Evaluating impacting factors of economic resilience across major Japan port cities

Abstract

Japan relies heavily on its port cities for global economic integration and societal support, given its extensive coastline. These ports handle most of the country’s imports, including the majority of its energy needs and more than half of its food requirements, being pivotal in urban economic resilience and sustainability. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, posed severe challenges to these ports by disrupting maritime trade, thereby impacting economic stability. Given that, this study explores the development dynamics of Japanese port cities during the pandemic, using data from 2020. We assessed how these cities have coped with the pandemic’s challenges, focusing on factors that influence port resilience. Port cities are reclassified based on their economic robustness during the pandemic, along with features including demographics, urban infrastructure, and port capacity. In this way, key factors for enhancing urban economic resilience are identified, prompting sustainable development strategies for Japan’s port cities.