Under the formidable circumstances where the Japanese bicycle industry faces increasing import competition and decline in size, Osaka's bicycle industry has gained prominence relative to other regions by the 1990s. I examine the local bicycle industry with a particular focus on how local firms have selectively developed and maintain production linkages at different scales. The findings are summarized as follows. First, increasingly important aspects of production linkages among local firms in Osaka are the speed and frequency of transactions. The local interfirm relationships are asymmetric in nature, and are influenced not only by technological intensity of production, but also by changes in extraregional contexts. Second, critical innovative activities are increasingly responsive to final demand. Geographical proximity among local firms for sharing intangible knowledge or for nurturing innovation has rather marginal importance. The role of collective institutions in innovation also appears indistinct. Third, some firms have been developing international production linkages, including outsourcing and overseas production. The development of these international linkages has differential consequences for the other local firms, promoting technological upgrading for some firms, while forcing strictly price-based competition or dissolving existing transaction relationships for others. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the difficulty of generalizing the processes and consequences of "hollowing out" in the local industrial agglomeration, once we recognize complex interactions of firms in and between places.

View full abstract

The hollowing effect of central urban areas has been a serious problem in small and medium cities across the country. Despite this trend, some areas are showing signs of regeneration. One type is the marginal area to the central commercial district, which used to play a central role in urban areas. The marginal area, typically sandwiched by a commercial district and a residential district, has geographic conditions that can utilize both commercial and residential functions. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the location factors of the commercial/residential-type condominium and influence on the surrounding, focusing on its diverse functions. At the same time, I also clarified the process through which geographical factors are involved in regenerating the marginal area of the central commercial district. More specifically, taking the Suwa-Shindo district, the marginal area to the central commercial district in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture as a case example, I surveyed condominium residential households and merchants in the Suwa-Shindo district, interviewed new merchants and condominium suppliers and analyzed the findings. Consequently, the following points were clarified : (1) The marginal central commercial district used to be located in the center of the city, and was its symbolic space. As that central commercial district shrunk in scale, its marginal area had no choice but to convert itself to a residential area. (2) The symbolic character of a city made the local government actively implement environmental projects and redevelopment projects. With this, mixed type (commercial/residential) condominiums were supplied. (3) The construction of mixed type condominiums greatly changed the residential house-hold structure in terms of quality and quantity. A new commercial function was promoted for the first-floor space. (4) The Suwa-Shindo district has the dual locality of a changing "new town" and a "community shopping district," which has the potential as an experimental site for community development. Those two localities had synergistic effects, regenerating commercial functions of the whole district. In conclusion, because of its marginal qualities of both commercial and residential functions, the marginal central commercial district has much potential for creating a living environment with composite functions.

View full abstract

This study aims to analyze major Japanese cities and the urban system of Japan from the standpoint of large private firms' head and branch offices. The period from 1950 to 2000 will be the main focus of this paper. At first, the author analyses the situation of large private firms under study and major cities from the standpoint of head offices. Next, the author analyses major cities from the standpoint of branch offices, in particular, the number of branch offices, branch office hierarchical relationships, head office and branch office size, and city territories as branch office activity zones. The difference of the status between Tokyo and Osaka has increased in recent times, with Osaka losing ground. In addition, the status of Fukuoka as a provincial metropolis is rising. The status of Sendai as a provincial metropolis is also rising. In contrast, the status of Sapporo has declined. This aspect will be discussed. Finally, the author presents a model of the urban system of Japan in 2000. The results are shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. These figures clearly show the complex networks of inter-connectivity established between major Japanese cities by large firms based in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, as well as the level of importance of Japanese cities in this respect. Tokyo, indisputedly, remains dominant.

View full abstract

The authors investigate the facts concerning the establishment of information service firms in Hokkaido and Tohoku based on a questionnaire survey. The study reveals that migration history of entrepreneurs differentiates the degree of preparation for the establishment of firms and the subsequent business situation. We classified the entrepreneurs into three groups based on their migration history. "Homegrown" is entrepreneurs who have been living in the prefecture where they grow up since they graduated from high school. Those who have once worked in prefectures other than ones containing their hometown and came back to found their firm are classified as "U-turn". "New comer" indicates entrepreneurs who establish a firm in a prefecture that is not their home. "New comer" occupies as small as 20% of all entrepreneurs, however, most of the "U-turn" entrepreneurs have an experience of working in Tokyo Metropolitan Area and 30% of "homegrown" have once lived in another prefecture to receive higher education. So, it can be said even though many of entrepreneurs are running their firm in their hometown, the migration history of entrepreneur extends rather widely. Ninety percent of firms established by "homegrown" have the most important customer within the same prefecture as the location of firm, whereas the corresponding percentage is around 70% for firms established by both "U-turn" and "new comer" entrepreneurs. "New comer" entrepreneurs tend to finance more initial funding than entrepreneurs of other groups. "New comer" entrepreneurs also tend to run the firm in a decent office space with a help of the right-hand stuff. "U-turn" entrepreneurs, on the contrary, have the tendency to start up their firm within their residence and to lack dependable stuffs. Firms of "new comer" entrepreneurs show more annual sales and higher growth in business than those of "U-turn" entrepreneurs. The difference discerned in sales between groups of entrepreneurs can be the reflection of the conditions of firms mentioned above.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract