Abstract
The writer has investigated the “distribution of gray-iron casting plants in the Kawaguchi distric of Tokyo and inquired into the resons for their localization.” The following facts were learned:
(1) The gray-iron casting plants in the Tokyo area are dispersed within the machinery manufacturing belt, but about 67% of them are concentrated in the Kawaguchi district. (a) The area of distribution in this district is about 8. 8 km2, forming a fan-shaped. triangle extending from the Ara River to the Shiba River. (b) The core of the distribution is found within the highest density zone along the road between the Kawaguchi station and the Shibakawva riverport. (c) Although these plants are small in scale, avera-ging only 19.6 workers. each, they number about 500 and they are surro-unded by hundreds of related plants and industries. Scarcely any, part of Japan has such a density of casting plants as this district. (2) Until the 1st World War began, the major product of these plants was hardwares for daily use. Moreover, considering their old origins, their numbers were very few until that time. More important, in those days these plants were localized on the banks of the Ara River in front of the Zenkoji Temple, because this place . had casting-sand of good quality and good transportation facilities by water to Edo (Tokyo). Until recent times, the presence of casting-sand was indispensable for the foundries because it- could- not be transported for long distances and the water route was the only easy and safe method of transportation.
(3) Modern transportation solved these problems and changed the, major object of modern casting 'to casting of machine parts including cast gray-iron pipe and fittings. (a) Later, the localization of modern casting plants 'Was changed to “cost type” from “qualitative type” in accordance with thi conversion. (b) This was not decided by Water's theory of “productive cost+market cost=mini., ” but by the minimum point of market cost. The system of “Tatene” in Japan is the reason for this fact because, as the basic materials can be purchased at the same price anywshare, the difference in location as it afects the productive cost is almost negligible. (c) According to this principle, the localization of modern gray-iron casting plants which depended on the site of casting sand until recent times, is now controlled by the presence of machinery plants. (d) We can explain through this principle the fact that gray-iron casting plants in the Tokyo area are dispe-rsed within a machinery zone, but we cannot explain why 67% of the plants in. the entire area are concentrated in the Kawaguchi district. From the modern point of view, this district is not the best suited only the second best or less.
(4) Having analyzed this district, the writer has come, to the following conclusions a (a) The localization of manufacturing plants in modern great cities is not decided by the free choice of one manufacturing unit, but is subject to a combination of factors related to the “areal differentiation of the metropolis.” (b) In view of this phenomenon, the factors that have. led to the localization in Kawaguchi are to be sought in the areal differenti-ation in the Tokyo Area. (c) Low cost labor and the presence of a great casting group in this district are factors which constitute the inner drawing power to be coupled with the outer areal. differentiation of the Tokyo area. (d) It is because proper transport distance exists between market and prod-ti.ctive district that the plants are concentrated along the roads and it is because of the same transportational reason that the area of distribution takes the fan-shaped triangle seen at present.
