2017 Volume 12 Pages 50-71
Hierarchical urban system research in urban geography in Japan has been pursued for cities in Japan. World cities research that became active since 1980 has positioned Tokyo in the urban system of the world, but other cities in Japan have not been studied. In urban geography in Japan and world city theory, hierarchical urban systems research has progressed, but there have been few mutual contact points so far. Since the 1990's, in world city research, cities that had been recognized overseas as regional cities have been recognized as components of the world city system. In contrast, only Fukuoka in local cities in Japan has been recognized as a restricted international city. Since around 2000, with the progress of urbanization and globalization worldwide, the concept of inter-city competition has spread worldwide, and the global competitiveness of cities has been demonstrated concretely by global city rankings.
The ranking of cities based on the global city ranking shows the hierarchy of cities in the world city system. In the world city system, the number of cities that connect across the border increases, the density of connections raises, and the way of connection diversifies. As a result, even if the cities are not directly connected, they will have competitive relationships. The function that is required in the cities of Japan is the global urban function. Even though its level is not necessarily high, it is possible to grasp the hierarchy in the world city system by relatively evaluating global indicators and measuring the "global competitiveness of the city". Even in identifying the Japan's urban system, not only measuring the number of head offices and the number of branch offices of domestically listed companies, but also measuring the global city functions, is required. In other words, the joining or fusion of domestic urban system theory and world city theory is becoming required both in academic and urban policies.
Regardless of any city or metropolitan area, the position in the world city system can be identified based on global indicators. Identifying the position of Japanese cities in the world city system will be an opportunity to join or fuse the urban system theory and the world city theory developed in different contexts. Research on the global positioning of cities across Japan is effective not only for academic significance but also for local governments to formulate and implement "regional version comprehensive strategies" in the near future.
