Suburb Of Tokyo Research Articles

Contributions of Biomass Burning and Other Sources to Fine Particle Level and Oxidative Potential in Suburban Tokyo, Japan

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the atmosphere is of high priority for air quality management efforts due to well-established associations with adverse effects on human populations. To develop effective countermeasures against PM2.5 emission sources, its origin needs to be efficiently characterized. Atmospheric PM2.5 samples were collected from a suburban Tokyo city, Tsukuba, Japan in 2012–2013 to estimate source contributions, with a focus on biomass open burning. The particulate mass, elemental carbon, organic carbon (OC), water-soluble organic carbon, inorganic ionic species, elements, organic markers, and biological oxidative potentials were measured using the PM2.5 samples. Results showed remarkably high levoglucosan concentrations in fall, suggesting enhanced open burning contributions during this season. The analysis of levoglucosan/β-sitosterol ratios suggested that levoglucosan is still a good marker of biomass burning; however, it may be useful to use β-sitosterol in combination with levoglucosan or as a supplement. Major emission sources and their contributions to the annual average OC concentrations were estimated to be secondary organic aerosols (SOA, 31.9%), vehicle exhausts (22.2%), open burning (8.4%), and cooking (5.1%). The estimated relative contribution of open burning to OC concentrations was highest in November (20.4%) and lowest in June (3.3%). The PM2.5 oxidative potentials were highest in spring and summer. Correlation and meteorological analyses suggest that emissions from ships (or other residual oil combustion) and anthropogenic SOA originating from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, and biogenic SOA contribute to an increase in PM2.5 oxidative potential during the warm season in the suburbs of Tokyo. Neither open burning nor vehicle exhaust source contributions showed a strong positive correlation with the PM2.5 oxidative potential.

Mapping everyday community life in suburban shrinking areas around Tokyo: case study of Minamiashigara, Kanagawa prefecture

ABSTRACT Although the suburbs of numerous cities worldwide are shrinking, research on how to address suburban decline remains scarce. This paper explores participatory mapping in shrinking suburbs as a tool to articulate knowledge co-creation between local officials and communities to inform planning decisions. The paper argues that participatory planning helps to identify sweet spots, everyday life community spaces upon which to anchor regeneration strategies. Using as a case study Minamiashigara, a shrinking suburb of Tokyo, the paper discusses how sweet spots can be integrated into existing municipal strategies to alleviate the consequences of shrinkage.

Distribution of giant trees in the urban areas and western suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

ABSTRACT Giant trees reflect site environmental conditions and to elucidate the distribution pattern of the giant trees, we investigated relationships between giant tree locations and landforms. On the basis of elevation, the landforms of Tokyo were divided into four types (lowland, plateau, hill, and mountain), and tree distribution patterns were divided into five groups, including three sub-types, with occurrence patterns of representative species [I: Frequently lowlands, often plateaux and mountain type (Machilus thunbergi); II: Frequently plateaux, often lowland, hill, or mountain type (Quercus acuta, Prunus speciosa, Taxodium distichum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Cedrus deodara, Aphananthe aspera, and Prunus × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino”) with two subtypes, II-1: Typically plateaux (Cinnamomum camphora, Castanopsis sieboldii, and Ginkgo biloba) and II-2: Frequently plateaux and hills (Zelkova serrata); III: Typically plateaux and hill type (Certis sinensis var. japonica, Torreya nucifera, Carpinus tschonoskii, Quercus myrsinifolia, and Quercus serrata) with one subtype, Frequently plateaux (Prunus jamasakura); IV: Mountains often with plateaux or hill type (Acer pictum subsp. mono, Aesculus turbinate, Abies firma, Cryptomeria japonica, and Cercidiphyllum japonicum); and V: Mountain-limited type (Castanea crenata, Pterocarya rhoifolia, and Fraxinus platypoda)]. Some giant trees, including Quercus crispula, Fagus japonica, Fagus crenata, and Tsuga sieboldii, were distributed in mountainous areas but not on plateaux, hills, or in lowlands. Some unique giant trees (Aphananthe aspera, Certis sinensis var. japonica, and Carpinus tschonoskii) are self-seeding in the wild and found in plateau areas but not mountainous or hilly areas. These results suggest that the distribution of giant trees is influenced by site ecological characteristics, tree physiology, and human management and land-use.

Sustainability of Science City Tsukuba: From the viewpoint of cognitive–cultural capitalism

This study examined the sustainable growth of post-suburban cities based on the cognitive-cultural capital economy. The case of Tsukuba, located in the Tokyo suburb, is suitable for examining an important aspect of social contexts that has been overlooked by conventional cognitive capitalism. Since 2000, Tsukuba has experienced a continuous outflow of research institutes and their associated high-level human resources. As a result, factories and logistics facilities have been relocated to the former research institute sites, and the share of wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and transportation services has increased. The findings suggested that the restructuring of the Tokyo metropolitan area had opened up local employment opportunities in Tsukuba and strengthened the centrality of the urban system in the suburbs. The city's success in sustaining its growth as a cognitive-cultural capitalist hub resulted from its ability to leverage the local potential of the suburbs. The Tsukuba case highlights the importance of recognizing the potential of suburban areas as well as the need for a comprehensive approach that considers the diverse interests of different population. Tsukuba's experience offers lessons for other urban centers seeking to balance economic growth with social and environmental sustainability.

Influence of education and subjective financial status on dietary habits among young, middle-aged, and older adults in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundResearch has suggested an association between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and unhealthy dietary habits. However, differences in the effects of different SES indicators and age remain unclear. The current study addressed this research gap by investigating the relationship between SES and unhealthy dietary habits, specifically focusing on educational attainment and subjective financial status (SFS) among varied age groups.MethodsData were derived from a mail survey of 8,464 people living in a suburb of Tokyo, Japan. Participants were classified into three age groups (20–39 years: young adults; 40–64 years: middle-aged adults; and 65–97 years: older adults). SES was assessed based on individual educational attainment and SFS. Unhealthy dietary habits were defined as skipping breakfast and a low frequency of balanced meal consumption. Participants were asked how often they ate breakfast, and those who did not respond “every day” were categorized as “breakfast skippers.” Low frequency of balanced meal consumption was defined as eating a meal that included a staple meal, main dish, and side dishes at least twice a day for less than five days per week. Poisson regression analyses with robust variance adjusted for potential covariates were used to determine the interactive effects of educational attainment and SFS on unhealthy dietary habits.ResultsIndividuals with lower educational attainment across all age groups skipped breakfast more frequently compared to those with higher educational attainment. For older adults, poor SFS was associated with skipping breakfast. Young adults with poor SFS and middle-aged adults with lower educational attainment tended to eat less balanced meals. In addition, an interaction effect was found in older adults, where those with lower education despite good SFS and those with poor SFS despite higher education were at a greater risk of falling into unhealthy diet.ConclusionsThe findings suggested that different SES indicators affect healthy dietary habits in different generations, and therefore, health policies should consider the potential influence of different SES on promoting healthier dietary habits.

Roles and Competencies of Doctors in Artificial Intelligence Implementation: Qualitative Analysis Through Physician Interviews.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term used to describe the use of computers and technology to emulate human intelligence mechanisms. Although AI is known to affect health services, the impact of information provided by AI on the patient-physician relationship in actual practice is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of introducing AI functions into the medical field on the role of the physician or physician-patient relationship, as well as potential concerns in the AI era. We conducted focus group interviews in Tokyo's suburbs with physicians recruited through snowball sampling. The interviews were conducted in accordance with the questions listed in the interview guide. A verbatim transcript recording of all interviews was qualitatively analyzed using content analysis by all authors. Similarly, extracted code was grouped into subcategories, categories, and then core categories. We continued interviewing, analyzing, and discussing until we reached data saturation. In addition, we shared the results with all interviewees and confirmed the content to ensure the credibility of the analysis results. A total of 9 participants who belonged to various clinical departments in the 3 groups were interviewed. The same interviewers conducted the interview as the moderator each time. The average group interview time for the 3 groups was 102 minutes. Content saturation and theme development were achieved with the 3 groups. We identified three core categories: (1) functions expected to be replaced by AI, (2) functions still expected of human physicians, and (3) concerns about the medical field in the AI era. We also summarized the roles of physicians and patients, as well as the changes in the clinical environment in the age of AI. Some of the current functions of the physician were primarily replaced by AI functions, while others were inherited as the functions of the physician. In addition, "functions extended by AI" obtained by processing massive amounts of data will emerge, and a new role for physicians will be created to deal with them. Accordingly, the importance of physician functions, such as responsibility and commitment based on values, will increase, which will simultaneously increase the expectations of the patients that physicians will perform these functions. We presented our findings on how the medical processes of physicians and patients will change as AI technology is fully implemented. Promoting interdisciplinary discussions on how to overcome the challenges is essential, referring to the discussions being conducted in other fields.

Promoting age-friendly community of support and care in Japan's aging neighborhood: The Nagayama model

Since 2007, Japan has been experiencing an aging and shrinking population as a consequence of rapid rate of aging and a persistently low birth rate. The impact of depopulation is apparent not only in rural areas, but also in new towns in the urban suburbs mostly built in the 1970 s to house the extensive flow of population to big urban centres. From the case study of a depopulated neighborhood in a new town in Tokyo suburb, this paper examines how the neighbourhood regeneration effort has resulted in a ground-up model of the community-based integrated care system promoting aging in place. Through fieldwork comprising participant observations and interviews, we examine the process and the neighbourhood services established that have led to the so-called ‘Nagayama method’. The involvement of multi-stakeholders from local government, non-profit and business sectors have shown concerted efforts in the care and support of older residents contributing towards a conducive environment for one to age safely and meaningfully in the community. In discussion, the case study is examined with reference to Fallov's concept of the ‘third way’ path in neighborhood regeneration recognizing the significance of local conditions and existing capabilities in contributing to the successful adoption of a ground-up system. By focusing on a depopulated urban neighbourhood through the lens of multi-stakeholders’ efforts in making a difference to the everyday lives of older adults in local community, the study brings attention to diversity in aging environments and implications for policy and practice for the Decade for Health Aging initiative.

The Round-Table project in Kashiwa: a dialogue to reconcile consumers and farmers in the Tokyo suburbs after the Fukushima accident

This paper describes the practice of dialogue between various stakeholders at the Round-Table project in Kashiwa, a radiation hotspot in the Tokyo suburbs after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, where the author played a central role. Kashiwa is both a dormitory town and an important production area for some vegetables, but its residents coming from different regions of Japan and working in Tokyo are not particularly attached to the area, so the dialogue and stakeholder involvement in Kashiwa faced different difficulties than those in Fukushima Prefecture. In this context, after months of deliberate discussions, the Round-Table decided on independent standard value and a protocol for measuring individual farmer’s vegetables and farmland soil. As a result of this optimization process, the farmers who participated in the Round-Table became involved in radiation protection as an extension of their ordinary marketing activities. This paper examines the achievements and failures of the “Eat and Support” campaign in Japan, and discusses the significance of the marketing concept in radiation protection and the strategy of extending trust from a small circle of producers and customers, based on the experience of Kashiwa.

Evaluation of Land-Use Layout of the Rail Station Area Based on the Difference in Noise Sensitivity to Rail Transit, Taking a Suburb of Tokyo as an Example

Rail transit has been deemed a sustainable means of transportation, but its agglomeration effect and the noise therefrom create conflict. Generally, such conflict can be solved by designing the architecture and facilities of rail transit using noise-reduction methods. However, relevant studies have pointed out the limitations of such methods from the perspective of enforceability and social justice. Specifically, extensive monitoring of noise is difficult, and the cost of noise reduction is mostly borne by the surrounding residents. Thus, another question has been raised: Can we apply a land-use layout that takes into account the difference in sensitivity to rail noise of different types of land so as to weaken the negative impact of rail noise? In this paper, we adopted various methods of the characteristic price method, progressive multivariate regression analysis method and noise simulation method, and adopted the suburban rail transit system in Japan as the research object to analyze the impact of rail noise on the price of residential land within 200 m of the rail line. Additionally, we investigated the impact of the accessibility to the station site on the price of commercial and residential land within 800 m of the rail line. We also established the evaluation model on this basis. Lastly, we conducted a further discussion on the evaluation model by studying the re-development project of Tokyo’s Futako Tamagawa Station. The major conclusions in this paper are the following: rail noise is negatively related to the price of residential land within 200 m of the rail line; the price of commercial land within 800 m of the station site is negatively related to the station’s accessibility; and the price of residential land is unrelated to the station’s accessibility. According to the results of the analysis of Tokyo’s Futako Tamagawa Station, designing and arranging commercial land that is insensitive to rail noise in the area surrounding the rail line and using commercial buildings as a shield for the residential land behind them will be beneficial for weakening the negative impact of noise and maximizing the use of the commercial value generated by the station’s accessibility.

Attitudes of parents and children toward housing inheritance in a Tokyo suburb

ABSTRACT In detached housing estates in the suburbs of Tokyo, increasing vacancies in inherited houses have become a problem. This study aimed to assess the risk of vacant house generation and identify risk factors through analyses focusing on parent–child discussions. A questionnaire survey of parents in Koma-Musashidai, Saitama Prefecture, and their children who lived apart regarding their future intentions of inheritance of the parents’ houses using cross and logistic regression analyses revealed that 66.5% of the parent–child pairs had had no discussion, 20.5% had different impressions of the results of the discussion, and 7.8% were at high risk of producing vacant houses. Furthermore, the analyses identified the factors associated with parents’ intention to bequeath their houses: discussions with their children, old age, high age of the house, lack of proactive measures, anxiety about renting, and stronger community attachment; and the factors associated with children’s intention to leave their parents’ houses: inadequate discussions with their parents, home ownership, and lack of relationships with neighbors. These results suggest that it could be beneficial to encourage parents and children to participate together in seminars and consult with experts before parents become older to reduce the risk of vacant houses.

Disentangling the contribution of the transboundary out-flow from the Asian continent to Tokyo, Japan

We assessed the contribution of transboundary air pollutants (TAPs) transported from China to Tokyo using the Pb(0.5<Dp < 1)/Cu(2.5<Dp < 10) index. We conducted intensive observations over four seasons during 2014–2015 and analyzed ionic components and thirteen elements in size-segregated aerosols collected at the top of a 30-m-high tower in a hilly forested area of the Field Museum Tamakyuryo (FM Tama), in a western suburb of Tokyo. In order to evaluate if the Pb(0.5<Dp < 1)/Cu(2.5<Dp < 10) ratio can be applied in Tokyo as the megacity, the annual average concentration of Pb at Cape Hedo, Kumamoto city, on the west side of Japan, was higher than that of Pb at Tokyo, on the east side; this result indicates that TAPs affect western Japan more than eastern Japan. We inferred the main source of Cu to be braking abrasion from cars at local scale on the basis of its enrichment factor and size distribution. From the Pb(0.5<Dp < 1)/Cu(2.5<Dp < 10) ratio and sulfate concentration, we inferred that the highest contribution of TAPs to the total mass concentration in Tokyo occurred in spring, when TAPs accounted for 55%, 72%, and 53% of the total mass concentration in the 0.1 < Dp < 0.5, 0.5 < Dp < 1, and 1 < Dp < 2.5 fractions, respectively. These results can contribute to assessment of TAPs in Tokyo.

Reconstructing the household transmission of influenza in the suburbs of Tokyo based on clinical cases

BackgroundInfluenza is a public health issue that needs to be addressed strategically. The assessment of detailed infectious profiles is an important part of this effort. Household transmission data play a key role in estimating such profiles. We used diagnostic and questionnaire-based data on influenza patients at a Japanese clinic to estimate the detailed infectious period (as well as incubation period, symptomatic and infectious periods, and extended infectious period after recovery) and the secondary attack ratio (SAR) of influenza for households of various sizes based on a modified Cauchemez-type model.ResultsThe data were from enrolled patients with confirmed influenza who were treated at the Hirotsu Clinic (Kawasaki, Japan) with a neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) during six northern hemisphere influenza seasons between 2010 and 2016. A total of 2342 outpatients, representing 1807 households, were included. For influenza type A, the average incubation period was 1.43 days (95% probability interval, 0.03–5.32 days). The estimated average symptomatic and infective period was 1.76 days (0.33–4.62 days); the extended infective period after recovery was 0.25 days. The estimated SAR rose from 20 to 32% as household size increased from 3 to 5. For influenza type B, the average incubation period, average symptomatic and infective period, and extended infective period were estimated as 1.66 days (0.21–4.61), 2.62 days (0.54–5.75) and 1.00 days, respectively. The SAR increased from 12 to 21% as household size increased from 3 to 5.ConclusionAll estimated periods of influenza type B were longer than the corresponding periods for type A. However, the SAR for type B was less than that for type A. These results may reflect Japanese demographics and treatment policy. Understanding the infectious profiles of influenza is necessary for assessing public health measures.

Landforms and distribution patterns of giant Castanopsis sieboldii trees in urban areas and western suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

Combining both biological diversity and cultural significance, populations of big trees in Japan are considered important. Furthermore, individual specimens, often with broken and unusual tree form, are highly striking and create a ‘sense of place’ in a locale. The giant Castanopsis sieboldii trees belonging to the family Fagaceae have a trunk circumference of over 3 m. These trees are distributed on various landforms in Tokyo and its western suburbs. In this study, we conducted field surveys to determine the distribution pattern and geographical conditions of giant C. sieboldii trees growing in urban areas and western suburbs of Tokyo. The topography of Tokyo is variable, comprising mountainous areas, hills, plateaux, lowlands, and reclaimed lands with large rivers or streams. The places where giant C. sieboldii trees grew were classified into 13 categories using cluster analysis of geomorphic landscape sections. The lowest point of the area within a 2-km radius surrounding the giant trees was determined through field surveys and based on geomorphic sections in four directions. Trees growing on slopes, plateaux, and hilltops or mountain tops, or along the edges of plateaux represented 80 % of the total recorded trees. Two categories were an exception to this, where the height difference between the lowest and highest altitude was less than 10 m. Giant trees were mostly distributed above the 10-m contour line, on plateaux or hills and especially on slopes along the edges of 10, 30, 120, 170, and 210-m contour lines on flat uplands. Altitude appeared to be a significant factor for giant tree distribution, with only a few giant trees located below the 10-m contour line in low lying or reclaimed lands. Finally, we discuss the reasons underlying this unique distribution of C. sieboldii in the light of the physical characteristics of different landforms.

Supporting entrepreneurs by local financial institutions in the Tokyo suburb area

Supporting entrepreneurs by local financial institutions in the Tokyo suburb area

“HINGE HOUSE”: Space embracing plural people, activities, and objects by devising a timber frame joint

AbstractWe designed a house that embraces plural people, activities, and objects and where people act autonomously in a suburb of Tokyo. A new hinge joint and innovative timber framework were devised to implement the liberated ample space, and environmental strategies were adopted.

Soil water content and soil temperature modeling in a vadose zone of Andosol under temperate monsoon climate

Model applications for delivering reliable information on soil water content (θv) and soil temperature (Tsoil) specific to Andosols (Kuroboku) are still limited despite their large area coverage (0.84% of the global terrestrial surface) and great potentials for improving agricultural production. The performance of the HYDRUS-1D model was therefore evaluated by comparing the predicted θv and Tsoil with field observations gathered from the vadose zone of a volcanic ash soil located in Fuchu (western suburb of Tokyo) representative of a temperate monsoon climate. The necessary soil properties to operate the model were obtained from both field and laboratory experiments while climatic data used for the meteorological submodels were extracted from a nearby weather station. A sensitivity and uncertainty analysis leveraging a Monte Carlo method was conducted to identify the soil hydraulic parameters critical to precise and reliable θv, vapor flow, and heat flow simulations. The temporal dynamics of simulated θv and Tsoil in the vadose zone of Andosol during the 365-day period were consistent with the values monitored under field condition demonstrating overall great performance of HYDRUS-1D. Specifying soil layer-specific hydraulic parameters significantly improved the goodness of fits between predicted and measured θv compared to the default simulation in which the surface soil layer was employed for the entire depth assuming a homogeneous profile. Water vapor influence on the total water flux and Tsoil dynamics was negligible during the whole period. Although the magnitudes of sensitivity and the contributions of soil hydraulic parameters to the water flow varied with soil profile and soil water regime, the foremost proportions of uncertainties were from the parameters w2, α2 and n2. While all remaining soil hydraulic parameters significantly contributed to substantial change in the predicted θv, their overall influence was relatively small. The HYDRUS-1D model can be used as effective tool for predicting θv and Tsoil in the vadose zone of Andosols in temperate monsoon environments for decision supporting in agriculture and other sectors such as to optimize water, crop yield and quality. The performance of the model can be greatly increased by setting soil layer-specific hydraulic parameters and focusing on the calibration of w2, α2 and n2.

An analysis on spatial pattern of urban-rural mixture in the suburbs of Tokyo

An analysis on spatial pattern of urban-rural mixture in the suburbs of Tokyo

REGISTRIES, CARE, QUALITY OF LIFE, MANAGEMENT OF NMD: P.346 Child-to-adult healthcare transition for inherited muscle diseases: a single-center study in suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

Improvements in medical care for patients with genetic muscle diseases have made their lifespan longer. It should be important to provide multidisciplinary child-to-adult transition for better life of them. We reviewed medical records of patients with genetic muscle diseases who visited our clinic for transition between November 2012 and October 2016, and analyzed current status and issues of child-to-adult healthcare transition. We accepted 31 patients with muscular dystrophy and 4 with congenital myopathy for transition in 4 years; mean age was 19.3±4.6 years (range 11-32).

Nitrous oxide emissions in proportion to nitrification in moist temperate forests

Chronic elevated nitrogen deposition has increased nitrogen availability in many forest ecosystems globally, and this phenomenon has been suggested to increase soil nitrification. Although it is believed that increased nitrogen availability would also increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from forest ecosystems, its impact on N2O flux is poorly known. In this study, 3-years monitoring of N2O emissions was performed in a forested watershed receiving elevated nitrogen deposition and located in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan. In addition, a comparative field survey was carried out in nine temperate forest sites with varying nitrogen availabilities. In the intensively studied forest site showing typical nitrogen saturation, the average annual N2O emissions from the whole watershed were estimated to be 0.88 kg N ha−1 year−1, comparable to the highest observed levels for temperate forests except for some very high emission sites in Europe. Although no correlation was found for humid spots with WFPS > 60%, a clear positive correlation was noted between N2O flux and net nitrification rate in situ for plots with water-filled pore space (WFPS) < 60%. The N2O flux varied across nine forest sites almost in proportional to the stream water NO3− concentration in the watershed that ranged from 0.14 to 1.64 mg N/L. We conclude that N2O emissions are related to nitrification in moist temperate forest, which may be associated with the magnitude of nitrogen saturation.

Living with Tattoos A Case study of Young People Managing a Hip Hop and Streetwear Store in the Tokyo Suburbs

Living with Tattoos A Case study of Young People Managing a Hip Hop and Streetwear Store in the Tokyo Suburbs