POPULATION DENSITY - One of the main problems that Tokyo faces today is that of the population density. Over 83% of Japan's land is mountainous and uninhabitable. This means that its populations lives on 17% of the island. Tokyo is so crowded that some parts of the city have more than 20.000 people living in one square kilometre.
The population in Tokyo is steady at the moment but if it increases much more, the city will not be able to cope with the demand, especially the demands placed on water and gas.
Another problem that comes from the increase in the city's population is the amount of waste that is produced- both industrial and household waste. The average amount of waste produced by each person in Tokyo has doubled over the last 20 years. To fix this problem, more effective collecting and processing systems will have to be developed. It has also been suggested that the household waste will need to be processed where it is produced, that means the people of Tokyo will have to deal with their own waste in their own backyards!
Tokyo is now being called a 'super-aged' country. With more than 20% of its population over the age of 65 (approximately 25 million people), this has doubled over the last 25 years. This puts pressure on the number of elderly workers in society . In Japan people of an old age rely on their families to support them. This large percentage of aged people is having a huge effect on families and the economy (especially taxes). The life expectancy of people living in Tokyo is 81.6 years but this is expected to rise to 88.1 by 2050.
There are several ways the government could control the aging population, although the costs involved are big. The government will need encourage people to have larger families; two or more children so that the population should increase slowly and which will then increase the youth population. The fertility rate of Japan is one of the lowest in the world. This means that people are having fewer babies, on average, only 1.4 babies per woman.
The government is may use immigration to solve this problem. This may be an easier solution than trying to raise the fertility rate. With the Olympic Games coming to Tokyo in 2020, immigration might be a good solution to the problem. Japan will just have to not be as strict with its immigration laws for this to happen.
Another policy that could be looked at is the policy of workplace gender equality. At the moment in Tokyo, women from having both a career and a family is not encouraged.
Poluution -
All countries around the world are experiencing problems with pollution, not just the countries in Asia. Most of these problems come from pollution from cars, factories, over population and too much waste.
Following the World War II, Japan has been encouraging development at a very fast rate. Unfortunately this has had a big impact on the environment. Because of the increase in the population, the needs of the people of Tokyo have alsoincreased and this has also increased the amount of pollution in the city.
More factories have been built and are producing huge amounts of pollution and the fumes from the increased number of cars is also having an effect. Lots of lung-related diseases and asthma related problems have appeared.
A large amount of the environment in Tokyo has been destroyed because of the increase in the pollution. Acid pollution may also become a problem.
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Buildings stand in haze in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2014. Central Tokyo air pollution readings neared levels that could require government alerts after thick smog blanketed parts of China for much of this week. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
There are many ways to reduce the problem of air pollution in Tokyo. First thing every person will have to start with themselves. By using public transport and trying to reduce the amount of household waste they produce will help.
Next, it is the responsibility of the Tokyo government and the businesses of Tokyo to help. Laws need to be introduced to try to reduce the amount of pollution that is allowed to be produced, especially by the factories. By putting in filters and smokestack scrubbers, the amount of pollution produced (mainly sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide) will decrease. The government will need to increase the fines that will have to be paid by those people who do not obey the rules. One other way to help the pollution problem is to improve the public transport system which will hopefully reduce the amount of cars travelling in and around the city.