This is the first anthology that conveys in detail the actual situation of population
geographies in Japan a country facing some of the world's most serious demographic trends such
as low fertility population aging and depopulation. The anthology consists of two volumes
with the common title Japanese Population Geographies. All of the included entries are based on
original Japanese papers written by leading geographers and published within the past few years
useful for understanding Japan's current population geographies. The first volume analyzes the
postwar transition of internal migration examining the structural changes of population in
urban areas and proposes a new measure different from the traditional resident population.
This volume also presents an investigation of the retirement migration of baby boomers as well
as displacement migration due to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The second volume's
contents examine the residential choicesof minority populations such as foreign residents and
sexual minorities. It also discusses future prospects associated with mono-polar concentration
into Tokyo regional forecasting using population projections based on small-area units and
the importance of a politico-economic perspective in future research. Taken as a whole this
anthology offers the following two significant contributions. First the excellent achievements
obtained in Japan which is experiencing serious demographic trends reflect key developments
within the context of the world's population geography. The second contribution is that the
publication brings the latest insights and important policy implications to countries that are
facing various issues associated with decreasing fertility aging population and declining
population.
