Expecting an Immediate Change of Metropolitan Functions

     Shintaro Ishihara, the Governor of Tokyo, is strongly opposed to �ga change of a capital.�h
According to the home page of Tokyo Metropolis, he has declared himself against it for three
reasons: disruption of a bubble economy, development of IT (Information Technology) and a
build-up of an environmental concern. As a result, he has reached the conclusion, �gBecause
the original situation has completely changed, the original meaning no longer makes sense.�h
     His conclusion seems to include some unreasonable arguments. In the first place, an
important thing should be pointed out. Although he may be mistaken, the resolution in the Diet
in 1990 concerns a change of �gMetropolitan functions�h, not that of �ga capital�h, in other words,
not the transfer of the capital. Since no one has associated a change of Metropolitan functions
with the transfer of the Imperial Palace, why does Ishihara say, �gShuto Iten Ni No! (No! to a
Change of a Capital)�h? He may have purposely bent the intention of the above act so that he
may win his point.
     The main points of the act concerning a change of the Diet, etc. are to promote general
national administrative reforms, to correct over-concentration of all kinds of administrative
services and to strengthen measures to deal with natural calamities. The writer completely
agrees with the intention of the act, firstly because moving Metropolitan functions to the
provinces will produce some advantages. Bribes and bribery will get fewer, for politicians will
not able to keep a close relationship between political and business circles on account of their
remote residences. Besides, lives of citizens of Tokyo will be improved by moving Metropolitan
functions; that is, problems of the heavy population, the soaring land prices, deterioration in the
quality of environment, danger of disasters on a large scale will be solved. 
     What should be most considered in moving Metropolitan functions is the distribution of
wealth. One of the purposes of politics is that people throughout a country will be happy. In
this sense, people in the provinces as well as citizens of Tokyo properly have rights to be well
both economically and culturally. Ishihara should be considerate toward people living in Japan
including those not in Tokyo. It is a principle of moving metropolitan functions that wealth and
authority concentrating on Tokyo should be decentralized all over the country. In this sense,
Ishihara has forgotten the philosophy of moving Metropolitan functions, in other words, the
original meaning of the act concerning a change of the Diet, etc. Ishihara looks like a child trying
to get his mother to buy him a toy by throwing a tantrum. He should grow up to be a man.
Tokyo, who appears to be the eldest son in a Japanese family, should sympathize with other
younger sons. Moving Metropolitan functions is a plan for a big elder brother like Tokyo to rescue
other weak younger brothers. Owing to his generous resolution, Tokyo himself will also be able to
escape from various sorts of serious problem peculiar to big cities.
     The second important thing is to decide which area in Japan is the best for a new capital.
Today, Tochigi-Fukushima Prefectures and Gifu-Aichi ones are nominated as formal sites proposed
for a new capital, while Mie Prefecture-Kio area (a district bounded by Mie, Shiga, Kyoto and Nara
Prefectures) is nominated as a semiformal site proposed for a new capital. (In the paper, a capital
is defined as a city that bears only metropolitan functions, not as a place where the Emperor lives.)
Since it is extremely difficult to choose the best area among them, the concept of �gbipolarization�h
can be introduced in order to solve the question.
     It is a sort of fundamental criterion for choosing an area worthy of being a new capital. The
bipolarization in changing a capital means dividing wealth and various kinds of administrative function
into two poles, two important areas. For example, it is often said that a two-party system is
effective in promoting sound democracy, such as the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
It is also said that two strong teams or players make sports performances more active and exciting.
American and National Leagues of U.S. professional baseball games are a good example. Furthermore,
a lot of people say that strong Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers can make Japanese baseball
games more interesting, for they are teams representing the Japanese professional baseball world.
It seems that the Kansai region profits by the Hanshin Tigers winning the first place now. In
consideration of the bipolarization, Japan can be divided into two: the western part and the eastern
part. As Tokyo exists in the eastern part, a new capital should be in the western part considering a
harmony of prosperity. Hence, either Gifu-Aichi or Mie-Kio seems to be a proper area for a new capital.
     In the writer�fs opinion, Mie-Kio is the best for three reasons, although the council for changing a
capital has acknowledged it as a �gsemiformal�h site proposed for a new capital. The first reason; the
Kinki region is a developed area, so the infrastructure has already been prepared compared with other
sites proposed for a new capital. Kansai International Airport has already fulfilled its function in Osaka
Prefecture. Shinkansen trains, bullet trains, are also available. In short, as traffic facilities are convenient
in the Kinki region, it does not need more money to construct new airports and railways than in the
other sites. Second, the Kinki region is rich in traditional and cultural heritage. While it is expected that
a lot of foreigners will visit a new capital, the Kinki region will provide many wonderful places to visit and
give them chances to know about Japanese history and culture. The last reason concerns economic
activities. In reality, Tokyo has had profit all to itself. The economic activities in the Kansai region have
declined since the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. The unemployment rate there is now much higher
than in the Kanto region. The bipolar areas of Japan, one is the Kanto region and the other is the
Kansai region, should prosper helping each other. Tokyo should not get wealth to itself. Ishihara, the
Governor of Tokyo, should notice this point.
     More than ten years have passed since the Houses of Representatives and Councilors passed the
bill to change the Diet, etc. in 1990. The legislation should be put into operation promptly, for each local
government has spent its money and energy so that it may be selected as a new capital. Therefore, the
Diet should narrow the argument down to one point and decide the best site proposed for a new capital
as soon as possible. Then, Ishihara should abandon his self-righteous policy and consider the total and
harmonious development of Japan taking a broad view of the situation. The least Ishihara can do is not
to get in the way of the dreams, hopes and future of the local governments concerned.       

 Copyright (c) 2002 by Edmond N. Beard