A Distribution Map of Towns in the Kwantô Plain

Abstract

The writer drew a distribution map of towns under the guidance of Assistant Professor Tsujimura, using the topographical maps of the Military Survey, scale 1:50, 000. According to his method, each topographical map sheet is divided into 16 rectangles of 28sq. kms each, and the number of towns calculated in each rectangle. We find at once from the resulting map that the distribution of towns stands in close relation to the topographical features; that is to say, it is much denser on wide alluvial and beach plains than on upland areas. We find next that the highest density is in the neibourhood of great cities. Lastly, the writer divided the Kwanto. Plain into three parts in order to explain these relations precisely. (1) Northeastern Kwantô. There are no wide alluvial and beach plains, the whole is upland area, so that the distribution is not dense. It is discontinuous. (2) Southeastern Kwantô (Bôsô Peninsula). Wide alluvial plains do not exist, hence the distribution is zonal in th beach plains. (3) Western Kwantô. There are not a few wide alluvial and beach plains, there are large cities. The density is therefore highest, and the distribution very compact and continuous.