Out of Control

Sprawl hits Japan; the government hits back:

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport would together submit legislation before parliament next year to tighten regulations against large new commercial and public facilities in suburbs, a trade ministry official said.

While suburban mega-stores have yet to take off in Japan in the same way as in the United States and many other industrialized countries, urban flight has been a growing trend.

Excluding the greater Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas, the centers of Japanese cities of more than 200,000 people have lost about 10 percent of their residents and 15 percent of their offices in the past 10 years, the trade ministry official said.

Whole article here; via ADC.

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