People and Money Concentrate in the Five Central Wards of Tokyo…The Reality of a “Tokyo Independence Movement

14 Million! More than 14 million people! Tokyo’s “Monopolization” has continued to advance even with the COVID-19 crisis

Although the COVID-19 crisis has brought attention to rural migration, camping, teleworking, and work-location, and the monthly data of a temporary point in time has been reported on the outflow of population from Tokyo, the fact is that the concentration of people in Tokyo continues to this day, and the population (estimated) of Tokyo has surpassed 14 million (September 2022).

The concentration of people in Tokyo is not likely to change in the future. Although variety shows on TV emphasize the advantages of rural areas and the countryside, we must not forget that the current concentration of population in Tokyo is the result of voluntary choices made by people in Japan, where, unlike in dictatorships, people have the freedom to choose their occupation and to live and move around freely.

No one was forced to come to Tokyo. People, companies, universities, and money are flocking to Tokyo because they like it, because it is attractive, because it offers opportunities, in other words, because it is a place where money can be made. The concentration of people in Tokyo will continue and will not change in the future. This is because there are many interested parties and it is economically rational.

Wealth Concentrated” in the Five Central Wards of Tokyo

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Projected Population by Ward, City, Town, and Village of Tokyo,” the population of the three central wards of Tokyo (Chiyoda, Chuo, and Minato) is projected to increase from 442,000 in 2015 to 635,000 in 2040, a 40% increase.

In the five central Tokyo wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shibuya, and Shinjuku), including Shibuya and Shinjuku wards, where large-scale redevelopment continues, the population will increase from 1,000,000 in 2015 to 1,222,000 in 2040, an increase of more than 20%. In fact, in the five central wards of Tokyo, the “Torch Tower,” the tallest skyscraper in Japan at 390 meters, is under construction at the Nihonbashi exit of Tokyo Station, and large-scale redevelopment projects are underway in Yaesu, Toranomon, Shibuya, and Shinjuku, including office buildings and top-class foreign-affiliated hotels.

The average annual household income (the number of taxpayers by municipality divided by taxable income) in these five central Tokyo wards is 11.5 million yen in Minato Ward, 9.44 million yen in Chiyoda Ward, and 8.01 million yen in Shibuya Ward, far exceeding the national average of 3.34 million yen (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, FY2017), making these the areas with the largest concentration of wealthy people in Japan. In fact, the area has become Japan’s largest concentration of high-net-worth individuals.

In fact, there are many luxury residential areas in central Tokyo, including a forest of townhouses targeting this segment of the population. Ultra-luxury serviced apartments and condominiums, such as Aman Residence Tokyo in Toranomon and Mita Garden Hills in Mita, are under construction or have already started selling, and are estimated to exceed several billion yen per room.

In addition, there is a continuing trend of affluent seniors from rural and suburban areas moving to conveniently located condominiums in central Tokyo and other urban centers. The “polarization of Tokyo” between central Tokyo and other parts of the city may become more of a problem in the future.

Yurukyara and B-Grade Gourmet will not solve the problem.

In the midst of these prominent developments in Tokyo, many rural areas are facing fundamental problems such as declining population, depopulation, and lack of key industries and financial resources. Moreover, none of these problems have been resolved.

With the continuing decline in population, it is no longer possible for every corner of Japan to prosper, which means that the very survival of all 1,724 municipalities in the 47 prefectures of Japan is now being called into question.

As you, the reader, are no doubt aware, the question is whether or not all of Japan’s 1,724 municipalities in 47 prefectures will continue to exist. In an age of declining population, falling birthrates, and an aging population, it is impossible for all localities to become self-reliant and grow sustainably.

And yet, there is a nationwide movement to create new regions! Revitalize the regions! and policies and campaigns based on sound arguments are rampant. This is despite the fact that the problem is no longer one that can be solved by local governments’ “Yurukyara” characters, “B-class gourmet” foods, immigration support, and work-study programs.

The time has come to stop the uniform national approach to regional development. The time has come to stop the uniformity of regional development throughout Japan.