Distribution Of Cities To Functions In The Capital Circle Of Japan

The study on the functions of cities and the specialization and cooperation of cities has always been hot topics for regional economics, economic geography, and city economics, etc. The key point for the economic development of regions lies in the formation of favorable regional specialization and cooperation system of cities. The research and planning of the functions of cities of Japan have not only made great achievements, but also ranked among the top ones in the world. Especially, the capital circle of Japan has already been turned into a rational and large-scale city system. At the same time, China is still at the beginning stage of city-circle development in the process of urbanization. Most cities are facing the practical problem of how to join in city circles. Therefore, the research on the specialization and cooperation of cities of Japan can provide valuable reference for the healthy development of cities in China, through which the competitiveness of regions can be promoted. As a result, the steady and sustainable development of the economy and society of China can be accelerated.This dissertation studies the transformation of the specialization of cities in the capital circle, exploring the factors that influence the specialization of cities. It is pointed out specifically that the construction of city network system based on each city's function is an important and effective way for the economic development of the capital circle.First, the formation mechanism, development stages, specialization of cities, distribution of cities, the transformation of specialization of cities, etc. of the capital circle are studied systematically. And a literature review is done systematically, through which the limitation of traditional research is pointed out, and the train of thought of this dissertation is settled. The conformity of the functions of cities in the capital circle is selected out to be the cutting-in point of this research.Second, the geographical range of the capital circle and its development process are analyzed. The transformation as well as the background of the transformation, of the circular structure and the specialization standards of the capital circle are discussed. With the development of the core city, the area it radiates is extended gradually, and the sphere of its influence is also enlarged gradually. As a result, more and more cities are attracted to join the specialization system of the capital circle. Therefore, the economic development of the region is accelerated. In addition, through exploring Japan land development plan, the planning of Kinki and the central circle, and the development of transportation, population, economy, politics of the capital circle; the exterior conditions in the growth of the capital circle as the"first-level concentration"core region of Japan are brought forth. Moreover, this dissertation takes advantage of the research methods of"Law of the Primate City","Mega-city Pyramid","Rank-Size Rule"to make model analysis of the city system of the capital circle during 1980~2005, pointing out that it has fault belts among its large, middle, and small scale cities. However, on the whole, the city system of the capital circle is modified gradually. The spatial distribution of the cities to function in the capital circle under non-homogeneous space in imperfect open competitive market with increasing returns to scale is shaped out through the development of core cities served as economic growth poles promoted by economic globalization, through the adjustment of functions of cities in the circle by government planning, through the conformity of functions of cities of the circle by industrial structure adjustment; through the division of functions of cities according to the stratum structure, and through the transformation of functions of cities affected by urban economic agglomeration.Third, the dissertation analyzes emphatically the background and experiences of Japanese government's planning on the network structure of the cities in the capital circle according to their functions, in the context of the five times of adjustment to the capital circle planning. Furthermore, the disparities in the economic development of cities and areas of different topography are pointed out through discussing the geography and transportation conditions of the capital circle. The conformity of functions of cities in the capital circle in the process of the transformation of the transportation condition of the capital circle from"nine radials"to"three rings and nine radials", the influence of the development of the outbound transport corridors of the capital circle on the development of the capital circle, the effect of the logistical network of the capital circle on the reciprocity of cities according to their functions, and the importance of the formation of the network system to function are also analyzed; through which the relationship between the geographical advantage and transport advantage, and the definition and adjustment of functions of cities. In addition, this dissertation introduces the process of the social and economic development of the capital circle in terms of population scale, regional land, and industrial structure in vertical time sequence and horizontal space sequence with 10 kms as the standard to divide the circle into various annular zones; so as to summarize the stages of development of the capital circle and the characters of the functions of each zones.Analysis of metropolitan transportation geographic conditions by the "9 shot" to "three-ring 9 shooting," the process of development, metropolitan cities in the evolution of functional linkage, and analysis of Japanese outbound traffic of the metropolitan area Fort Evolution of the metropolitan area, as well as the development impact of logistics network of cities to build metropolitan feature interaction and the importance of the formation of functional network.Fourth, this dissertation makes quantative analysis on the functions of cities in the capital circle to understand comprehensively the structure of the special distribution of the cities. Accordingly, the scale of the spatial organization of the capital circle is discussed. With the help of the quantative analysis which includes 40 variables from more than 400 cities in the circle, 14 kinds of function region are found out; so that the characters and spatial structure of the capital circle are gained. Based on the division and ranking of functions among the cities in the capital circle, and the transformation of the spatial structure of the capital circle, the development rule of spatial organization and the system of functions of cities are found out; so that the mechanism for the distribution and transformation of functions of cities are explored.On the basis of the existing research achievements, this dissertation studies further the following points, trying to bring forward innovative ideas to provide reference for the development of the city circles in our country. Firstly, this research divides the capital circle into various annular zones, instead of making the division according to administrative districts, thus is favorable for making clear the hierarchy of the functions of the cities. Secondly, the spatial structure of the functions of cities in the capital circle is studied comprehensively in terms of the location factors such as geography, transportation, population, land development, industries; using the quantative methods such as factor analysis, cluster analysis, etc. instead of the methods of induction and deduction. Thirdly, this dissertation integrates the functions of cities with the spatial structure of city circles, divides the functions of cities stratum by stratum, grade by grade; which is helpful for analyzing the formation and transformation of the network system of functions of cities in city circles. It is different from the researches based on the function of single industry. Fourthly, it is pointed out that the construction of network system on functions of cities for city circles is not only a necessary way for the development of city circles, but also an important means to realize effective and orderly regional economic integration.This dissertation studies the influence of globalization, government planning, industrial structure adjustment, circular structure, and agglomerative economy of cities on the formation and transformation of the network system of functions of cities in the capital circle based on the relevant urban economic theories, industrial structure theories, spatial economic theories, location theories, etc.