The purpose of this study is to explore the trends and the backgrounds behind the changes in the cityscapes of Tokyo. Skyscrapers (high-rise buildings taller than 100m) first appeared in Tokyo in the late 1960s, and in the early 21st century total over 300. Their construction trends can be divided into three periods ; “pre-economic bubble (1968-87)”, “economic bubble (1988-97)”, and “post-economic bubble (since 1998)”. For example, only 49 skyscrapers were built in the first twenty years (pre-bubble period). During the 10 year bubble period, that figure doubled. In the 8 years following the bubble period, more than 150 appeared. In particular, 2003 recorded the completion of 33 new skyscrapers resulting in a so-called “2003 problem” ― the oversupply of new office space. Moreover, almost 100 skyscrapers are to be completed during the three years beginning 2006. This boom in skyscraper construction has been supported by the “Urban Renaissance Special Measure Law” (Law No.22 ― April 5, 2002) based on the government’s emergent economic measures. This law, which went into effect on June 1, 2002 under the supervision of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, was enacted in order to revitalize the Japanese economy by promoting urban renewal. Various measures, including deregulations in urban planning in special districts as well as financial support to developers, are currently being implemented under this ten-year durational law. As a result, urban development projects have become even more numerous than they were in the late 1980s (bubble economy). High-rise condominiums, called “tower mansions”, have been increasing in number throughout Tokyo, thus greatly increasing the population in the center of the metropolis. The formation of these growing skylines is diversified according to the different area of Tokyo. In the core area, which has developed as the CBD, large-scale office buildings have been gradually transformed into skyscrapers. Through horizontal expansion of this business area, various redevelopment complexes now exist on the periphery of the CBD. Skyscrapers in Shinjuku (the sub-center) have been erected at the redeveloped site of the former water filtration plant. Including the new Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, 14 skyscrapers were constructed on this site over the 20 years beginning in 1971. Accordingly, the creation of this new business center triggered several consecutive developments in the surrounding area as well. Waterfront areas, once regarded as industrial and physical distribution centers, have rapidly changed their function. Due to structural changes in Japanese industry, these areas were redeveloped in the 1980s and have since been revived as suitable areas for offices and residences.

This study aims to categorize 287 convenience stores found in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area by actual sales results based on POS data. In addition, the study will ascertain the impact of the difference between the actual sales results during weekdays and those during weekends on the store types and examine the geographical factors behind that difference. To obtain the data on the actual sales results used in this study, 51of the merchandise categories handled by the 287 stores surveyed, or 90% of the accumulated share, were selected. Five of these categories (packed lunches, prepared food, bread, magazines/books and licensed goods) were removed, bringing the total to 46 categories. The analysis was carried out in the following order. Step (1): A numerical matrix was prepared by multiplying the 287 stores by the 46 categories. The resultant matrix was used to conduct a factor analysis, on the basis of which a number of leading factors were selected. Step (2): A cluster analysis was conducted using the leading factors, on the basis of which the 287 stores were broken down into a number of store types. Step (3): the geographical distribution of the store types obtained was determined, on the basis of which market-area characteristics were organized. The foregoing analysis was conducted separately for weekdays and weekends (including holidays) to ascertain the transformation in the store types on weekdays and those on weekends as well to examine the reasons for the transformation. Firstly, the analysis yielded the following five factors as determinants of the marketing characteristics of the 287 convenience stores. 1)　Articles purchased mainly in places where customers go visit 2)　Articles consumed mainly at home. 3)　Articles that are otherwise purchased in supermarkets 4)　Between-meal snacks and midnight snacks 5)　Articles that are likely to be purchased sporadically Next, the 287 stores were categorized into the following seven types by using the foregoing five factors. 1)　The type with many competing stores 2)　The type that sells mainly confectionary goods and beverages 3)　The office district type 4)　The type that complements supermarkets 5)　The type that substitutes supermarkets 6)　The roadside type 7)　The type that is located near a school or train station Based on their geographical distributions, the seven store types can be divided into the five types that are found on the inner side of National Route 16 and the two that are found on the outer side of Route 16. The former can be divided into those distributed closer to the center of Tokyo (Types 1 and 3) and those found in the outskirts (Types 2, 6 and 7). On the other hand, the two store types, many of which are located on the outer side of Route 16, can be divided into Type 4, the customers of which spill over to many competing stores, and Type 5, the customers of which spill over to fewer competing stores. A comparison of the store types for weekdays and that for weekends shows that, while the stores included in the two types may differ, the store types themselves share similar characteristics that go beyond differences in terms of days of the week. Thus it was possible to interpret the store types by days of the week in the same way as the aforementioned store types. Many of the stores that change their types between weekdays and weekends were located in two types of areas. First, they were either in an area where the number of customers decreases (or increases) on weekdays or in an area where their customers’ attributes differ. Second, they were in an area with a large number of commuter households whose purchasing behavior differs significantly between weekdays and weekends.

This study focusses on the development of Kozoji New-town constructed on the hills in the east part of Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, and analyzes the landform transformation performed in the process of development. This study is intended to reveal the modification of geographical features by comparing the 50m mesh data about the height range of the grounds in 1959 and them in 2002 as shown by “City planning maps”. As the result of our analysis shows, most of the area in Kozoji New-town might have been constructed by filling up the lands with soil. Especially, although the roadways had been constructed in the places where valleys were to make the best use of original geographical features, the possibility is high that the roadways had been actually made by landfilling. It is a cause of worries in case of resident's emergency evacuation implemented in case of disasters such as earthqukes because the majority of resident does not know about the process of land development that weakens the grounds.

This research analyzes the characteristics and movements of tourists visiting Takayama City, located in Gifu Prefecture, and compares them with tourists who were on an “Anime Pilgrimage” based on the anime adaptation of “Hyo-ka”, which aired in 2012. A questionnaire

survey was conducted at five investigation spots in Takayama City in June 2014; 1,958 tourists, comprising 623 groups, responded to the survey.

The results indicated that many tourists from the Nagoya metropolitan area visited Takayama City on day trips, whereas tourists from the Kanto and Kinki areas lodged there overnight. Of the 623 groups, 48 (7.7%) groups visited Takayama City after watching “Hyo-ka”.

The ages of the tourists that responded varied widely; however, the tourists after watching “Hyo-ka” were mainly in their 20s and often formed all-male groups. This research also found that the movements of all the non-pilgrimage tourists were often limited to the area between the San-machi district, containing historical streets, and Takayama Station. However, the tourists after watching “Hyo-ka” widely toured Takayama City and sought out the “sacred places,” sites, and facilities depicted in the show.

Shinjuku 2-chome is a former red-light district and has become well-known as the largest focal point for gay bars in Japan. This paper examined the preservation and existence of the gay district in Shinjuku 2-chome, referring to the gay district model in English-speaking countries. Analysis of the locational trend of gay bars and interviews with their managers and landlords revealed that the location of the gay bar depends on the owner’s management policy in Shinjuku 2-chome. In particular, the gay district survived owing to the existence of low-cost property, the reduced risk for individuals of coming out, and the willingness of people to lease out property. On the other hand, it became clear that a tense relationship with residents was a potential threat to its future existence. According to the previous studies on the gay district in other countries, the gay district of Shinjuku 2-chome is characterized as a concentration of gay oriented stores but few gay men live there. It suggests that there are gay districts that are not generalized to the axis of Western / Asia and the necessity of discussing gay districts in each city based on a broad framework.