Municipal political power structure in urban development projects: Revitalization of the old commercial core of Hachioji city, Japan

Abstract

This paper clarifies the political power structure in various urban development projects for the revitalization of old commercial cores through the analysis of political decision-making processes. Competition between old commercial cores and railroad station areas, which is a typical feature of Japanese cities, is taken into consideration. The historical inner city of Hachioji in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which has many commercial establishments and daily railroad passengers at the station, was investigated. People with influence in the old commercial core have demonstrated great political power in Hachioji. They positively secure their own profits by occupying the center of power in municipal politics. They can also take advantage of their strong connections with politicians and high officers of the city. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is esta blished under law, which also allows it to conduct investigations and to state its opinion officially on municipal commercial policy. In Hachioji, its directors and the assembly members tend to be those with abundant networks and money because they are not chosen through universal election. The old commercial core has succeeded in holding numerous positions in the center of power and guided opinions in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Thus, the people of power in the old commercial urban core ha ve been able to promote various projects for their area in municipal politics through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Meanwhile, they did not favor other areas and opposed the opening of large-scale retail stores in the railroad station area, etc. Many measures for the revitalization of the old commercial core, however, failed to be achieved because those plans were often criticized as economically unjustified and self-serving. In conclusion, urban development projects are influenced not only by economic but also political factors. Therefore the old commercial core maintains high priority in municipal politics with its abundant political power, even though its central role in the city's commerce is eroding. In Hachioji, however, the changing power structure caused by growing commerce in the railroad station area, suburbs, etc. began to undermine the municipal policy that focused on the old commercial core.