Rethinking Gentrification and the Right to the City: The Process and Effect of the Urban Social Movement against Redevelopment in Tokyo. Issue 1 (25th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miura, Rinpei
• Other Names: Nakazawa Hideo guestEditor.; Nihei Norihiro guestEditor.; Aoki Soko guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of Japanese sociology. Volume 30:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2021-03-25
• Subjects: right to the city -- social movement -- self‐management; Sociology -- Japan -- Periodicals; Japan -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; 301
• DOI: 10.1111/ijjs.12123
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0918-7545

Abstract

Abstract : This article focuses on the anti‐redevelopment movement in Shimokitazawa, an area adjacent to the central Tokyo metropolitan area, to analyze resistance to the gentrification‐like phenomenons in Japan. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of international comparative studies on gentrification, and an inductive analysis based on an understanding of the various contexts of each city is needed. This article takes on this task, referring to the key concept of the right to the city, which has been used as a framework for understanding anti‐gentrification movements. In doing so, I aim to reveal the bias in existing gentrification research. In Shimokitazawa the rights to enjoy the culture of the city and the rights to speak out about the state of the city were newly recognized. The evolving debate on this area shows that these rights should be widely shared not only by landowners and residents but also by visitors. However, these rights are not adequately captured by existing conceptions of the right to the city. Shimokitazawa's anti‐gentrification movement provides an opportunity to participate in an autonomous movement. Notably, the opposition movement has been using its newly acquired voice to create alternative public spaces. The emerging trend of urban social movements that recognize and bring to light the potential value of urban space offers insights for guidelines for the future development of urban society.