Christian Dimmer
@remmid.bsky.social
dad／urbanist／assoc.prof. transition design + urban studies｜waseda university｜Tokyo｜co-learning／co-design｜public spaces／spheres｜urban practices／theories｜place {un}making／becoming｜climate + sustainability／resilience
"Instead of asking Republicans if they support Donald’s policies, it’s time to start asking them why they continue to back a man who is so obviously out of his mind."
— Mary Trump @maryltrump.bsky.social
— Mary Trump @maryltrump.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 12:54 AM
"Instead of asking Republicans if they support Donald’s policies, it’s time to start asking them why they continue to back a man who is so obviously out of his mind."
— Mary Trump @maryltrump.bsky.social
— Mary Trump @maryltrump.bsky.social
History warns us: The Guns of August & Clark’s The Sleepwalkers show how great powers drift into crises through miscalculation & bravado. The #Greenland situation feels uncomfortably similar—small moves, big symbols, and leaders (in the U.S. Congress) assuming it will all work out…until it doesn’t.
January 18, 2026 at 12:44 AM
History warns us: The Guns of August & Clark’s The Sleepwalkers show how great powers drift into crises through miscalculation & bravado. The #Greenland situation feels uncomfortably similar—small moves, big symbols, and leaders (in the U.S. Congress) assuming it will all work out…until it doesn’t.
After 9/11, the U.S. invoked NATO’s Article 5 for the 1st—and only—time. Troops from Denmark, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Finland and others fought in Afghanistan, where over 1,000 paid the ultimate sacrifice.
January 17, 2026 at 11:51 PM
After 9/11, the U.S. invoked NATO’s Article 5 for the 1st—and only—time. Troops from Denmark, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Finland and others fought in Afghanistan, where over 1,000 paid the ultimate sacrifice.
" Them」is now all of us! "
What a grim & powerful statement.
Only months ago, many people still treated the famous Niemöller quote half-jokingly, convinced that something like that could never happen in the U.S. Now it is here — time for all well-meaning folks to break their silence and speak out.
What a grim & powerful statement.
Only months ago, many people still treated the famous Niemöller quote half-jokingly, convinced that something like that could never happen in the U.S. Now it is here — time for all well-meaning folks to break their silence and speak out.
January 15, 2026 at 12:11 AM
" Them」is now all of us! "
What a grim & powerful statement.
Only months ago, many people still treated the famous Niemöller quote half-jokingly, convinced that something like that could never happen in the U.S. Now it is here — time for all well-meaning folks to break their silence and speak out.
What a grim & powerful statement.
Only months ago, many people still treated the famous Niemöller quote half-jokingly, convinced that something like that could never happen in the U.S. Now it is here — time for all well-meaning folks to break their silence and speak out.
I hate this, but I felt compelled to return to Twitter temporarily and turn myself into a bot for retweeting pro-democracy, pro–rule of law content. You might consider doing the same to help crowd out pro-totalitarian voices there.
January 14, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I hate this, but I felt compelled to return to Twitter temporarily and turn myself into a bot for retweeting pro-democracy, pro–rule of law content. You might consider doing the same to help crowd out pro-totalitarian voices there.
I am old it enough to remember this heroic man in 1989, but many younger people might need a refresher.
January 11, 2026 at 12:54 AM
I am old it enough to remember this heroic man in 1989, but many younger people might need a refresher.
Wishing you a happy & peaceful New Year 2026. A better future doesn’t simply happen—it is shaped by our shared vision, courage, and action. I look forward to collaborating with all you changemakers to build happier, sustainable, resilient, and just cities & local communities for generations to come.
January 1, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Wishing you a happy & peaceful New Year 2026. A better future doesn’t simply happen—it is shaped by our shared vision, courage, and action. I look forward to collaborating with all you changemakers to build happier, sustainable, resilient, and just cities & local communities for generations to come.
“Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or a̶n̶ ̶e̶c̶o̶n̶o̶m̶i̶s̶t̶ a traffic engineer.”
— paraphrasing Kenneth Boulding
via Michael Baoigheallain
— paraphrasing Kenneth Boulding
via Michael Baoigheallain
December 16, 2025 at 1:35 AM
“Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or a̶n̶ ̶e̶c̶o̶n̶o̶m̶i̶s̶t̶ a traffic engineer.”
— paraphrasing Kenneth Boulding
via Michael Baoigheallain
— paraphrasing Kenneth Boulding
via Michael Baoigheallain
I wish today’s advertisement was as ephemeral:
1948 (Shōwa 23): In Tokyo, a man walks the streets stamping ads onto pavement with a pat-pat sound. Water from a backpack tank feeds a felt pad on his foot—called the “Road Sign.” Inspired by tabi socks, the prints vanished when dry, leaving no trace.
1948 (Shōwa 23): In Tokyo, a man walks the streets stamping ads onto pavement with a pat-pat sound. Water from a backpack tank feeds a felt pad on his foot—called the “Road Sign.” Inspired by tabi socks, the prints vanished when dry, leaving no trace.
December 13, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I wish today’s advertisement was as ephemeral:
1948 (Shōwa 23): In Tokyo, a man walks the streets stamping ads onto pavement with a pat-pat sound. Water from a backpack tank feeds a felt pad on his foot—called the “Road Sign.” Inspired by tabi socks, the prints vanished when dry, leaving no trace.
1948 (Shōwa 23): In Tokyo, a man walks the streets stamping ads onto pavement with a pat-pat sound. Water from a backpack tank feeds a felt pad on his foot—called the “Road Sign.” Inspired by tabi socks, the prints vanished when dry, leaving no trace.
This is a thought-provoking reflection by Josephine Liu on ‘cities as cognitive infrastructure.’ To make better cities, we need to design them with cognitive& behavioural realities in mind—not according to how planners imagine or wish cities to function.
=> transformative-cities.com/cities-as-co...
=> transformative-cities.com/cities-as-co...
December 13, 2025 at 1:33 AM
This is a thought-provoking reflection by Josephine Liu on ‘cities as cognitive infrastructure.’ To make better cities, we need to design them with cognitive& behavioural realities in mind—not according to how planners imagine or wish cities to function.
=> transformative-cities.com/cities-as-co...
=> transformative-cities.com/cities-as-co...
This is a profoundly revealing read, underscoring how the media fall short of portraying the world as it truly is. This opens the door for bad-faith politicians & spin doctors to sow fear and anxiety—and, ultimately, to nurture a troubling politics of revanchism.
ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
December 6, 2025 at 7:48 AM
This is a profoundly revealing read, underscoring how the media fall short of portraying the world as it truly is. This opens the door for bad-faith politicians & spin doctors to sow fear and anxiety—and, ultimately, to nurture a troubling politics of revanchism.
ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
Many people are still unsure when I ask about the “endgame” of our work. Back in 2014, we held a #deepadaptation bootcamp & mapped out root causes of the #planetarycrisis. Yet, despite accelerating change, far too many still assume a business-as-usual future.
→ rci.nanzan-u.ac.jp/ISE/ja/publi...
→ rci.nanzan-u.ac.jp/ISE/ja/publi...
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Many people are still unsure when I ask about the “endgame” of our work. Back in 2014, we held a #deepadaptation bootcamp & mapped out root causes of the #planetarycrisis. Yet, despite accelerating change, far too many still assume a business-as-usual future.
→ rci.nanzan-u.ac.jp/ISE/ja/publi...
→ rci.nanzan-u.ac.jp/ISE/ja/publi...
A fitting moment to bring back this old transit meme. However they’re powered—gas, hydrogen, electricity, or driverless—leaning on cars instead of investing in quality public transit is still a poor long-term strategy.
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A fitting moment to bring back this old transit meme. However they’re powered—gas, hydrogen, electricity, or driverless—leaning on cars instead of investing in quality public transit is still a poor long-term strategy.
For anyone interested in a more visual take on #Tokyo, you’re invited to follow me on Instagram. On my walks to work, I often reflect on both the strengths & the shortcomings of Tokyo’s urbanism. No smoke, no sunshine—just honest thoughts. Beware, I am also using words.
www.instagram.com/chr.dimmer/
www.instagram.com/chr.dimmer/
November 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM
For anyone interested in a more visual take on #Tokyo, you’re invited to follow me on Instagram. On my walks to work, I often reflect on both the strengths & the shortcomings of Tokyo’s urbanism. No smoke, no sunshine—just honest thoughts. Beware, I am also using words.
www.instagram.com/chr.dimmer/
www.instagram.com/chr.dimmer/
Another wonderful & sharply perceptive book is「Tokyo Totem」．It’s beautifully produced & approaches the city from a wide range of angles，bringing together many of the leading Tokyo-based urban thinkers of the time—not only architects，but scholars & practitioners from an array of different fields.
November 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Another wonderful & sharply perceptive book is「Tokyo Totem」．It’s beautifully produced & approaches the city from a wide range of angles，bringing together many of the leading Tokyo-based urban thinkers of the time—not only architects，but scholars & practitioners from an array of different fields.
Walking home after a long day reminds me how much I enjoy living in Tokyo. My daily 10,000 steps let me feel the city’s ever-changing rhythms. Its resilience comes from its adaptability and flexible planning rules that foster innovation and experimentation.
November 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Walking home after a long day reminds me how much I enjoy living in Tokyo. My daily 10,000 steps let me feel the city’s ever-changing rhythms. Its resilience comes from its adaptability and flexible planning rules that foster innovation and experimentation.
"Tokyo’s Perpetual Resilience Project"
Happy to see this chapter out—an attempt to weave together some of the big themes of our time, from ecological #resilience to #sustainability, and what they actually mean for local #climateaction.
→ www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/... (sadly paywalled)
Happy to see this chapter out—an attempt to weave together some of the big themes of our time, from ecological #resilience to #sustainability, and what they actually mean for local #climateaction.
→ www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/... (sadly paywalled)
November 21, 2025 at 12:03 AM
"Tokyo’s Perpetual Resilience Project"
Happy to see this chapter out—an attempt to weave together some of the big themes of our time, from ecological #resilience to #sustainability, and what they actually mean for local #climateaction.
→ www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/... (sadly paywalled)
Happy to see this chapter out—an attempt to weave together some of the big themes of our time, from ecological #resilience to #sustainability, and what they actually mean for local #climateaction.
→ www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/... (sadly paywalled)
Just a quick reminder to Mr. Trump and all so-called conservatives who keep whitewashing his assault on democratic institutions—excusing unprecedented, previously unimaginable levels of corruption. There's also nothing conservative about trying to jail political opponents or suppressing free speech.
November 20, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Just a quick reminder to Mr. Trump and all so-called conservatives who keep whitewashing his assault on democratic institutions—excusing unprecedented, previously unimaginable levels of corruption. There's also nothing conservative about trying to jail political opponents or suppressing free speech.
Join the movement!
Stop cycling and walking right now! It ruins the economy ………
……NOT
Stop cycling and walking right now! It ruins the economy ………
……NOT
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Join the movement!
Stop cycling and walking right now! It ruins the economy ………
……NOT
Stop cycling and walking right now! It ruins the economy ………
……NOT
How can planning help communities adapt to societal & spatial consequences of #climatechange? Why is #resilience relevant to sustainable planning in the context of adaptation to accelerating environmental risk and how can it be ‘built’ into formal planning processes?
www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...
www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...
November 19, 2025 at 10:49 PM
How can planning help communities adapt to societal & spatial consequences of #climatechange? Why is #resilience relevant to sustainable planning in the context of adaptation to accelerating environmental risk and how can it be ‘built’ into formal planning processes?
www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...
www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstr...
Mythos öffentlicher Raum. Für uns damals normativ geprägte Planungsstudis war es ein wichtiger Lernschritt zu verstehen, dass es DEN öffentlichen Raum nicht gibt. Vielmehr prägen lokale Raumnutzungskulturen seine Bedeutungen, Formen und letztlich auch seine Planung.
kluedo.ub.rptu.de/frontdoor/de...
kluedo.ub.rptu.de/frontdoor/de...
November 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Mythos öffentlicher Raum. Für uns damals normativ geprägte Planungsstudis war es ein wichtiger Lernschritt zu verstehen, dass es DEN öffentlichen Raum nicht gibt. Vielmehr prägen lokale Raumnutzungskulturen seine Bedeutungen, Formen und letztlich auch seine Planung.
kluedo.ub.rptu.de/frontdoor/de...
kluedo.ub.rptu.de/frontdoor/de...
Barber’s 'If Mayors Ruled the World: Dysfunctional Nations, Rising #Cities' (2013) feels timelier than ever. As national politics remain gridlocked and the #polycrisis demands local action, it’s encouraging to see @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social win in NYC and @wutrain.bsky.social in Boston.
November 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Barber’s 'If Mayors Ruled the World: Dysfunctional Nations, Rising #Cities' (2013) feels timelier than ever. As national politics remain gridlocked and the #polycrisis demands local action, it’s encouraging to see @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social win in NYC and @wutrain.bsky.social in Boston.
I can’t help but wonder how much of our current populist political predicament stems from the loss of social infrastructure and vibrant public spaces—and how much from exclusionary zoning and car-dependent lifestyles. When we no longer encounter “the other,” it becomes far easier to lose empathy.
November 4, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I can’t help but wonder how much of our current populist political predicament stems from the loss of social infrastructure and vibrant public spaces—and how much from exclusionary zoning and car-dependent lifestyles. When we no longer encounter “the other,” it becomes far easier to lose empathy.
It’s devastating. The love for the car is utterly irrational!
In Tokyo, it’s even worse—home builders often shrink houses just to make space for a car. They give up precious living area for a vehicle that’s even less used than in Europe, all in a city with the world’s most efficient public transit.
In Tokyo, it’s even worse—home builders often shrink houses just to make space for a car. They give up precious living area for a vehicle that’s even less used than in Europe, all in a city with the world’s most efficient public transit.
November 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
It’s devastating. The love for the car is utterly irrational!
In Tokyo, it’s even worse—home builders often shrink houses just to make space for a car. They give up precious living area for a vehicle that’s even less used than in Europe, all in a city with the world’s most efficient public transit.
In Tokyo, it’s even worse—home builders often shrink houses just to make space for a car. They give up precious living area for a vehicle that’s even less used than in Europe, all in a city with the world’s most efficient public transit.
Even after seeing this montage countless times, I’m still struck by how much change is possible when political leaders & citizens come together to challenge the status quo & imagine something better. What Utrecht accomplished, Tokyo COULD too—IF only there were the will & urgency to make it happen.
November 2, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Even after seeing this montage countless times, I’m still struck by how much change is possible when political leaders & citizens come together to challenge the status quo & imagine something better. What Utrecht accomplished, Tokyo COULD too—IF only there were the will & urgency to make it happen.