping "once-in-a-century" transformation that aims to reinvent the area's chaotic, congested station district into a modern, efficient, and vibrant urban center.The redevelopment, overseen by Tokyu Corporation, JR East, and Tokyo Metro, spans over 11 major projects, with an estimated total investment exceeding ¥2 trillion by 2040.The efforts began in earnest with the opening of Shibuya Hikarie in 2012 and gained momentum with Shibuya Scramble Square, whose first phase (East Tower) opened in 2019. Construction of the project's central and west towers commenced in 2025, marking the start of the final phase of redevelopment.By fiscal 2030­2031, Shibuya is slated to get a multi-layered pedestrian network, new skyways, widened plazas, upgraded station infrastructure and expanded commercial, retail, office, and cultural spaces -- making it one of Tokyo's largest and most integrated urban hubs.As part of the plan, ground-level and elevated walkways will ease pedestrian flow around the complex rail systems, the revitalized river zone will open up green walkways, and new plazas will create open public spaces.The redevelopment responds to longstanding limitations around Shibuya Station's disjointed transit layout, frequent crowd congestion, and aging infrastructure. With completion currently scheduled by fiscal 2034, the makeover is positioned not just to improve convenience and safety, but also to transform Shibuya into a globally competitive center for culture, business, and urban living. Osaka Gas has finalized an agreement, via its subsidiary Osaka Gas Trading and Export LLC (OGTX), to procure U.S.-produced biomethane from Archaea Energy, a subsidiary of bp.Under the deal, OGTX will purchase around 26,000 Nm³ of biomethane, derived from landfill gas at Archaea's U.S. facilities.The biomethane will be liquefied at the Freeport LNG terminal on the U.S. Gulf Coast, shipped to Osaka Gas' LNG terminals in the Kansai region of Japan, and then supplied through the pipeline network to customers. This marks a significant move for Osaka Gas toward establishing a domestic and international clean-gas supply chain, promoting the integration of carbon-neutral energy resources such as biomethane and e-methane into Japan's city gas distribution.Biomethane is refined from biogas, methane generated through the decomposition of organic waste and after purification has a methane concentration comparable to natural gas. Because its combustion does not produce additional net CO, biomethane is seen as a promising solution for decarbonizing gas supplied to homes and businesses.The procurement effort aligns with Osaka Gas' broader Energy Transition 2050 strategy, under which the company is working toward a carbon-neutral future by embracing renewable gas sources and leveraging international supply chains.With this deal, Osaka Gas becomes one of the first major Japanese gas utilities to directly source biomethane from overseas landfill-gas producers a move that could pave the way for broader adoption of renewable natural gas in Japan and demonstrate a scalable model for clean-gas imports globally. OSAKA GAS SECURES U.S. BIOMETHANE DEAL FOR JAPAN CITY GAS SUPPLY· Shibuya's "once-in-a-century" redevelopment spans 11 major urban projects with over ¥2 trillion planned investment.· New pedestrian networks, skyways, plazas, and mixed-use towers will transform the congested station area into a modern urban hub by 2034.· The upgraded district aims to combine world-class transit convenience, retail, office space, cultural venues, and green public areas, making Shibuya a global-style city centre.· Osaka Gas via OGTX signs deal to procure U.S.-produced biomethane from Archaea Energy· Around 26,000 Nm³ biomethane to be liquefied in U.S., shipped to Japan, and supplied to Kansai customers· Part of Osaka Gas' Energy Transition 2050 decarbonization drive -- integrating renewable gas sources
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