Changes of Residents and Residential Structure in Sapporo City

Abstract

1. PurposeSince the latter half of 1970's, Japan's population and industrial profile has been remarkably changing, that is, such changes are recognised as rapid increase of aged population, steep reduction of fertility rate, rapid de-industrialization and expansion of the “soft” sectors. But, there is not enough study on how these changes reflect on the urban residential structure. In this paper, the author intends to clarify the recent changes of the characteristics of residents and residential structure in Sapporo City.Sapporo City, as the capital in Hokkaido, had developed so rapidly that its population increased from 800 thousands in 1970 to 1, 290 thousands in 1985. Thus, it is a suitable city for a case study.2. MethodUsing the population census of 1970 and 1985, setting the “Densely Inhabitated District” for the study area, and using “divided mesh” (about 462m×546m quadrate) for the unit tract, five concentric zones and five radial sectors are defined in the first. In the second, thirty four attributes of residents, which are concerned with age, occupation, family type and tenure of dwelling, are chosen, and the factorial ecological analysis is performed. The major factors extracted by the analysis will suggest the major changes of residential characteristics. Thirdly, as to the attributes which had remarkable loading on each factor, changes of the distribution patterns by zone and sector are surveyed.3. Findings and discussionThree major factors were extracted from the factorial ecological analyses in both years. Factor I concerned with the attributes which have zonal pattern, Factor II do with the ones with sectorial pattern, and Factor III do with the ones with living standards. The attributes which have remarkable loadings on each factor are examined on the distribution pattern by zone and sector, and it is clarified that each factor contains the following important changes.1) Changes of the “zonal” type attributesThese attributes can be classified into two groups. The one is the group of attributes concerning with population and family structure, where aged population ratio's steep increase, infant population ratio's rapid reduction, and steep increase of ratio of single person family and ratio of household with rented house were observed. These chages are much remarkable in the inner area and the old built-up zone. The author thinks these have resulted from the expansion of CBD function of Sapporo and the fundamental change of Japan's population structure.In the other group, which concerning with occupational structure, ratio of commercial industry's workers were increased more steeply in the outer zone than the central part of the city. This change suggests the dispersion of the commercial function to the outer zone. On the contrary, manufacturing workers' ratio steeply decreased in all zones, which suggests rapid deindustrialization in Sapporo City.2) Changes of the “sectorial” type attributesRatio of blue-collar workers steeply reduced in all sectors, and ratio of professional worker rapidly increased especially in the inner city area. Although both attributes had typically sectorial differentiation formerly, such sectorial differentiation became weaken in 1985. The author thinks that this is the significant change of traditional sectorial pattern of such “socioeconomic” contrast as “blue-collar versus white-collar”.3) Changes of living standards' attributesThe attributes concerning living standard show two peaks, that is, in the hilly residential sector and in inner city area. In 1970, ratio of owned house households and floor (tatami) space per capita were major attributes concerning with living standard. In 1985, professional workers' ratio newly became important one in addition to floor space per capita, which have brought by both attributes' steep increase especially