OVERVIEW OF TOKYO

TOKYO'S GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND POPULATION

Tokyo Metropolis is positioned in approximately the center of the Japanese archipelago, in the southern Kanto Area. It is bordered to the east by the Edogawa River and Chiba Prefecture, to the west by mountains and Yamanashi Prefecture, to the south by the Tamagawa River and Kanagawa Prefecture, and to the north by Saitama Prefecture.

The Greater Tokyo Area is made up of Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba. This area is home to around 26% of Japan's total population. The National Capital Region is made up of Tokyo and the seven surrounding prefectures of Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, Gumma, Tochigi, Ibaraki and Yamanashi.

Tokyo is a metropolitan prefecture, divided into smaller administrative bodies. The "central" region is divided into 23 special wards (ku in Japanese), and the western Tama Area is made up of 26 cities (shi), 3 towns (cho) and one village (son). The 23 special-ward area and the Tama Area together form a long, narrow stretch of land, running about 90 kilometers east to west and 25 kilometers north and south. The Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands, two island groups in the Pacific Ocean, are also administratively part of Tokyo, despite being geographically separated from the metropolis. The islands have between them 2 cho and 7 son.

The overall population of Tokyo is about 12.36 million (as of September 1, 2003), and the area is about 2,187 square kilometers. The climate is generally mild.

Map of Japan	Tokyo Metropolis and Surrounding Prefectures

The 23 Special-ward Area

The total area covers about 621 square kilometers. The population has been increasing, and consisted of about 8.34 million as of September 1, 2003, with a population density of about 13,416 persons per square kilometer.

Commercial and business facilities are heavily concentrated in this part of Tokyo. The 23 special-ward area has a comparatively consolidated transportation network, which makes for convenient transit and shopping within the area. The number of business and administrative offices has grown, replacing residences in the center of the 23 special-ward area. In addition, the environment has suffered considerably and there has been widespread loss of ponds, rivers and green spaces. There is heightened concern about the possibility of disastrous fires arising from earthquakes in areas with densely concentrated wooden structures, and about the delays in necessary improvements to the road networks and other basic urban facilities in the wards on the periphery of the 23 special-ward area.

The Tama Area

The Tama Area covers about 1,160 square kilometers. Its population has been increasing slightly, and reached about 4 million as of September 1, 2003, with a population density of 3,448 persons per square kilometer.

This area is adjacent to the 23 special-ward area. It has become urbanized but it also has areas of unspoiled nature, with large tracts of forest and clear streams and rivers. Tokyo Metropolis and the Greater Tokyo Area hold great expectations for the future development of this area. However, with the rapid increase in population, chronic traffic congestion has accentuated the delays in the required improvement of road and railway networks and other basic urban facilities. There is a growing perception that the Tama Area is merely a dormitory town for people commuting to the 23 special-ward area, and the concentration of business is still insufficient. There is also concern about loss of the natural environment as housing development progresses. These are all problems which must be addressed.

The Islands

The Islands have a total area of about 406 square kilometers. The island population is continuing to fall and currently stands at 27,000 (as of September 1, 2003), with a population density of 66 persons per square kilometer.

This area possesses a pristine natural environment abundant with marine resources. However, the islands are small, geographically isolated and financially weak, and are faced with serious problems related to improving basic living standards through further development of marine and air transportation network services and medical care facilities. There is a shortage of labor for agriculture and fisheries, which support the local economies, as young people leave the islands causing aging of the core population. Tourism remains sluggish due to continuing transportation problems and changes in tourists' requirements.