DECENTRALIZATION AND URBAN GOVERNANCE: REFORMING TOKYO

METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
By Ronald Vogel

Vogel gave a clear view on the notions of governance in the advent of rising mega-cities which
nevertheless been accompanied by the question on proper governance mimicking concepts that
are both democratic and effective. He tackled three issues that needs to be addressed in this
discussion. One issue is how to structure local and regional government to ensure effective
metropolitan planning, coordination, and development. A second issue is how to organize the
delivery of public services in a way that is efficient, accountable and equitable.A third issue is
how to develop civil society and ensure that local and regional governments fulfill democratic
aspirations. He added that in dealing with these issues, both concepts and attributes may vary
from one locality to another given that these are shaped by both local and national political
cultures. 

In this notion he studied urban governance of Japan specifically on the city of Tokyo which has
its feudal and agricultural roots.  He discussed and centered on the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government (TMG) and its role in advancing the development of  Metro Tokyo. In this regard,
he recognized good practices of the said body as apparent on this passage: “at a time when other
metropolitan governments have been weakened or dismantled, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
(TMG) exemplifies the model of integrated metropolitan government” (Vogel, 139). Although
this is true especially with the data he presented, he was also quick to recognize the struggle of
TGM and the national government especially on the case of whether to devolve certain functions
or not. “The central government seeks to devolve functions while retaining authority. Efforts to
bring about balanced growth and limit overconcentration are meeting with limited success while
the metropolis continues to expand outwards. At the millennium,Tokyo finds itself constrained
by an economic slump and the associated fiscal strain (Vogel, 139).”

Lastly, he discussed spatial problems specific to the boundaries of the metropolitan government
bodies and its consequent population. The present magnitude and condition of this aspect leads
him to recommend that Japan may consider alternative ways to promote horizontal and vertical
coordination among and between governments and to enhance mechanisms for accountability to
citizens.

Source: Vogel, R. K. (2001). Decentralization and Urban Governance: Reforming Tokyo

Metropolitan Government. In Urban Governance Around the World (pp. 114-148). Washington,
DC: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Comparative Urban Studies Project.