During the 1980s, Tokyo experienced an economic boom, as its unemployment rate was only 4.9%, compared to higher numbers in the succeeding decade. The city also experienced a massive increase in urban land prices. High-rises and skyscrapers were built in business districts; large department stores surrounded by public squares thrived near mid-range railway stations. Modern concrete buildings gradually replaced old wooden houses in residential areas. Despite tight controls by the public authorities, the modernization process resulted in an unruly collection of skyscrapers that overwhelmed the city’s streets and exacerbated parking problems. During this era, anime and manga flourished and the television industry. As a result, the Japanese entertainment industry was a significant force to be reckoned with in years to come.
The following decade would see Japan’s economic decline substantially, giving rise to the Lost Decade’s name. During the 1980s, the birth rate in Japan continued to drop significantly, dropping from about 14 to about ten births per thousand. In the late 1980s, the aging of the population was already evident in the aging labor force and the shortage of young workers, which could impact employment practices, wages, benefits, and the role of women in the workforce.
Below are stunning photos that will take you back to the 1980s in Tokyo.
