The monthly differences in the average amount and frequency of precipitation at 661 stations in Japan during the passage of 100 tropical cyclones (tropical cyclone in this study means tropical cyclone that at least once exceed a maximum wind speed of 17.2m/s or greater, including the period in which the disturbance transforms into an extratropical cyclone) near Japan during 1981-1990 were investigated. The differences are discussed using monthly tropical cyclone characteristics (track, central pressure, etc.) and synoptic situations.
Tropical cyclone data from the “Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the Western North Pacific 1951-1990” and the daily precipitation data from the “AMeDAS annual report, ” edited by the Japan Meteorological Agency, were used. The precipitation amount recorded at each station during the passage of a tropical cyclone near Japan is defined by the period (days) for which every tropical cyclone exists between 25°N and 45°N plus one day.
Monthly average precipitation distributions indicate that the area with precipitation exceeding 31mm is large in June and September. The records for both these months show high occurrence rates of stationary fronts. Thus, the large areas with precipitations of 31mm or more could be considered to be due to the precipitation associated with stationary fronts.
Moreover, in September, the area with precipitation of 31mm or more is the largest and the average central pressure of tropical cyclones is low. A tropical cyclone that records a lower central pressure causes a large pressure gradient, thereby resulting in the transportation of a large amount of water vapor to the stationary front. This mechanism could explain the reason why the area with precipitation of 31mm or more is the largest in September.
On the other hand, the area with precipitation of 31mm or more is small in August. However, the number of stations that recorded heavy precipitation for this month is greater compared with that in other months. In addition, many of the stations recorded the maximum precipitation amount in August. The primary reasons considered responsible for this were: i) tropical cyclones in August exists for long durations between 25°N and 45°N; and ii) many tropical cyclones occurred in August and there is a possibility that more than two tropical cyclones passed near Japan.

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In the industrial agglomeration area where there are numerous potential trading partners, it is thought that a company can adjust itself to various economic conditions by coordinating business relationships. After the 1990s, the superiority of industrial agglomeration areas was recognized anew in economic geography. “The importance of forming new interfirm linkages with new companies” has been cited as a key point of view. However, the formation process of such linkages has not been elucidated. To highlight this process, small and medium-sized companies in Itabashi, Tokyo Metropolis, were researched.
The most important means of forming new Interfirm linkages is “an introduction by an acquaintance.” (In the following, those acquaintances are called “introducers”). Surveyed companies collect information on a new company through the introducer. As a result, they reduce the transaction costs and technical and monetary risks of new business. Surveyed companies and introducers have close business connections in many cases. Introducers of new customers tend to be current customers of the company in question. On the other hand, introducers of new subcontractors tend to be current subcontractors and suppliers. There are many cases in which a surveyed company and the introducer are in the same cooperative society or have subcontracting friends or private acquaintances in common. This means that there is a relationship of mutual trust between both.
Trust is built because of opportunities to learn about each other's technology and personality by joining the same organization such as a cooperative society or a small and medium-sized company group. Linkages to former business partners often lead to the formation of new business relationships. Therefore, historically formed interfirm relationships greatly influence the formation of new interfirm linkages. Trust among firms is formed by participating in the same group, and close relationships are constructed within the group. However, it is difficult to develop ties with companies outside the group. Forming connections among enterprises beyond each group is a key in developing an industrial area.

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The objective of this study was to clarify spatial change in the business district of the central area of Kyoto due to office location changes during the second half of the 1990s. The number of offices decreased in most industry sectors in Kyoto during the period, because Japan fell into a long-term economic depression after the collapse of the bubble economy. The rate of decrease in traditional wholesale trade offices such as those in the textile and apparel sector in Kyoto was remarkable. On the other hand, the number of information services, research offices, and their workers increased during the economic depression. These offices increased in districts that have good access to Kyoto station.
The total area of the business district in downtown Kyoto decreased by about one-third during the period. Office sites in the former business district became suitable locations for condominium and apartment house developments. An increase in condominiums for investment, which has become popular in large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka in recent years, also occurred in the business district of central Kyoto. This trend is one of the notable changes that are taking place in central Kyoto.

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