Case Study 1 (Central Tokyo)

The purposes of this chapter are (1) to verify the existence of urban food deserts in central Tokyo and (2) analyze their characteristics. The case study area is Minato Ward in central Tokyo. The average income of Minato Ward inhabitants is the highest in Japan. Minato Ward is generally considered as a celebrity area free from social exclusion, such as food deserts. Many luxury grocers exist in these districts. However, we found that many elderly residents suffer from high malnutrition risk. This study clarified that personal attributes, such as sex (women) and age, have a statistically significant relationship with healthy eating habits. In addition, the ties with families and neighbors, and family income also have a strong influence on healthy eating. Urban city centers, such as central Tokyo, are at serious risk of urban food desert issues expanding widely among isolated elderly persons.