In the late 1980s, the city of Fukuoka was struggling with a massive influx of people, a dying shopping district, and no sense of community. Jerde responded with Canal City Hakata, the largest, privately developed project in Japan's history. Canal City Hakata used water and nature to establish a unique destination for the city. The project's mix of uses also created a commercial success. In the first year, more than 16 million people visited, sales exceeded $500 million, the cinema captured 55 percent of the city's box office sales, and the theater sold out every performance. Success carried outside too. The neighboring, historic shopping arcade reversed years of decline thanks to increased foot traffic. Cinema attendance city- wide rose 50 percent. And Fukuoka was dubbed AsiaWeek's "Best City in Asia" in 1997.