tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post5043209043383989248..comments2023-10-09T00:45:55.603+09:00Comments on Shisaku: As a member of the wedding - for Janne MorénMTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-92233015753723304392008-01-10T15:57:00.000+09:002008-01-10T15:57:00.000+09:00anonymous - Would love to tell you who. Cannot.anonymous - <BR/><BR/>Would love to tell you who. Cannot.MTChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-17629865267438585912008-01-09T21:17:00.000+09:002008-01-09T21:17:00.000+09:00Not surprised. I guess this is the kind of thing w...Not surprised. I guess this is the kind of thing which ultimately will determine which communities will thrive and which will wither.<BR/><BR/>I read recently about another variation on this: A roofed shopping street in a regional city (forgot which), with most stores closed and only a few holdouts trying vainly to keep the street alive. <BR/><BR/>Turns out that it wasn't a drop in then umber of customers that doomed the street. The street was "founded" shortly after the war, and so many of the shop owners were of about the same age. Some years ago, that age was beginning to take its toll, and with a lack of willing descendants to take over they simply closed shop when they retired. And since they lived in the shop buildings they were not willing to rent the space to somebody else, or if they were, they imposed so harsh conditions that nobody was willing to take them up on it. <BR/><BR/>As shops closed, customers started leaving, prompting more owners to call it a day and retire. So, the street has effectively turned back into a sleepy residential street with mostly retirees. The few people trying to kep it alive as a shopping street are probably too late.Jan Morenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-47652618617924961712008-01-09T18:10:00.000+09:002008-01-09T18:10:00.000+09:00I think you mean Koshu Kaido, but everything else ...I think you mean Koshu Kaido, but everything else about that story is true. The reason the chokai (actually shotengai) people have been against the large department stores has been that their parents told them to, for fear their wide selection, etc. would put the small folks out of business. Of course, when there are no big stores, no one comes at all, and this is playing out very clearly in Hachioji. <BR/><BR/>When the inherited money runs out sometime while this generation of owners is alive, they might start to allow more development, but by then Tachikawa will be even farther ahead.<BR/><BR/>Being heavily involved in Hachioji politics, I am highly curious to know who your assemblyman friend is, because chances are I know him well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-90433354419632709682008-01-09T12:21:00.000+09:002008-01-09T12:21:00.000+09:00Fascinating account. This sort of story reinforce...Fascinating account. This sort of story reinforces my feelings that Japan is it's own worst enemy wrt the changes that would need to happen for Japan to be more competitive nationally or internationally.Gen Kanaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01981551684895504503noreply@blogger.com