The trends of the population and urbanization in post-war Japan

Abstract

This paper analyzes the population change and urbanization process in post-war Japan. We trace the process of population concentration into urban areas parallel with economic development after the war. The concentration of population into urban areas can be characterized by that into the three major metropolitan regions, Tokyo, Keihanshin (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe) and Nagoya Regions. We also reveal that the urbanization process of Japan in the periods from 1965 to 1985 can be characterized by two spatial phenomena; firstly, the suburbanization of the existing metropolitan areas, and secondly, the spatial dispersal of urbanized areas.