Urban Network Transformation in the National Capital Region

Abstract

THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE URBAN HIERARCHICAL NETWORK CHANGE IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION WHICH MAY GET INTO A NEW URBANIZATION STAGE FROM METROPOLIS TO MEGACITY. FIRST, THROUGH FACTOR ANALYSIS USING THE INDEX OF SURPLUS WORKERS AS A INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL SPECIALIZATION AMONG CITIES AND THEN CLASSIFYING THE CITIES INTO 8 CATEGORIES, IT IS FOUND OUT THAT RECENT CHANGE OF THE URBAN NETWORK IN THE TOKYO METROPOLIS INDICATES A POSSIBILE TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN STRUCTURE FROM UNI-POLAR TO MULTI-POLAR STRUCTURE. THE OUTER AREA OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION HASN'T SHOWED SUCH FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE URBAN NETWORK SO FAR, HOWEVER.