Transformation of the Main Shopping Area in a Company Town by Rationalization of the local dominant Enterprise

Abstract

In this research, the case of the company town Aioi was investigated to clarify the transformation of the main shopping area by rationalization of the local dominant enterprise, namely Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. In addition, the process and factors leading to changes in use such as vacant stores, parking lots, or residences were clarified along with the status of closed stores. The situation in Aioi remains difficult because the industrial structure has not been converted and the population has continuously decreased since the rationalization of the enterprise. Therefore, the commercial environment has declined markedly. The decrease in the population and the amount of pedestrian traffic has been significant, and the land use has changed greatly in the main shopping area. Changes to nonretail use are progressing in general, while changes in land use differ greatly in each shopping district. Changes to nonretail use did not occur before the collapse of the bubble economy because alterations in retail stores continued. However, store closures have been correlated with changes to nonretail use since the collapse of the bubble economy because few new businesses have opened. The reasons for and the forms and processes of store closures in the main shopping area differ greatly depending on store characteristics. Many stores closed due to personal circumstances or slumps in business in small-scale stores. Among closed stores, there are many vacant stores with little possibility of retail rental, since there are residents now. In addition, some were converted into residences and parking lots by their owners. These factors prevent alterations in previous stores to new retail use. However, the main factor preventing new retail use is the decrease in new entry demand. Although the main shopping area was declining because of rationalization of the enterprise in the 1980s, changes to nonretail use have continued because new entry demand has decreased due to the collapse of the bubble economy, population decrease, and the development of shopping areas in the suburbs after the 1990s. Therefore, the changes to nonretail use in the main shopping area in this company town reflect a reduction in commercial scale and area.