Urban problem during the re-urbanization in Japanese cities: A sociological study

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K04086
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Sociology
• Research Institution: The University of Shiga Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: Maruyama Masao 滋賀県立大学, 人間文化学部, 教授 (80551374)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鰺坂 学 同志社大学, 人文科学研究所, 嘱託研究員 (60135960)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 都市問題 / 再都市化 / 都心回帰 / 都心 / インナーシティ / 大都市圏 / 都市政策 / 都市社会学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Since the late 1990s, most Japanese metropolitan regions have transitioned from urbanization or sub-urbanization to re-urbanization in terms of their developmental stage. Under re-urbanization, many urban core and inner-city areas in the regions have been faced with new urban problems, such as a shortfall in public facilities and the worsening of living condition. Our study sheds light on the reality of new urban problems during re-urbanization in Japanese metropolitan regions, particularly in the urban core and inner-city areas. We conducted field surveys on Osaka and Nagoya and traced the efforts of the city governments, ward offices, and neighborhood associations against such problems. In addition, we performed a survey of residents' sentiments and attitudes toward the current problems and efforts by the governments and associations.

Free Research Field

社会学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

都市問題の社会科学的な理解は、1960年代から70年代にかけて、都市化・郊外化の時期に盛んに試みられたが、再都市化段階の都市問題については、まだ十分に研究がなされていないのが現状である。本研究では、再都市化段階の都市問題、とくに都心・インナーエリアにおける問題状況を、現地調査を通じて明らかにするとともに、再都市化段階の研究課題を明確化することに努めた。現地調査からは、都市化段階とは異質な都市問題がみられること、および都市政策の対応が必要であることを明らかにした。