Tokyo, was once a traditional fishing village that inhabited very few. Over time, however, Tokyo rapidly created complex infrastructure and developed into a modern day society which houses millions. This was especially evident following the events of WWII where rebuilding was the number one priority which led Tokyo to be one of the most economically advanced cities in the world and ranked 4th in A.T Kearney's Global Cities Index of 2012.
In the 1970s, Tokyo saw the immense and rapid development of high rise buildings and apartments, suitable for the growing needs of the rising population. However, with the ever increasing amount in the population of Tokyo, the affordability of houses are quite low for many families and individuals. Also, the growing demand for public transport has made Tokyo's subway and railway lines as one of the most busiest in the world. Nevertheless, these subways and trains offer an efficient way of transport.
The graph below illustrates the population growth of Tokyo from 1920 to 2011. There is a steady increase from 1920 to 1940, but in 1945, there is a steep decline to only 3.49 million, this off course was the result of the atomic bombing in WWII. From there, the population has seen a slow, but firm increase, where it reached up to 13.19 million by 2011.
These days, population growth in Tokyo is declining. Since Tokyo inhabits one of the most ageing populations in the world with an average of 82 years, (which is expected to increase) work force employment is likely to decline, as will the strength and growth of the economy. It is estimated that by 2060 the Japanese demographic will stagger down to 30 per cent, with seniors accounting for 40 per cent of the whole population. The current global birth rate is at 2.5 per couple per couple, Tokyo's is only 1.39, as of 2010, and this is due to further decline down to 1.35 in 2060.
With the population of Tokyo slipping annually. In 2006, the spread of suburban sprawl was on the rate of decline as more people returned to the cities due to the vast space that was available. Nowadays, urban sprawl is almost non-existent as the population is continuously falling year by year. Suburbs in Tokyo, do exist however, but not far as much as we see here in Melbourne.
Following the devastating results of the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the WWII bombings in 1945, the city of Tokyo is built on modern day infrastructure and stunning architecture. What was once a traditional and minuscule fishing village is now a bustling modernised city, home to one of the world's biggest companies like Sony and Toshiba. In today's society, it is considered one of the 'three command centres' for the world economy.
Bibliography - Access Date: 4/6/2012
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Japan_bans_suburban_sprawl_as_population_slips.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo#Demographics
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46187200/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/japans-population-drop-million-each-year-coming-decades-experts-say/
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/30/world/asia/japan-population-decline/index.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/us-japan-economy-aging-idUSTRE80T0JE20120130
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/PROFILE/overview03.htm
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