TOKYO

Demographics

 

The demographics of Tokyo, as with any city, influence the planning needs addressed and policies implemented. The population of the city has been strongly linked with its economic health. Tokyo's population is among the largest urban popuation in the world, and has grown drastically in short periods of time. Catastrophic events such as the Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and firebombing during WWII caused a decrease in the population, and simultaneously destroyed the economy, causing city planners to respond to the immediate need to rebuild the city. The period after WWII was a time of extreme popuation and economic growth. Currently, the population of Tokyo is rapidly aging, and planners will need to find methods to respond to the needs of those 65 and older. The economy has been primarily focused on international business, which has made Tokyo the powerhouse it is today.