The locus of my study of Tokyo: From building typology to spatial anthropology and eco‐history

Abstract

AbstractFor over 40 years, I have been conducting research from a variety of perspectives in the somewhat complex and difficult‐to‐read megacity of Tokyo. In this paper, I consider the characteristics of urban space in Tokyo and present an overview of my research objectives, methods, and the results obtained at each stage. The architectural typology methods to which I was introduced in Italy formed the basis for my Tokyo studies. However, as this methodology was established for Italian cities, which were designed artificially around architecture, it has limitations in exploring Tokyo, a Japanese city that was created in harmony with nature. Therefore, I have adopted the concept of "spatial anthropology" in my research, which makes it possible to identify the characteristics of Japanese cities that make them significantly different from western cities. Furthermore, the concept of eco‐history, which aims to enable new research on cities and territories by integrating history and ecology, allowed for a different perspective of Tokyo as a “water city.” This research illuminates a true affluent city that coexists with an environment suitable for the 21st century, which differs from the urban model of the modern Western development type.