the tokyo files

how do you define gentrification. @tokyorich wrote an article about the neighborhood near where he lived.

My basic idea: concept of gentrification in Japan seems much simpler than gentrification in the USA 1/

In USA, gentrification is a fraught concept. Many articles seem to start from the assumption that gentrification is bad/wrong/dangerous 2/

Gentrification in USA often involves issues of race, class, social justice. It's almost never simple as "new building changes neighborhood"

And for many new buildings, social trends (such as influx of "hipsters" or whatnot") there is often a backlash from residents or pundits 4/

My sense is that in Japan conversations on gentrification lack this complexity, though I'm wondering if there are currents I'm missing 5/

i taught in meguro for a while, and pre-war photos of these schools were all fields and such.

gentrification is here for sure. omotesando is the best example I can think of.

Agreed. Difference is that gentrification in USA & UK is closely related to issues of race & ethnicity. Perhaps not in Japan?

I'm certainly no expert, have viewed it as organic neighborhoods overrun by larger commercial interests. Maybe too simple.

In those areas, there's actual displacement of residents that relied on cheap lodging/parks/streets + cheap restaurants.