Changes in the socio-spatial structure in the Tokyo Metropolitan area: Social area analysis of changes from 1990 to 2010

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to conduct a socio-spatial analysis on data from 1990, 2000, and 2010 using identical indices with the Tokyo Metropolitan area, spread over 4 prefectures and 1 city of Tokyo-to, Kanagawa-ken, Saitama-ken, Chiba-ken, Ibaraki-ken, as the analysis area and to use this to conduct a comparative time-based study. The analysis region was within a diameter of 60 km from the centre of Tokyo Station, and the Basic Grid Square was the unit of analysis and representation. The analysis results indicated that there were 3 types of changes including a) progress of decreasing birthrate and ageing population in almost all regions in the 60km area, b) changes arising in urban cores of polarization into new middle class and working class and accumulation of service jobs, c) changes arising in surrounding areas of accumulation of distribution facilities primarily in manufacturing.