Between Decentralization and Recentralization: Conflicts in Intramunicipal and Intermunicipal Governance in Tokyo’s Shrinking Suburbs

<p>The suburbs of Tokyo Metropolis are experiencing path-dependent, multifaceted shrinkage in socio-demographic, economic, and political administrative (including fiscal) dimensions. The following two contradictory processes taking place the opposite direction at work, namely: decentralization authority responsibility (although without much fiscal devolution), recentralization workplaces, residences, municipal finance. As Tokyo’s confront these recentralization, they fall into gap between, on one hand, policies that prioritize internationally competitive metropolitan center by Metropolitan Government and, other address growing problems lagging provinces Japan. These phenomena affecting radical, but barely visible, changes public affairs governments lowest tier. We thus examine emerging modalities intra- inter-municipal shrinking post-suburbs. First, we explore intra-municipal upheavals, incorporating instabilities disarrays, ideas practices inside a government. Next, investigate upheavals involve oscillations between unification fragmentation among governments. interrelated hinder consistency timeliness planning decision-making local arena. In conclusion, emphasize importance taming creating integrated governance systems exploiting sense increasingly intertwined future This is vital to strengthen solidarity promote collaborations scales can ensure suburban sustainability.</p>