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Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014 Vol.123 No.2

2014 Vol.123 No.2

A 1:1000 Scale Diorama Model of Downtown Tokyo

The photograph is not a panoramic view of Tokyo but of an exquisite miniature model of the city built by Mori Building Co., Ltd., which has been involved in the construction of office buildings, city design, and urban redevelopment, as typified by Roppongi Hills. The model covers downtown Tokyo from Ueno Station in the north to Ohi Racecourse in the south, and from Kasai Rinkai Park in the east to Shinjuku in the west, about an area of 220 km2 at a scale of 1:1000 (normally closed to the public viewers). All of the buildings in the area were accurately depicted using photographs taken from a helicopter and a car replicating their original shapes and colors. The model incorporates infrastructure such as highways, railways, bridges, and port facilities to form a complete diorama.

Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, is now facing inherent issues of infrastructural deterioration, fragmented landscape, overconcentration of political and economic functions, and increased risk of mega-natural hazards. It is beneficial to build and use a realistic 3D model of Tokyo in order to improve municipal performance and make a grand design. Recent advances in geospatial information platforms have enabled us to construct a detailed 3D architectural model in a virtual space. However, a miniature model of a city (diorama) is still at the leading edge of landscape design and city planning due to its substance and ability to allow many viewers to understand how the city is put together simultaneously. The diorama of downtown Tokyo is expected to be used to create a grand design of Tokyo in the future.

(Photo courtesy of Mori Building Co., Ltd.; Explanation: Tomio INAZAKI and Toshio KIKUCHI)


Special Issue on “Tokyo: Past, Present, and Future (Part II)”

Introduction to the Special Issue on “Tokyo: Past, Present, and Future (Part II)”

Toshio KIKUCHI, Shigenori MARUYAMA, Tomio INAZAKI, Yohta KUMAKI, Masaaki KUREHA, Osam SANO, Toshihiko SUGAI and Atsunao MARUI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 159.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.159

Preface for the Special Issue on “Tokyo: Past, Present, and Future (Part II)”

Toshio KIKUCHI, Shigenori MARUYAMA, Tomio INAZAKI, Yohta KUMAKI, Masaaki KUREHA, Osam SANO, Toshihiko SUGAI and Atsunao MARUI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi),

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.163

Deep Groundwater in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan (Review Article)

Atsunao MARUI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 172.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.172

Water Environment of the Tokyo City (Review Article)

Hiroki TAKAMURA and Atsunao MARUI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 182.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.182

Wintertime Nocturnal Temperature Distribution Based on Spatially High Density Observation Data in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area under Clear Sky and Weak Wind Conditions (Original Article)

Hideo TAKAHASHI, Shogo SHIMIZU, Hiroaki YAMATO, Yoshihito SETO and Hitoshi YOKOYAMA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 189.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.189

Changes in Green Spaces and Their Management in Tokyo with Reference to the Tama Area (Review Article)

Susumu OKITSU

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 211.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.211

Current Technological Direction of Civil Engineering in Tokyo: Marine Geological Survey, Environmental Assessment, and Groundwater Management for D-runway Construction at Haneda Airport (Review Article)

Narimitsu ITO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 223.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.223

Relations between Urban Structure and Transport Planning in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area (Original Article)

Itsuki YOSHIDA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 233.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.233

Spatial Patterns of Population Change in the 23 Special Wards of Tokyo after the Period of the Bubble Economy (Short Article)

Yoshiki WAKABAYASHI and Ryo KOIZUMI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 249.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.249

Time Budgets of Working Mothers Living in Central Tokyo: An Analysis of the Impacts of the Internet (Short Article)

Naoto YABE

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 269.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.269

Industrial Structural Changes in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area (Short Article)

Hiroshi MATSUBARA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 285.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.285

The History of Electric Utility Companies and Power Supply Development in Tokyo since the Meiji Era (Review Article)

Toshiaki NISHINO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 298.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.298

Status of Tokyo: Comparing Tokyo with Major Cities of the World (Short Article)

Kazutoshi ABE

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), 315.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.315

Pictorials

Pictorial 1: Scenes of Tokyo from the Meiji Era to the Beginning of the Showa Era (Late 19th Century and Early 20th Century) on Maps (1)

Masatoshi NAGAOKA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), v.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.v

Pictorial 2: Scenes of Tokyo from the Meiji Era to the Beginning of the Showa Era (Late 19th Century and Early 20th Century) on Maps (2)

Masatoshi NAGAOKA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), vi.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.vi

Pictorial 3: Scenes of Tokyo from the Meiji Era to the Beginning of the Showa Era (Late 19th Century and Early 20th Century) on Maps (3)

Kazumi FUJIMOTO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), vii.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.vii

Pictorial 4: Scenes of Tokyo from the Meiji Era to the Beginning of the Showa Era (Late 19th Century and Early 20th Century) on Maps (4)

Masatoshi NAGAOKA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2014, 123(2), viii.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.123.viii