DISTRIBUTION OF FACTORIES AND THEIR LOCATIONAL CHANGES IN THE OSAKI DISTRICT, TOKYO

Abstract

In the narrow valley down the Meguro River, southwestern part of Tokyo, there are 280 factories (1955), 93% of which are electric machi-neries and chemical and fabricated metal goods. Their development and locational changes are as follows:
1. The first wave was caused by three chemical factories established by the government in 1873 soon after the Meiji Restoration (1868), utilizing the transportation of the Meguro River. The second wave pushed into this district after the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). They were of machinery, fabricated metal goods and food products which formed a part of the Shibaura industrial district.
2. The third wave rushed during the World War I. They were electric machineries which located the surrounding districts of Osaki Station and the old road near it. In those days, as the districts covered all over with the damp paddy-fields, it could be bought up at cheap price.
3. The fourth wave dashed after the great Kanto-Earthquake (1923). As the main road to Yokohama was constructed through the district, the water tranport of the Meguro River decreased in its value. Many small electric machineries and others developed rapidly along this new road, spreading far on the Ebara heights.
4. After the World War II, many factories in the district declined, but small factories were established soon and occupied about half of all in number.