CHAPTER 18 • Management of Tokyo Bay
325
In the middle of the 18th century the population of Edo was about 1.3 million, making it probably the largest city in the world at that time. Tokyo Bay was crucially important for the people of Edo, both because large amounts of goods and natural resources were transported on ships from other parts of Japan via the bay and because
the fisheries of the bay provided needed protein.
With the Meiji revolution, Edo become the formal capital of Japan and changed its
name to Tokyo. The Meiji government was keen to promote industrialization and militarization of the Japanese economy and society. A modern harbor was constructed in
Yokohama, and a major naval base was built in Yokosuka near the mouth of the bay. In
the beginning of the 20th century, Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama were characterized
by high density of heavy industrial operations, which were further developed during
the pre-World War II period. Much of the industrial capacity, however, was destroyed
by American air raids during the war.
Industrialization adjacent to and in Tokyo Bay began to resume in the early '50S,
and accelerated during the decade of the '50S, rising to a peak in the period between
1970 and 19Bo. The rapid economic growth, principally during the '60S, was driven by
the expansion oflarge industrial factories in the coastal areas, principally in Tokyo Bay
but also in the Seto Inland Sea area in western Japan. Many factories along the coast
were built on reclaimed land, particularly along the east (Chiba) side of Tokyo Bay. The
result of this process was that the total reclaimed area became approximately 20% of
the original area of the bay. Reclamation of all available shallow areas along the shore
of the bay was largely finished by the end of the '70S.
As a result of urban and industrial development around the bay, very large amounts
of wastewater and solid wastes were discharged into the bay. The deterioration of water quality of the bay became more and more visible during the '60S. This deterioration finally culminated in the early '70S when the bay was widely known as the "sea of
death". During the 'Bos, the water quality of the bay began to recover, because of tough
measures taken by the central government and local governments around the bay.
18.2
Analysis of Uses of Tokyo Bay and their Conflicts
The demands for uses of Tokyo Bay have been changing over time reflecting dynamically changing economic, social, and technological conditions, domestic and international. This section attempts to characterize the changing conditions, factors, driving
forces, and conflicts which have occurred and are likely to occur in the future with respect to management of Tokyo Bay.
Although the types of demands on resources of Tokyo Bay are basically the same as in
the Edo era, major change have occurred in terms of intensity and magnitude of demands.
Present and future demands for the use of Tokyo Bay can be conceptually identified as:
• Disposal of solid wastes;
• Disposal of liquid wastes;
• Land reclamation for industrial, commercial, and residential sites, and port activities;
• Marine transport;
• Commercial fisheries for finfish, shellfish, and seaweed;
• Water-oriented recreation.
325
In the middle of the 18th century the population of Edo was about 1.3 million, making it probably the largest city in the world at that time. Tokyo Bay was crucially important for the people of Edo, both because large amounts of goods and natural resources were transported on ships from other parts of Japan via the bay and because
the fisheries of the bay provided needed protein.
With the Meiji revolution, Edo become the formal capital of Japan and changed its
name to Tokyo. The Meiji government was keen to promote industrialization and militarization of the Japanese economy and society. A modern harbor was constructed in
Yokohama, and a major naval base was built in Yokosuka near the mouth of the bay. In
the beginning of the 20th century, Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama were characterized
by high density of heavy industrial operations, which were further developed during
the pre-World War II period. Much of the industrial capacity, however, was destroyed
by American air raids during the war.
Industrialization adjacent to and in Tokyo Bay began to resume in the early '50S,
and accelerated during the decade of the '50S, rising to a peak in the period between
1970 and 19Bo. The rapid economic growth, principally during the '60S, was driven by
the expansion oflarge industrial factories in the coastal areas, principally in Tokyo Bay
but also in the Seto Inland Sea area in western Japan. Many factories along the coast
were built on reclaimed land, particularly along the east (Chiba) side of Tokyo Bay. The
result of this process was that the total reclaimed area became approximately 20% of
the original area of the bay. Reclamation of all available shallow areas along the shore
of the bay was largely finished by the end of the '70S.
As a result of urban and industrial development around the bay, very large amounts
of wastewater and solid wastes were discharged into the bay. The deterioration of water quality of the bay became more and more visible during the '60S. This deterioration finally culminated in the early '70S when the bay was widely known as the "sea of
death". During the 'Bos, the water quality of the bay began to recover, because of tough
measures taken by the central government and local governments around the bay.
18.2
Analysis of Uses of Tokyo Bay and their Conflicts
The demands for uses of Tokyo Bay have been changing over time reflecting dynamically changing economic, social, and technological conditions, domestic and international. This section attempts to characterize the changing conditions, factors, driving
forces, and conflicts which have occurred and are likely to occur in the future with respect to management of Tokyo Bay.
Although the types of demands on resources of Tokyo Bay are basically the same as in
the Edo era, major change have occurred in terms of intensity and magnitude of demands.
Present and future demands for the use of Tokyo Bay can be conceptually identified as:
• Disposal of solid wastes;
• Disposal of liquid wastes;
• Land reclamation for industrial, commercial, and residential sites, and port activities;
• Marine transport;
• Commercial fisheries for finfish, shellfish, and seaweed;
• Water-oriented recreation.