Monday, March 28, 2005
The Rise and Fall of World Cities: Implications for Greater TokyoCategories: Anthropology
Shibuya, Hachiko. Taken by the Ash-man
I love Tokyo. I have a relationship with this city in much the same way that Carrie has a relationship with New York in \ZSex and the City\Z. We have our good days and our bad days, but I really care about this crazy place, and what\Zs going to happen to it in the future. Actually, I kinda worry about its future. So I went to a symposium held by the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry. It raised more questions and concerns than it addressed.
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Comments
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mj said on 05/03/29 at 03:43 PM.....
This is definitely the most insightful piece you’ve written honey.
I was exhausted just reading it. -
Fontella said on 05/03/30 at 08:56 AM.....
Having now lived in a regional town for just over two years I have to say - cities (even medium-sized ones) no longer hold any attraction for me. I like the community aspect that remains in a country town, I enjoy chatting to people as I sit having a coffee or going shopping. I enjoy no longer having to deal with snarling traffic and that I can get a park where I want at most times. Having said that cities still have a purpose and going to Adelaide or Melbourne on a frequent basis is enough for me to maintain networks and access to culture that might not be so readily available to me here. The significance of the “sea-change” phenomenon in Australia over the past ten years or so shows, I believe, that there is increasingly more and more people who find that city life no longer provides them with the lifestyle choices that they require.
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nicole said on 05/03/30 at 12:44 PM.....
A great post. It would have been fascinating to hear Saskia Sassen’s thoughts on this topic. As a geographer, I try to understand the attractions of the urban and the rural that appeal to the individual. In Japan, for example, I find Tokyo is an amazing place, though am equally amazed by the more relaxed pace in say, Kumamoto.
Fontella mentioned the ‘sea change’ phenomenon happening here in Australia. Although some regional areas are struggling with the recently intensified pressure on local infrastructure and resources, namely hospitals, roads and waste.Suprising that there seemed to be such an economic focus on ‘what to do’. I agree with you that there needs to be an equally important discussion about the social aspects of cities.
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Kent said on 05/03/31 at 09:43 PM.....
Echo that, great post. Wonderful photo too.