1st Edition

Cities, Autonomy, and Decentralization in Japan

Edited By Carola Hein, Philippe Pelletier Copyright 2006
    216 Pages 26 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    224 Pages 26 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Adding a new perspective to the current literature on decentralization in Japan, Cities, Autonomy and Decentralization in Japan, approaches the subject from an urban studies and planning approach. The essays in the collection present a cogent compilation of case studies focusing on the past, present and future of decentralization in Japan. These include small scale development in the fields such as citizen participation (machizukuri), urban form and architecture, disaster prevention and conservation of monuments.

    The contributors suggest that new trends are emerging after the bursting of Japan's economic bubble and assess them in the context of the country's larger socio-political system. This in-depth analysis of the development outside of Japan provides a valuable addition to students of Urban, Asian and Japanese Studies.

    List of Illustrations  Table of Figures  Preface and Acknowledgements  Notes on the Contributors  1. Introduction: Decentralization and the Tension Between Global and Local Urban Japan Carola Hein and Philippe Pelletier  2. Local Initiatives and the Decentralization of Planning Power in Japan Ishida Yorifusa  3. Concentration and Deconcentration: In the Context of the Tokyo Capital Region Plan and Recent Cross-Border Networking Concepts Nakabayashi Itsuki  4. Financial Problems in the Japanese Local Public Sector in the 1990's: Situation, Structural Reasons, Solutions Alain Schebath  5. Centralization, Urban Planning, Governance, and Citizen Participation in Japan Andrè Sorensen  6. Machizukuri in Japan: A Historical Perspective on Participatory Community-Building Initiatives Watanabe Shun'ichi J  7. Whose Kyoto? Competing Models of Local Autonomy and Townscape in the Old Imperial Capital Christoph Brumann  8. Conclusion: Decentralization Policies: Questionning the Japanese Model Carola Hein and Philippe Pelletier  Index

     

    Biography

    Carola Hein is Associate Professor in the Growth and Structure of Cities Program at Bryn Mawr College, USA.

    Philippe Pelletier is Professor of Geography at Lumiere-Lyon 2 University, France.