Lost in Transition?

"Neighbourhood": My understanding of this word essentially revolves around the idea of a community, concentrated within a particular area.


taken from Google Maps
edited using Paint

 At first, the task of commenting on our current neighbourhood seemed a little daunting, because as ryugakusei (international students) we don't exactly belong to the community. And as Bestor noted in his 1989 ethnography Neighborhood Tokyo, the ties within such a community can remain invisible to those on the 'outside'. Even in the physical sense, our exclusion is demonstrated by how I envisage the borders of Katahoko (Hirakata-shi) to be.

(The sections of contestable border include the use of the park to the north, including the local library, and also the rice fields to the east. The industrial and shopping areas over the main road to the west are certainly not part of the community. Unsuprisingly, the main shrine falls central to this area)

However, even without such immediate access to information, there are signs of how the neighbourhood operates, how it was formed and perhaps even where it is heading.

Hirakata-shi's official website explains how the city was once known as a "suburban farming village". This is seen in the vast expanse of rice fields and personal vegetable gardens intermingled between all the bleak, grey buildings. (It also makes a stark contrast to my experience living for one month in Morishita, Tokyo, which was literally like a concrete jungle). I think that even the intricate waterways running throughout the area are perhaps linked to irrigation. With it just having been winter, the fields have been inactive, so it is difficult to suggest how agricultual activities may still influence social ties.

On the east 'border' of Katahoko
- houses backing onto a rice field, with electricity pylon behind

Regardless of this, there is no arguing that Katahoko is now, with it's numerous homes and innumerable electricity poles/wires, predominantly residential. The mix in housing styles is noteable - most probably relating to the financial situations of individual residents. For instance, there are modern houses stood next to traditional ones stood next to a hybrid, all of similar sizes. Then there are the huge, traditionally designed ones made with modern materials that have spectacular walled in gardens - it's hard to believe they're houses at all. A fair few apartment blocks add some more variety. And then there are the Seminar Houses, towering above everything else.

This variety is reflected in the population; Most frequently I see elderly/retired people (who I suspect are those who primarily tend the crops). I also see a substantial number of children of all ages cycling from one place to another, belonging to young families. The apartments are most likely occupied by gaidaisei (Japanese KG students) who live too far to otherwise travel everyday. There doesn't seem to be a gap in the demographic, so why is it that Katahoko is so quiet? That the local shrine, the central feature of the neighbourhood, is deserted? I imagine the case is again similar to how Bestor described the case in Miyamoto-cho (see above link), in that there are now more people living in the neighbourhood with less ties to the community - instead, just being there for practical purposes.

Note the contrast: A traditional-looking family home with children
(indicated by the yellow flag), and nearby modern apartment block

If a new kind of community is going to develop in future, it's not too far-fetched to imagine that it could be based around the international presence. It definitely is quite distinctive, and hard to ignore. The children previously commented on are growing up with these people as part of their everyday, perhaps slowly lessening the "outsider-ness". Foreign influences can already be seen in local businesses such as the Cafe de Raffine in the local park, or the Nepalese Curry restaurant on the main road - these kinds of places aren't uncommon throughout Japan, but Hirakata may have a head start if that's what's going to be 'popular', especially with promoting its status as a university city.
What I'm suggesting is that Katahoko may be in a liminal phase right now. No longer a farming community, not really any kind of community. But what it has the potential to become is, in, effect a global neighbourhood.