TOKYO

A common policy concern among many modern nation states is the issue of the urban planning. The importance of urban planning cannot be ignored since it plays a significant role in the creation of wealth and determining the quality of life in a city. As Sorensen (2002) notes, most of the major vibrant and prosperous cities in the modern world attribute their well being to thorough and strategic urban planning. However, different cities adopt different concepts of urban planning, depending on some key factors. For instance, non-western cities kicked off urban planning under the influence of imperialist an order. One of the major non-Western cities that have a rich urban history is Tokyo. In the twentieth century, Tokyo has been experiencing urban growth and development, compelling urban professionals to term Tokyo as one of the most productive, efficient and sustainable regions in the world.

 

Tokyo is one of the largest mega-regions of the world with a population of about 40million inhabitants in 2013. Tokyo’s population has grown from just 7.5 million people in the 1900s to about 40 million people in 2013. One of the critical planning issues facing Tokyo was how it would expand to accommodate and cater for the needs of a population that was growing rapidly. Over the years, Tokyo has been experiencing a steady growth in a variety of issues related to urban development and urban form. Some issues related to urban development and urban form have been solved while others remain a burning issue to date. One of the major issues Tokyo faced is when it entered into the phase of no or little growth and an ageing society. However, Tokyo has experienced periods of exponential growth of population and the industries. This contributed to the success of Tokyo as a leading mega-region in the modern world. As some scholar advises, in order to continue with its dominance, Tokyo must participate in the global efforts to attain the desired level of sustainability.[1]