Abstract
The purpose of this study is to discern the characteristics of and changes in industrial clusters in the Greater Kanto area using mesh maps to analyze manufacturing statistics and discuss the meaning and challenges of the industrial cluster policy. By constructing maps that depict the density of industrial plants and employees in the area, we specify the main industrial clusters. Many of these industrial clusters pertain to fundamental technology as designated by the Act on Temporary Measures Concerning the Activation of Specific Regional Industrial Agglomerations. By analyzing the distribution maps and individual meshes, which vary drastically between the clusters, we determined three points. First, based on the distribution of the density of plants, the cores of the clusters can be identified, but meshes that indicate rapid growth are dispersed because of the locations of industrial estates and large plants. These two results contradict each other. Second, we determined similarities between various clusters in mesh composition ratios in terms of the density of plants and employees. Third, mesh growth is dependent on the change in location of large plants; consequently, the relocation of large firms must be considered when thinking about the future of industrial clusters.
