Suburban (mis)fortunes: Outer suburban shrinkage in Tokyo Metropolis

Abstract

Tokyo’s suburban territory now forms part of an increasing multi-dimensional urban–suburban divide in socio-demographic, economic and political and administrative (fiscal) dimensions. Drawing on the Tokyo case we argue the need for theory to take more seriously shrinkage in suburban fortunes. Specifically, we highlight the double meaning of shrinkage as a complex, multifaceted and path-dependent process and as a municipal-level political and policy response. In this paper we offer a theoretical framework for understanding urban (sub)transformation attuned to Japanese conditions and, by extension, other developmental states. We go on to explore the multi-dimensioned isolation of Tokyo’s suburbs in terms of metropolitan-wide inter-governmental, inter-sectoral and inter-actor dynamics. In conclusion we observe the need for theory to be inclusive of the range of trajectories of suburbanisation and for politics and policy to adopt redistributive metropolitan spatial imaginaries.