URBAN CHANGE IN OSAKA-KOBE

GENERAL

Osaka and Kobe lie in the Kansai region of the

Japanese island of Honshu. With 9 million people it has become the world leader of education, science, business, technology

and industry. To get this they had to resolve a

lot of Problems.

PROBLEMS

HOUSING

As people migrated here from the countryside surrounding the cities moved outwards. The density increased also. The houses are 8 times

smaller than 4.5 m consisting of only 1 main

room and a bathroom.

HIGH LAND VALUE

The HQ of the Japanese

banks, corporations and

major shopping and entertainment sites

are found in the center of the city.

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Land va...

TRANSPORT & PORT

Unplanned growth of the region has lead its roads to be congested. At some

places there are mountains, making it

difficult to pass by. The ports are very busy.

INDUSTRY & POLLUTION

There is lack of space for new docks, bigger

container port, and storing goods. Air pollution is

caused by road traffic, and smoke from industries.

Water pollution is caused by oil spills and rubbish

being dumped.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Japan is located at a destructive plate

margin. They have mountains (not very

high) forested and steep. Japan is prone

to earthquakes and typhoons.

SOLUTIONS

HOUSING

Flats are the new way of housing, letting more people live taking less ground

space. The houses are spacious with 2 large and 1 small room. The residential area is near schools shopping centers,

hospitals, parks and entertainment. Traffic is less and a new railway has been built. the only drawback is that

the housing is expensive.

PORT DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRY & POLLUTION

Land has been reclaimed for extensions. Land has been leveled to extend

industries. Fish and oyster farms created in the sea. Nuclear energy produces less air pollution and new high-tech industries also

pollute less.

TRANSPORT & ENVIRONMENT

Rail service in now popular. These trains go at 300km/h and are very prompt in timings.

They has never been a crash. New bridges and roads have been built for easy access. A new airport has been built which is 24hrs

working. Attempts have been made to reduce the effect of the natural disasters.

New buildings can withstand earthquakes.