The Background of Japanese Food Desert Issues

In this chapter, we explain the socioeconomic background of Japanese FDs in terms of the increase in the number of socially vulnerable people and their distribution in Tokyo. Japan has the most rapidly aging society in the world, and its declining birth rate is also remarkable. The elderly person are main sufferers of Japanese Food deserts (FDs). Changes in the environment associated with retailing and distribution have a significant influence on FDs. The diversification of the population structure in central Tokyo also deteriorates elderly person’s living environments. The elderly residents of central Tokyo share their living environment with this variety of people. In these areas, it is difficult to construct a mutual assistance system. These are major factors in the expansion of the FD problem in this gigantic city.