Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0129, 1946-01-05.

Extracts:

An outline of the reconstruction plan of TOKYO has been made public by the City Planning Board of TOKYO Municipality. The outline is not a final one and any criticism and constructive opinion to make the plan more complete is welcomed. For detailed development plans of such business and amusement centers as ASAKUSA, [illegible]SHINJUKU, and IKEBUKURO, prizes of up to 10,000 yen are being offered.

According to the outline, the basic principles of reconstruction and development are: (l) make the city a sunny and comfortable one; (2) make the city self-sufficient as to the supply of fresh vegetables, and thus relieve the city of serious food difficulties; (3) arrange things so as to make the city a friendly community, and avoid the atmosphere of a commercial colony; (4) solve traffic congestion; and (5) make the city a cultural center. The plan includes the objective to limit the population to three millions.

At the first stage of the program, much of the equipment and many of the establishments of TOKYO will be moved and extended to the cities and towns of neighboring prefectures, within a 40 kilometer zone. TOKYO and these cities will be separated by agricultural zones. Then, at the second stage, the development will extend over a 100 kilometer zone. Cities within the TOKYO - YOKOHAMA area, such as YOKOHAMA, KAWASAKI, KAWAGUCHI, and ICHIKAWA, will be allowed independent status.

The present TOKYO City of 35 wards will be reorganized and perhaps divided into 17 boroughs of more or less independent status. These boroughs will be surrounded by the "green zones." The zoning plans for the TOKYO City area will be briefly outlined.

The industrial zone: This will be assigned along the SUMIDA, NAKAQAWA, and ARAKAWA Rivers. Some will be assigned at the western suburb and along the TAMAGANA. Each zone will be limited to a small area as to avoid traffic congestion. The kinds of industries will be specified by zones. As a result, the "stream system" of industry, according to geographical locality, may be established.

Commercial zone: In MARUNOUCHI, NIHONBASHI, KYOBASHI, SHINJUKU, and UENO the greater commercial zones will be established, and in IKEBUKURO, SEIBUYA, GOTANDA and other centers along the YAMATE Line the medium commercial zones will be established. The small business zones will be arranged at about one kilometer intervals all over the city.

Residential area: The suburbs will be designated as the low building residence area, and the city centers as the high building residential area. Also, residential areas will be arranged accompanying the industrial zones so that, together with the scattering over of the com-

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mercial zones, present difficulties will be remedied.

Mixed industrial and residential zones: These will be specified at the downtown areas of HONJO, FUKAGAWA, ARAKAWA, KAMATA and so forth. These mixed zones will make up the city's middle and small-scale industrial and commercial centers.

Beside the above mentioned, there are numbers of special zones for government offices, education, medical, transportation and consumption or amusement centers.

As to the government zones, the present government area around the Imperial Palace will be recognized as such for the national Government offices. Municipal offices will be placed downtown in SHINJUKU or SURUGADAI, in consideration of traffic conveniences for the citizenry.

The education centers will be designated at the present TOKYO University - UENO Park area, WASEDA - TOYAKAHARA area, and an area surrounding KEIO University. The medical centers will be formed in KIYOSEMURA of a suburb and in SHINANOMACHI district where the KEIO and Red Cross Hospitals exist already; one will be established around the present KANDA hospital districts.

As to the consumption or amusement centers, the [illegible]area will be arranged as an international zone, while [illegible], ASAKUSA and other uptown sections will be arranged as centers of diversion for the people of TOKYO, SHIBUYA, IKEBUKURO, GOTANDA and others will make more limited centers of diversion. The traffic and transportation systems will be entirely revised. This includes the revision of the road system, construction of subways, etc. The railway terminals will be set for the TOKAIDO Line at SHINAGAUA; for the SHIETSU Line at IKEBUKURO. The TOKYO station will be made a terminal only for the social broad-gage express trains running between TOKYO and KAGOSHIMA.

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Outline Map of TOKYO Reconstruction

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