To understand the motivation behind the proposed study of Japanese and foreigner's perceptions of the design and use of public space, it is important to understand the historical and cultural background of each of these societal groups. Cultural knowledge of citizens can provide clues about people's needs and desires for public space. In addition, theories, developments, and current issues of public space can also become map patterns of public space, particularly in Japan. The function of public space as the urban instrument has a high responsibility to provide space for urban society to express itself. However, this perception will be difficult to capture in several public spaces in Japan, which are considered standard and less flexible. Therefore, by studying the use and design of public space based on Japanese and foreign perceptions, the researcher will explore the concept of public space, especially neighborhood parks, and then evaluate the design of public space and the intensity of its use. These two factorsdesign and intensity of use -are examined from the point of view of Japanese and foreigners through a questionnaire survey. In addition, the design of public spaces is examined based on a review of Japanese government literature and Finally, this research will be completed based on the results of the public perception assessment and standards the review of the Japanese government's design standards.

In this study, a behavior mapping approach was employed, utilizing both observation and interviews. Behavior maps serve as both an outcome of observational research and a valuable instrument for the analysis and design of designed places ((Cheung et al., n.d.)., (Han et al., 2022)). This mapping technique was originally introduced by Ittelson et al. (1970) to document the behaviors that transpire within the designed space (Marušić & Marušić, 2012). The process of behavior mapping entails two distinct stages of data collection and subsequent analysis.

As the first step, The researcher conducted observations at 39 neighborhood parks located between Kitakyushu Science Research Park and Orio Station, Japan. These observations were carried out on a daily basis, encompassing both weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and weekdays (Monday to Friday), during the morning (08.00 -11.30), afternoon (13.00 -16.30), and evening (17.00 -19.00) periods. The data collection period spanned six months, commencing in October 2022 and concluding in March 2023. Observational data will be divided into three main characteristics, i.e.

During the second phase of the mapping analysis, a series of interviews will be conducted with a sample of 50 individuals, comprising students, workers, and residents of the case study area. The respondents will be drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Japanese and foreigners of Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian, European, and American descent. The primary objective of these interviews is to elicit participants' perceptions regarding the presence of small parks in urban areas, particularly in residential neighborhoods. Additionally, the interviews will serve to gauge the frequency and intensity of park usage, as well as to identify respondents' expectations for future park development.

The present study aims to investigate the impact of park design and the presence of parks in residential areas on the intensity of use. To achieve this objective, two stages have been identified as the basis for analysis. Furthermore, the study will employ behavior mapping in conjunction with spatial analysis to generate a people-moving analysis. This approach will enable park planning to align with the identity and desires of the community, thereby facilitating the creation of public spaces that are conducive to place-making.

The debate over public areas in cities is advancing quickly. According to social geographers and urban planners, public space is a neutral, naturally occurring, and not just spatially bound container that has been produced by society. Idealistically, public space serves as a platform for fostering a sense of community. Nevertheless, according to some researchers, public space is defined as hardscaped, vacant space that is still present outside of buildings and transportation hubs. Western nations, where public spaces are perceived as being rigid and having only a few uses, tend to hold this opinion more widely. Public space is defined as accessible to all types of users, such as streets, parks, markets, libraries, museums, and so forth. Public spaces have been thought to need physical forms that can be easily distinguished from their surroundings. Numerous communities that use this area collectively create the appearance of a "private" area. The sense of closure that is produced will elicit various emotions, which will change based on the interests of those who are interested in public space. This opinion, which holds that public space can be used by one group to boost the economy and build a secure and sustainable urban environment, is largely unchallenged. This is due to the increased activity in public spaces, which has a strong correlation with welfare and property values (, 2010).

The way that public space is perceived in Western culture is not consistent with Japanese cultural history. Since the development of language literacy in Japan, which divides Hiragana ("vocabulary for Japanese") and Katakana ("separates vocabulary for foreigners"), the word "private" has not been historically recognized by Japanese society. According to Japanese culture, public areas are flexible and can be used for events, emergencies, or open areas at any time. This idea emphasizes how shared things do not include things with fixed locations or physical boundaries. This is evident in the way the Japanese government categorizes public areas, such as parks and other public buildings. In terms of architecture and urban planning, parks and public facilities like schools serve a variety of purposes. According to Hidaka and Tanaka (2001), the idea of flexible public space fosters psychological closeness among users.

When American culture first arrived in Japan in 1964, it introduced the fundamental idea of privacy, which had an impact on how Japanese spaces and barriers were created. A separate social space has been created in each society because of the Western idea that "public" and "private" should be divided. Urban space planning has become rich, complex, and diverse due to the shifting perceptions of the flexibility of public space. Nevertheless, this perception has a detrimental effect on the atmosphere of modest public areas, such as neighborhood parks. Other public structures that are in keeping with the design of urban space blocks can take the place of neighborhood parks that serve as public spaces at the level of neighborhood homes. In line with the trend of combining urban spaces, abandoned, useless, and disconnected park spaces in the city block. This pattern will offer opportunities for change.

Public space use is a hot topic in urban spatial design, with the intensity of public space use being influenced by the concept of space shaped by community behaviors and spatial practices. The dynamics of urbanism are closed based on the stages of analysis of spatial conditions, and social and spatial change experiences (Aelbrecht, 2010). In other words, the use of public space can be measured by public acceptance of the planning, design, and management of public space. The limitations of planning, design, and space management at the government level encourage a sense of indifference to the existence of public space. Public space can be called public space when people use it in different ways, at different times, or simultaneously or sequentially, without considering a particular social group. The contribution of public space to the social life of the community will spontaneously develop the use of open space in ways that could not be imagined or designed. Community initiatives for the inclusive use of public urban spaces can turn people into owners and designers of public spaces. However, this condition does not affect every public space equally(Massip-Bosch, 2017). Behavior and cultural backgrounds are also factors that decide whether this concept can be implemented correctly.

Japanese people tend to be more individualistic and closed and interact on a small scale, which leads them to use spaces that are more private as living and interacting spaces. This condition was also affected when the Covid pandemic hit, forcing people to stay at home, thus changing their social relationships with the community, including park-visiting activities. Parks are considered public spaces that are less attractive and require high maintenance costs, but their existence is something that is difficult to separate from people's lives. Although the Covid pandemic has ended, the existence of parks as public spaces for Japanese society remains tenuous. This is due to a shift in the perspective of Japan's younger generation, where the presence of streets and parking lots are seen as more attractive for use as art, commercial, and public spaces, rather than a park. Projects and research on future urban design have shown that people in cities such as Tokyo have a strong desire to use parks as public spaces, which can express themselves through festivals, exhibitions, and concerts (Nikken Experience Integrated Project. YOUR PARK: Transforming Japan’s restrictive public spaces "YOUR PARK, 2021). There are limited parameters for the use of public spaces that may be more specialized, combining economic and social aspects to provide important points for the future development of the park. Parks can create spaces that can draw the attention of Japanese society, which is a need for increased branding of parks as public spaces, so the connectivity of Japanese lifestyles and parks occurs more densely according to the characteristics of each public space user.

In contrast, Foreigners have a background that is more open than Japanese society as a whole in terms of traditions and culture. Some ethnic groups' shared religious beliefs or historical experiences have an impact on how similar their social customs are. Muslims in Japan, for instance, frequently greet and converse with one another in parks and other public areas without coming close to one another. Liberal Westerners also have a more open identity. The difference in habits between Japanese and foreigners is evident when both groups spend the same amount of time in public spaces. The fear of Japanese people - especially those in small towns - to interact with foreigners creates a large gap, so one of the groups reduces the intensity of visits to public spaces.

Therefore, to understand people's perception and desire for parks as public spaces, it is important to examine the development of public spaces in Japan. The cultural uniqueness of Japanese society must be appropriately associated in order to recognize the characteristics of citizens, allowing maximum appreciation of the design of park development and ensuring the fusion of public spaces with its owner, the Japanese people themselves. Some researchers have interpreted this relationship as a dichotomy between humans and nature in Japanese literature, which regards parks as natural spaces rather than commercial and public spaces (Rupprecht et al., 2015). Small public spaces such as parks should be a priority for the design of community behavior approaches in order to build a design consistent with the community's desire

The concept of public space refers to a physical environment that can facilitate social exchange and interaction among neighbors (Chitrakar, 2016). However, it is important to note that the mere presence of physical proximity does not necessarily guarantee social contact and interaction, as common ground is often required. Public space is therefore considered a significant social territory (Abu-Ghazzeh, 1996), and its role in social integration is shaped by the meanings attributed to it by individuals (Peters, 2011). As a key design feature of urban environments, public space has the potential to foster place attachment and encourage the development of place meaning through social interaction (Abu-Ghazzeh, 1996), (Abu-Ghazzeh, 1999).

In general, the design of public parks has a significant impact on the frequency of visits. Nonetheless, the responsibility for this design does not necessarily fall solely on the designer or urban planner. Rather, community participation, as a means of involving local residents in the conservation of parks as public spaces, is a straightforward process. Through this process, residents can act as leaders or partners in ongoing planning efforts, and the long-term success of such projects is contingent upon the community's comprehensive understanding of the park's condition and its role in their lives (Satherly, 2009). As proprietors and influencers, the inhabitants of a given locality play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of a park as an accessible and functional public space. However, community participation is only effective if cultural considerations and community background are given due consideration.

The sustainable development of public space has historically overlooked cultural considerations (Fitnian, 2009), thereby diminishing the significance of public space as a component of community identity. The facets of identity, social cohesion, and creative development are heavily reliant on the preservation of cultural heritage ((U.N.E.S.C.O., 2018), UNESCO, 2018), which in turn promotes local energy security and sustainable activities within public spaces (Ragheb et al., 2022). The design of public spaces, such as parks, that fail to acknowledge the international identity of urban spaces, risks erasing the unique identity of the locale and creating a sterile environment (Aly, 2011). As a fundamental element of the city, public spaces must cater to the needs of the community while also promoting sustainability. By respecting social and cultural traditions, a deeper understanding of the community's perspectives can be gained, leading to a revitalization of urban identity. The cultural value of local communities will indirectly contribute to balanced development, and this value should be considered in future public space development plans.

Not applicable.

The authors declare that there is no competing interest.