Spatial patterns of inter-regional trades and their changes in Japan, 1960-1972.

Analyzes spatial patterns of interregional trades and their changes by stages of distribution routes and by industries in Japan. Five categories of industries were chosen: all wholesale, agricultural product wholesale, clothing and apparel wholesale, machinery and equipment wholesale, and all retail. The findings are: 1) two types of inter-regional trades are distinguished at the stage of buying by wholesalers; one is the region-wide trades which form regional trade areas, the eastern Japan with Tokyo as the buying center, Tokai district with Aichi, the western Japan (excluding Kyushu district) with Osaka, and Kyushu district with Fukuoka; the other type is the nation-wide trades mainly composed of trades between metropolitan prefectures. 2) selling by wholesalers: seven selling areas are distinuished: Tohuku district as selling area of Miyagi, Kanto district of Tokyo, Tokai district of Aichi, Kinki district of Osaka, Chugoku district of Hiroshima, Shikoku district of Kagawa, and Kyushu district of Fukuoka. 3) The pattern of inter-regional trades for the stage of buying by retailers from wholesalers and/or producers is regarded as being similar to the one for the stage of selling by wholesalers. 4) There are differences of spatial patterns among the three subdivided groups of wholesale. -English summary