Placeness of subcultures in the Nipponbashi district, Osaka, Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine locational shifts of specialized stores and discuss the placeness of a shopping district, the Nipponbashi district in Osaka, Japan. This district has developed as an electronic retail district since the Second World War and has recently attracted various shops of subculture, similar to the well-known case of the Akihabara district in Tokyo. Senmontengai (retail districts for specialized goods) are a distinctive feature of large cities in Japan. The Nipponbashi district is a fairly small area with a dense concentration of specialized stores. When the locational changes in retail activities were examined in detail, stores can be classified into three groups: consumer electronics; personal computers; and hobby items including animation-related products. In the electronic retail district, stores were originally concentrated in the north-central area. Booms in retail activities were associated with geographical shifts. Relatively large stores of personal computers were located in the south of the area. Otaku-related subculture stores moved to the northwest area. This area is called "Ota Road" (the road of Otaku). The dense clustering in Nipponbashi has an important influence not only on the scale of commercial activities but also on generating and attracting new subcultures. Nipponbashi is a unique place that is a setting for social interactions and encourages openness toward different values. To explore its placeness, we present the importance of land/store owners' tolerance in the Nipponbashi district.