Tokyo, a Spatial Anthropology

The sheer physical extent of Tokyo, its mile upon mile of high-density and mostly low-rise development, seemingly without topographic or maritime memory, makes it a difficult city for many Westerners to understand. We suspect that the same may be so for many Japanese. Jinnai Hidenobu shows us how today's Tokyo is rooted in its early development and how today's streets, waterways, land uses, and building types come from a past that remains visible to those who would care to look. One needs to walk or to row with Jinnai to see how yesterday makes today. His is a work of love that ties generations together in their physical environment.--Allan B. Jacobs, author of Great Streets