Problems of Tokyo
By Ben Crespi
While Tokyo may be a prosperous megacity, it still has its fair share of problems. One of those problems is Tokyo's population density. with over 13 million people, some parts of Tokyo can exceed 20,000 people per square kilometer, making Tokyo a very crowded city. Because of this overpopulation, Tokyo's water supplies may soon be insufficient to supply to the growing population of Tokyo. The current supplies are sufficient, but if the population continues to grow, more money will have to be spent on water.
Another problem of Tokyo is its unfortunate geographical location - on a fault line. Japan is a hotspot for earthquake activity, and Tokyo is no exception. Strong earthquakes are common in Tokyo, killing many people, and destroying many buildings. A problem in Tokyo that is also dangerous is how easily disease can spread in Tokyo. This is largely due to overpopulation, allowing diseases to spread between people more easily, since they are closer together. This can be very dangerous if there is a life-threatening disease in Tokyo, as it would be able to spread very quickly, killing many people.
Solutions to the problems
While there are many problems in Tokyo, there are also many solutions being put in place to fix these problems. One of these solutions is how Tokyo has made its buildings to be resistant to earthquakes. Tokyo's buildings have something called 'base isolation', which allows the buildings to move around slightly during an earthquake, but not break, by placing flexible pads between the building and the ground. Another invention that solves one of Tokyo's problems is the capsule hotel. This is a hotel that, instead of having fewer, larger rooms, has more, smaller rooms, that still supply basic needs. This allows for more people to have suitable accommodation, as capsule hotels have more rooms per hotel, because they are smaller.
Tokyo is also now using more alternate energy sources more than ever before. In Tokyo, fossil fuels are starting to be used less, while alternative energies, such as solar and wind, are being used more. This is partially due to the two oil crises that have struck Tokyo in the past. This is helping with Tokyo's energy needs, by giving Tokyo more renewable energy. Something that could help Tokyo in the future, is if more high-paying jobs were found all over Japan, and not just in Tokyo. This could help thin Tokyo's population, by removing one of the main reasons people travel, and live in Tokyo. By providing job opportunities outside of Japan, people may want to stay where they are, and not move to Tokyo.