Population Density of Japan by Land Form Division

Population Density of Japan by Land Form Division

226 Erdkunde Band XV
POPULATION DENSITY OF JAPAN
BY LAND FORM DIVISION
d. h. wahrend der das Reich faktisch
(1603?1867),
in
regierenden Schogune aus dem Hause Tokugawa
Edo (Tokyo), die Entwicklung der Seidenraupenkul
tur in der nordwestlichen Kanto-Ebene. Die grofieren
Siedlungsdichten am Fufte der Vulkane Harunasan
und Akagisan im Regierungsbezirk Gumma sprechen
Reiko
with
2 sheets
Kawai
of map
and
a table1)
in Japan
Population
density maps published
usually were made on the basis of the administrative
landes friiher erfolgte und die kulturlandschaftliche units of Ken (Prefecture), Gun (county), Shi (city),
Reifung des Raums schonweiter fortschreitenkonnte Machi (town) and Mura51) (village). By this method
we regard thepopulation distribution as homogeneous
als unmittelbar sudlich und vor allem ostlich davon.
in one unit, and the real differentiation of distribution
Der Unterschied in der Bevolkerungsdichte, wie er
cannot be represented by the map. In Japan, the
Kanto
und
ostlichen
zwischen
der
nordwestlichen
Ebene besteht, ist also in weitgehendem Mafte nichts minimum units of the report of population census
anderes als die Dokumentierung eines geschichtlichen are shi,machi and mura, but the boundary of shi is
not the same as that of urban area; shi include rural
Vorgangs im raumlichen Erscheinungsbild.
a nucleus
area. Even
the
of urban
area,
too, around
der die
Der Sog
des Kustenstreifens,
mitbestimmende Wechsel
population distribution of mura resembles that of
Bevolkerungsdichte
or "Strassendorf".
Mura
the "Haufendorf"
situated
von
D i 1u v i a 1f 1a c h e n
Alluvialund
are rather
or
in the center
of alluvial
und die sich heute noch landschaftlich auswirkenden
plateaus
plains
are many
cases
mura
in which
diese Dreiheit ist few. There
Momente:
historischen
spread
or
even
to the top of mountains
their boundaries
fiir alle grofterenund kleineren ans Meer grenzenden
narrow
and
settlements
Ebenen der Hauptschlussel fiir die Erklarung der Be
occupy
valley
plains
ridges,
also
daft hier
davon,
volkerungsverteilung
die
auf
Inwertsetzung
des Terrassen
letzthin
deskunde
im
Inhalt
dessen,
was
eine
umfassende
Lan
ausmacht.
Das hier zunachst nur beschriebene Strukturbild
wird sich in den nachsten Jahren kaum andern. Von
den 5,9 Millionen Menschen, um die Japan 1950 bis
1955 wuchs, leben 70%
in den Regierungsbezirken,
zu denen die Stadte Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya,
Kyoto, Osaka und Kobe rechnen, d. h. ?Die Groften
Sechs". Aufter ihnen erfuhren nur noch Fukuoka und
Teile Hokkaidos
erhebliche Zunahme, die Nordinsel
infolge der Durchfuhrung eines besonderen Entwick
Die
Zunahmen
lungsprogrammes.
Die
ruhen
auf Zuwanderung.
in den
Stadten
Verstadterung
be
ist
in
Japan eine ?Vergroftstadterung", und jenseits der To
kai-Sanyo-Region befinden sich viele Stadte imRiick
gang. Es ist wahrscheinlich, daft sich die in den
Leitsatzen
verstarken
1?5
werden.
vast
the coasts,
the rest is an unsettled
a clear definition
cannot
of the
give
some
of
them
resemble
character
of machi;
shi,
mura.
and
of machi
others
Recently
amalgamation
or
ihnen.
Auch in der Verteilung der Bevolkerung iiber das
ganze Land hinweg, das zeigt die neue Dichtekarte
deutlich, spiegeln sich die physische Natur und die
Gesamtheit der Antworten, die der Mensch auf diese
Natur gab und noch gibt. Die Erklarung der Bevol
kerungsverteilung iiber das ganze Inselreich liegt
Kontraste
noch
herausgearbeiteten
den Bevolkerungsriickgang
Uber
der Stadte und ganzer Landkreise (gun) jenseits der
Region des pulsierenden Lebens tauscht auch die Viel
zahl der durch das Eingemeindungsgesetz von 1953
entstandenen neuen Mittel- und Groftstadte (shi) nicht
hinweg6). Selbst unter den zentralen Orten hoheren
Grades zeigen 20% eine Bevolkerungsabnahme. ?The
decrease in the population of so many places has ne
ver taken place before7." Die Ursache sehenMinoru
Tachi und seineMitarbeiter nicht nur im Geburten
riickgang, sondern vor allem in der iiberstarkenBin
nenwanderung in Richtung auf die ?Groften Sechs".
in Bd. XI,
des Verf.
hierzu
den Beitrag
1957,
6) Vgl.
S. 64 ff. dieser Zeitschrift.
H.: Regional
Cha
M., Ueda,
M., und Hama,
7) Tachi,
in Japan.
In: Proc. of IGU Re
racteristics of Population
1959. S. 480?484.
in Japan 1957. Tokyo
gional Conference
along
plains
forest area. We
mura has taken place3), the number of shi increasing
from 248 to 491 and machi decreasing from 1877 to
1864. Mura also decreased from 8,289 to 2,458.
Following this, administrative units became larger,
and new cities were born though they have only
areas
at the lowest
urban
level, actual
30,000
persons
are very
small and great parts of such administrative
areas.
areas
or unsettled
the
If we
calculate
units
population density according to those units the
density becomes unusually high because of urban
population.
On
the
contrary,
density
which
separates
of urban
areas
appears lower than the real density. An order to
correct this, the Statistical Bureau is preparing to
make the next population census of 1960 following
the
from
"census
tract"
shi.
urban
areas
From this point of view, the dot map is better
Institute
than the density map. The Geographical
Method
Dot
Distribution,
by
published "Population
1 :2,000,000" using the population census 1950, and
and Density 1:800,000"
then "PopulationDistribution
by the census of 1955. The latter is an innovation
representing both absolute dot map and relative
density map on one sheet. The relative density maps
excel in that they can be compared with each other,
and so we intend tomake the population density map
by geographically rational units. Among the many
elements of natural division of unit, land form is
connected
closely
to human
settlement.
By
"Popula
tionDensity Map by Land Form Division" itbecomes
clear that the differentiation of population density on
the same land enables us to find other elements such
unter der wissenschaftlichen
Lei
x) Die Arbeit wurde
Nakano
durchgefiihrt.
tung von Prof. Takamasa
und mura, dem
shi, machi
2) Im folgenden Text werden
mit kleinen Anfangs
Brauch
entsprechend,
japanischen
buchstaben
geschrieben.
S.64?69.
Bd. XI, Lfg. 1,1957,
3)Vgl. hierzu Erdkunde,
Berichte
land use,
social,
development,
it. Until
elements
affecting
an exact
statement
to secure
as
history
economical
difficult
historical
or
to
is
the
calculate
census
to
according
names
and
we
Here
country.
of
land
represent
form
as a
all
units
our
Limits of areas of landform divisions
a
Considering the expressive ability of this map,
small scale map of 1 : 800,000, the smallest areas of
division are determined. Population distribution is
varied in plains, so it is better if the area of a unit
is small. On the contrary, inmountains, itmight be
not
larger; even if divided smaller, the density does
so
in
20
unit
is
smallest
much.
The
km2,
vary
plain
inmountain 100 km2. If smaller areas which have the
over
Central
sample,
Japan.
Division ofLand Form
It is not the classification of land form surface
In
(plane), but the division of land form units.
mountain areas it includes valley floors dissecting the
mountains. The boundaries of larid form division
are not geologically or geomorphologically important
lines but they divide the land form in units of human
settlement. Flat land, relief, height above sea level,
relative heights, inclination, degree of dissection by
valley and utilization of land, paddy field, upland
field or forest are important elements to divide the
land form units. Of course the lines of these units
have
no
units. We
to the administrative
relation
same
terrace).
Upland;
lowland
scarp more
dissected
terrace,
terrace
coastal
terrace,
and coastal
plain.
10 m,
dissected
than
fan,
population
Urban
way.
bound
or mura
two
units,
whose
are
bound
tabulated
population
concentrates
a
in
narrow
area making its own function, the relationship to the
land is rather indirect. Population density all over the
unit becomes unusually high if urban population of
cities or towns forming the nucleus in the land form
division are used as basis of calculation. It was
then,
thought,
advisable
to take
away
urban
popula
urban
area
tion of cities or towns from the whole population of
land
form
division
and
represent
the
in
its position in spite of the boundary of division. The
question is the urban population above what level.
We cannot simply determine the population of shi as
urban
river
because
delta
urban
industrial
whose
Population density is calculated only by rural
population which is connected closely with the land,
in another
is treated
and urban population
and
population
mura
as
rural
population,
the boundary of shi is far beyond
area
and
includes
rural
population,
that of
too.
has not only primary industry but also of
secondary or tertiary industry engaged in some work
of shop, school, office and so on, being annexed
necessarily in the place that people assemble. We
cannot recognize those people as urban population
Mura
even
when
existing
in small
settlements.
Therefore we take away urban population from
shi and machi by the following method of com
putation
(agriculture+
all
division,
their administrative areas by mesh
:
=
all industrialpopulation ?
the main
or mura
shi, machi
of shi, machi
over more
than
after dividing
Hill
land; in the classification of mountain land,
relative height above low land is less than 300 m.
It mainly consists of layers of Tertiary Period, and
ridges are even in height.
to mountain land belongs neither
Mountain;
hill land nor volcanic mountain.
in classification of mountain
Volcanic
area;
land initial form consists of extrusive body or volcanic
Urban
extend
method.
hill land
mainly diluvial upland, flat land, bordered
with
of
areas
the
next,
aries
As well as dividing the unit we divide the type of
land form in order to clarify the relation of population
distribution in each land form unit. The division of
land form type consists of
( lowland
i .
Plaln
\ upland
(fan,
areas
strative
used
)| mountain
I volcanic area
The definition are as follows:
surfacemainly consists of plain, valley
Lowland;
plain, fan, delta, reclaimed and, peat bog land, sand
dune, tidal flat,and slightly elevated alluvial lowland,
its relative height above valley floor less than 10 m
from
apart
aries are completely included in one land form unit,
reports.
land
exist
character
we do not abandon more than 4 km2 exceptionally,
and if the distance apart of each unit is less than 1 km,
we join them in one circle. In which division, a unit
less than above mentioned smallest unit is to belong
is determined by considering its size, character and
origin of neighbouring units, and other things being
equal we place it in a lower land form division.
Areas of each unit are tabilated. First the admini
the formerly made land form division map, air
photographs, topographic maps and many geological
mountain
Karst
lava plateau,
skirts,
or volcanic
to lava
flow
due
5 kinds of land form types are represented
by symbols in each unit of land form division.
Now we are making thismap using the population
census of 1955. It will be published at the beginning
of 1959 in the scale 1 : 800,000 consisting of 3 sheets,
an index which arranges
printed in 7 colours, and
the
form
These
purpose.
the numbers
land
plateau,
flow.
mud
or
flank
volcanic
scoria,
it was
now,
in
of
figures
or mountain. The
population density of any plain
tabulation is not by natural units today, so the only
means
227
und kleine Mitteilungen
forestry-f fishing+ mining)
population
228 Erdkunde Band XV
100km
0 50
'-1-'?-1?-1-1-'?**-L?1
mountain....4
Hafcg/?fcOT?|y\<|.5
^tfp.
Mittel-Honshu:
Land
p
7oAaAto
form divisions
? MountatoArea of Chubu
Berichte
Population
(1950
Number
of unit
Density
of
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
501*)
202
303
404
105
206
207
108
109
210
111
212
213
114
315
116
117
118
119
120
221
A 122
A 223
A 124
Number
of unit
form
B231
B 132
B 233
B 334
B 335
B 236
divisiondensity
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
by land form division
Statistical Bureau)
census,
population
Name
und kleine Mitteilungen
Nasu
Nasu
Yaita
Yamigo
Kujigawa
Hitachi
Joso
Nakagawa
Kinugawa
Yuki
Simotone
Simousa
Choshi
Kujukuri
Boso
Kamogawa
Chikura
Tateyama
Futtsu
Kisarazu
Kisarazu
East
Land
per km2
Kanto
Volcano
Plateau
Hill land
Mountain
Plain
Plateau
Plateau
Plain
Plain
Plateau
Plain
Plateau
Plateau
Plain
Hill land
Plain
Plain
Plain
Plain
Plain
Plateau
Plain
Plateau
Plain
Chiba
Chiba
Tokatsu
Population
37
211
137
116
520
748
295
424
435
362
330
232
551
362
757
B West Kanto
B 401
B 502
B203
B 504
B
505
B 106
B
507
Ashio
Nikko
Numata
Akagi
Mountain
Volcano
Basin
Volcano
Nakanojo
Basin
Haruna
Asama
B 308
B 309
Usui
Kanra
B
B
B
B
B
B
Sibukawa
Isezaki
Kamitone
Fujioka
Osato
Nakatone
B 210
211
212
113
214
215
116
B 217
B 218
B
119
B 120
B 121
B 222
B 223
B 224
B
B
B
B
B
325
126
327
428
229
B 230
Annaka
Tatebayashi
Sano
Volcano
Volcano
Hill land
Hill land
Plateau
Plateau
Plateau
Plain
Plateau
Plateau
Plain
Plateau
Plateau
Watarasegawa
Plain
Matsuyama
Iruma
Plateau
Plateau
South Saitama Plain
Plain
Arakawa
Plateau
6miya
Hiki
Chichibu
Chichibu
Chichibu
Akiru
Musasino
Hill land
Basin
Hill land
Mountain
Plateau
Plateau
98
18
326
148
163
231
51
142
246
561
704
508
761
562
533
555
646
372
510
552
517
612
357
394
253
496
164
65
955
945
die GroBlandschaft,
bezeichnet
*) Der
grofie Buchstabe
den Typ der Landform
die erste Stelle der Zahl benennt
2 =
3 =
hill
1=
Einheit.
Es bedeutet:
lowland,
upland,
=
area.
5 = volcanic
mountain,
land, 4
zu
Teil
A122
lesen: Ost-Kanto,
ist z. B.
Tiefland,
22.
landschaft
Name
of
division density
form
Land
Population
per
B 237
B 138
B 239
B 140
B 341
B 242
B 143
B 444
Plateau
Plain
Plateau
Hill land
Hill land
Plateau
Hachioji
Tamagawa
Tama
Tama
Miura
Miura
Plateau
Sagamihara
Sagamihara
Plain
Platean
West
Sagamihara
Basin
Hatano
Oiso
Odawara
Sakawagawa
Tanzawa
Volcano
Basin
Inawashiro
530
719
606
C SouthTohoku
Abukuma Coastal Plain
Plateau
Abukuma
Mountain
Abukuma
Basin
Fukushima
Hill land
Nihonmatsu
Basin
Kdriyama
Hill land
Shirakawa
Volcano
Zao
Volcano
Bandai
110
925
477
670
108
C 101
C202
C403
C 104
C 305
C 106
C307
C 508
C 509
C
607
Plateau
Plain
Mountain
Hakone
148
537
186
110
474
118
400
81
19
65
447
54
416
280
C 411
C 112
C213
Aizu
Aizu
Aizu
Mountain
Basin
Plateau
C 514
C 415
Hakushiyama
Taishaku
Volcano
Mountain
31
25
C 517
C218
Sumonyama
Tsukawa
Volcano
Plateau
9
234
C 416
C419
C420
D
201
102
Iwafune
203
E
E
E
E
E
101
102
303
404
105
E
Iiyama
Nagano
Saikawa
Chikuma
Matsumoto
206
Matsumoto
304
105
206
207
408
109
110
211
512
413
114
South Kanbara
Uonuma
Muikamachi
Tokamachi
Ojiza
East Kubiki
Kashiwazaki
Takada
Takada
Myoko
West Kubiki
Itoigawa
E
E407
E108
E 509
E 110
E 411
E 112
Mountain
Hida
Kiso
Kiso
Ina
Akaishi
Suwa
17
29
42
UraNihon
Nigata
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
Mountain
Mountain
Iide
Asahi
D
D
Mountain
Joetsu
km2
730
620
325
316
286
561
Hill land
B 545
321
346
466
218
245
374
316
659
504
229
Plateau
50
Plain
401
Plateau
198
Hill land
Basin
Basin
Plateau
Mountain
Plain
Plain
Plateau
Volcano
Mountain
Plain
Area
of Chubu
Basin
Plain
Hill land
Mountain
Plain
Plateau
Mountain
Valley
Mountain
Basin
Mountain
Basin
124
310
300
365
136
454
475
359
78
71
348
421
640
160
116
378
345
24
166
58
292
44
577
230 Erdkunde Band XV
Number
of unit
Name
of
division density
Land
form
per
E
513
E
519
E 114
E315
E216
E 117
E218
E 120
E 221
E422
E 123
Volcano
Yatsugatake
Ueda
Saku
Saku
Nozawa
Fujimi
Basin
Hill land
Plateau
Plain
Plateau
Kayagatake
Volcano
Katsunuma
Misaka
Plateau
Mountain
Katsuragawa
Valley
Kofu
Basin
case of great cities above 200,000
(17 cities), the
average becomes 95%. We can add the following
facts: 46,5% of population for all Japan live in
those 248 shi and 591 machi which constitute only
9% of area for all Japan. Average density of those
shi and machi is 1203 km2, on the contrary the
average of remaining machi and mura is 133 km2.
Population
km2
63
572
259
473
660
370
75
845
F203
F504
F 105
F206
F407
F 308
F 109
F 110
F211
F312
F213
Izu
Amagi
Peninsula
Volcano
Fuji
Numazu
Fujimiya
Volcano
Plain
Plateau
Gotenba
Plateau
Tenshu
Mountain
Hill land
Plain
Plain
Shizuoka
Shizuoka
Oigawa
Makinohara
Plateau
Hill land
Enshu
Iwatahara
areas
F 114
Enshu
F 215
Mikatagahara
847
1950):
1,000,001
from
268
680
Number of machi
9573
12818
Shi
<
3
of more
conurbations
chosen
for
central
than
20
km2
cities,
originating
areas
facilities, ports and so on. These
405
(census
63
31
11
3
or
on
include
continued
maps
topographic
centers,
schools,
(commercial
residences),
and municipal
offices,
factories,
governmental
parks,
or
of army
air
installations
force,
transportation
of shi and machi by size groups
Size group
20,000
2,001?
50,000
20,001?
100,000
50,001?
200,000
100,001?
500,000
200,001?
500,001?1,000,000
cities
are
urban
But in the case in which mining population
occupies more than 10% of the industrial population,
and fishing population occupies more than 20%, we
do not add in the above (?). The former were
10 shi, the latter were 20 machi in 1950. Shi and
machi which have more than 2,000 persons or urban
population by this method of computation, must
take away their real urban population from the
population of division. It shows that all of the
248 shi and 591 machi (about % of the figure in 1877)
have more than 2,000 of urban population by 1950
census. The reason why we divide by 2,000 is that
the minimum area of division is 20 km2 and if a
small town exists in it, the density per 1 km2 will be
up 100, one grade. The limit of dividing urban
or
population has to be either a low limit of 2,000
500,000 at the high limit, ifnot, itbecomes impossible
to compare it with rural density of each division
whether it includes a city near the limit or not.
Number
map
topographic
houses
297
638
699
491
Plain
the
from castle towns and port towns of feudal ages. The
78
Plateau
of
circulars
92
890
493
408
on
are represented by real shape; those of less than
2,5 km2 by small circulars (diameter 2 mm on the
map of 1 : 800,000), and those between 2,5 and
20 km2 by large circulars (diameter 4 mm). Large
175
153
Plateau
are measured
of 1 : 50,000 or land use map of the same scale. Urban
F Tokaido
F 301
F 502
areas
Urban
area
of urban
Representation
729
200
908
rural
settlements
in
line,
are distinguished
dot
or
mass.
It
is
rather difficult to border the urban area which
gradually changes from the inner city to an urban
fringe and hinterland. In the sample map of central
Japan, the only real shape is that of the conurbation
of the Tokyo-Kawasaki-Yokohama
cities. 31 shi
have urban areas between 2,5 and 20 km2 and 39 shi
and 215 machi have less than 2,5 km2.
Urban
division,
areas
so
areas
small
occupy
to take
it is unnecessary
in
away
land
their
from each unit, except in the case of more
20 km2 represented by real shape on map.
form
areas
than
Tabulation ofpopulation by each unit
First, population of all shi, machi and mura, the
administrative boundaries of which are contained in
one division completely are tabulated by figure of
census
as well
as
areas.
We
calculate
from
this
the
density per 1 km2 of what we call "standard popula
tion density", and use it as a coefficient to divide the
population of shi, machi and mura, the boundaries
of which are spread over more than two land form
divisions.
For
instance:
A mura, population 5000, is spread over X and Y
division at the area ratio of 7:3. The standard
Y
population density of X division is 150 km2,
division is 400 km2, population number divided
intoX division is calculated as follows:
5000 150 7 /150 7 + 400 3 = 2333
and inY division
2333 = 2667
5000?
If we can use the dot map, itwill be more simple
and rapid in dividing the population number, for
248
591
total
instance.
The average percentage of urban population to
all population of shi and machi which have urban
B-mura, population 15000, is spread over V and
in
the
more
and
is
W
than
of
division; the dot number in V division is 6 and
2,000
82%,
population
Berichte
und kleine Mitteilungen
inW division is 9 (1 dot 1000 person). Population
number divided intoV division is:
15000 6/15 = 6000
intoW division
6000 = 9000
15000?
Population densityby si^e group
Population density, except urban population of
each land form division, is classified according
to the following 10 groups: 25 person/km2, 26?50,
401?500,
301?400,
101?200, 201?300,
51?100,
501?600, 601?700, 701?1000.
density range of Japan is spread
Population
the
lowest mountain area to the most
from
widely
crowded lowland, and in order to compare the
differentiation on the same land form, we have to
classify the density group examining the density
which frequently appears on each kind of land form.
Urban population is considered to live in urban
area
and
classified,
too,
as urban
population
density.
The density of urban population shows generally
10,000?40,000 km2, in spite of the size of urban area.
To the above 10 groups of density, we add two
groups of urban population density, 1,000?5,000 and
more than 5,000 per km2. Actually the class of
1,000?5,000 may be lacking.
Reading themap
Around the large cities we have higher density
even without urban population. The hinterland of
Tokyo is large and has a very high density of 700 to
alluvial
1,000 km2. Musashino
upland, Tamagawa
are
alluvial
there.
and
Arakawa
Shonan
plain
plain
district along the Sagami Bay and the suburbs of
too.
The western half of
Tokyo have high density,
Kanto Plain shows the high density of 400?900 km2.
The large part of fertileKanto Plain, the drainage
of the Tonegawa
and Arakawa, support this large
population. On the contrary, the eastern half of the
Kanto Plain has the low density of 200?400
km2.
The difference is due to the contrast of land form.
The East Kanto Plains consist of the continued
diluvial upland and marshy lowland of the down
stream
Tonegawa,
but
the
direct
reason
is
the
231
sulas show the lower density of 200 km2. The plains
of Ura Nihon (along the Japan Sea) have a slightly
high density compared with the East Kanto Plain
and equal to the upland of Tokaido. The plains of
lie near the great con
West Kanto and Tokaido
district.
sumption market of the Tokyo-Yokohama
This makes for the cultivation of vegetables, mul
tea,
because
of
another
district
They
and
tobacco
can
berries,
tivation.
fruits,
a
support
intensive
and
great
cul
agricultural
population. On the contrary, the plains of Ura Nihon
are characterized by simple rice cultivation. Double
cropped paddy fields are impossible in those areas
the great
accumulation
of
snow
in winter.
Then it is necessary to have larger farms per family;
the surplus farmersmust work away from home in
in winter.
Basins among the mountains of the Chubu or
South Tohoku areas show about 400 km2, but vary
from a lower 200 km2 district to a higher 800 km2
district like the Kofu Basin. The topography of the
basin is either gently sloped fans or consists of
intensively dissected fans and a few alluvial plains,
and the form of agriculture brings the change of
population density.
The hill land, chiefly consisting of Tertiary layer
and found partially around mountains has a density
from 100 to 300 km2. Small valleys dissecting the
hills and the top-flatted range of hills are cultivated.
The Chubu mountain areas forming the backbone
of the Japanese Islands, have a height of more than
3,000 m with steeply sloped mountains of mature
and
stage
consist
of deep,
graet
forest
area.
In
this
mountain area which does not develop valley plains,
population density is 50 km2, the lowest figure in
Japan except Hokkaido. Mountain areas fromKanto
to Tohoku are massive and steeply sloped, though
do
they
not
has 50?60
25
km2.
mountains
Yamizo,
100?140
ain
areas.
Mountain
exceed
m.
3,000
Kanto
area
mountain
km2, but Tohoku mountain area less than
with
Compared
those
hilly low mountains
Konuma
and
Tanzawa
massive
mature
such as Abukuma,
mountains
have
km2, higher than the figure in high mount
areas
are
not
used
for
stockfarming
as
in Europe, only narrow valley plains are cultivated
as paddy fields. Population density of mountain areas
depend on the degree of development of valley
differentiation of land use. The north part ofWest
near
Kanto Plain has prospered in sericulture since the plains.
small mountains
Accessible
the city,
an
Edo Period (1603?1867), when the reclamation of
such as Hakone,
and Haruna
volcano
show
Akagi
waste land on the diluvial upland was begun, but
especially high density of 150 km2, because of the
the upland of East Kanto was not reclaimed until
hot
and other
attractions
for tourists.
springs
areas
we
theMeiji Era (1868?1912).
can
too.
Distribution
of urban
read,
Tokai district has a high density of 400?900 km2 Many of them are in plains, moreover plains which
continuous from the Shonan district, but the plain
have high density. They are also gathered at coastal
is narrow along the coast. It has a warm climate and
plains and scarcely seen in central large mountain
areas.
the plain was reclaimed early along the most im
Differentiation of population density by land form
portant highway, the Tokaido,
connecting Tokyo
and Kyoto, but the reclamation of diluvial upland
division is the result of complex elements of topo
occurred during theMeiji Era as well as the reclama
industrial
influence
forms,
communication,
graphy,
tion of the upland of East Kanto. Now it is used for of large cities and so on. It is necessary to analyse
mandarin
and
and
shows
those factors, make divisions following each factor
orange
gardens
tea-gardens
400 km2, the lowest density in the Tokaido district.
and seek the connection with population density.
In spite of their situation in those regions of higher Here
we
a most
fundamental
represent
population
density, the hill lands of Boso, Miura and Izu Penin
density map by land division.
232 Erdkunde Band XV
11-'-1-1-?u?'-'-J
^^^^
^km
' .
Map.
ffr
2: Mittel-Honshu:
> 10 km2
^H>1000
Bevolkerungsdichte (1955)