Suburbia, New Town and Local Memory

Abstract

“Collective memory” has become one of the popular topics in sociological researchers in Japan since the 1990s. However, in Japanese urban sociology, the studies which focus on “collective memory” are still few. In this paper, I will examine why Japanese urban sociologist have not been interested in this topic, and then I will show the perspective for the study of local collective memory in urban society, especially in suburbia and new town. “Economics”, “politics” and “topography” of memory are the key points of this tentative perspective for the study of local collective memory in sociological urban studies. The condition of local memory in suburbia and new town is different either from the local memory in urban center or rural community. I will examine this suburban condition of local collective memory, and then try to propose some hypothesis about the characteristics of local memory in suburbia and new town. In suburbia and new town, there are discontinuities, segregations, isolation and homogenization of local memories. Under these sociological conditions of local collective memory, we can also find the process of the making of new local collective memories among the dwellers.