The development of the urban system and the hierarchy of cities in newly opened regions: Hokkaido, Japan and South Africa

• Main Author: Ryoji Teraya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani (Ljubljana University Press, Faculty of Arts) 2004-01-01
• Series: Dela
• Subjects: http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/geo/Publikacije/Dela/files/Dela_21/025%20teraya.pdf
• Online Access: http://settlementgeography;urbangeography;Japan;SouthAfrica

This paper aims to analyze the pattern and process of distribution of cities in the newlyopened regions by tracing the historical changes of the urban system in Hokkaido, Japanand in the Republic of South Africa. The history of colonization is not so long in the newlyopened regions. This means that we can study the genesis and development process ofcities from the beginning of colonization. These frontier cities often have the gateway functioninfluencing over the wide surrounding region. The main concern of this study is to findout how urban functions and the urban system change from their beginning in the newlyopened region. This study examines the relation between the hierarchy of cities and thelocational characteristics of branch offices for the analysis of the postwar urban system inHokkaido. We can discern the three stages in the development of the urban system in newlyopened regions. First stage is the formative period: coastal regions were the centers of theexploitation and port cities were dominant. Second stage is the growth period: the exploitationmade great progress in inland regions and the coastal cities and inland cities werein conflict with each other. Third stage is the reorganization period: the economical centersmove towards inland regions and the inland capital gets dominant.