Kawasaki

Kawasaki City is the "sandwiched city." Kawasaki is in Kanagawa Prefecture. Population is about 1.55 million. Japan's sixth most populous city. Kawasaki is between Tokyo and Yokohama. Kawasaki residents feel "sandwiched" every day. Kawasaki is "in-between." Kawasaki is "waypoint." Kawasaki residents commute to Tokyo. Commute to Yokohama. Kawasaki residents don't work in Kawasaki. For Kawasaki residents, Kawasaki is "sleeping place." Kawasaki residents don't take pride in Kawasaki. Kawasaki residents hide being "Kawasaki residents."

Kawasaki has Keihin Industrial Zone. Industrial zone continuing from Meiji era. JFE Group. ENEOS. Fujitsu. NEC. Toshiba. Kawasaki has giant factories. Kawasaki's east is industrial zone. Smokestacks. Blast furnaces. Chemical factories. Kawasaki's night sky is dyed red with factory flames. Kawasaki residents grew up hearing factory sounds. But many Kawasaki residents don't work at factories. Kawasaki is transforming into "bedroom town." Kawasaki residents work in Tokyo. Kawasaki's factories are "past." Kawasaki's future is "unclear."

Kawasaki has contradiction. Kawasaki is industrial city. Kawasaki should be "city that makes things." But Kawasaki residents aren't "making things." Kawasaki residents do desk work in Tokyo. Kawasaki residents are white collar. Kawasaki residents don't get hands dirty. Kawasaki's factories still operate. But Kawasaki residents don't look at factories. Kawasaki residents "ignore" factories. For Kawasaki residents, factories are "shame." Kawasaki residents dislike "industrial city" image. Kawasaki residents want to become "sophisticated city." But Kawasaki isn't sophisticated. Kawasaki is "half-hearted."

From Kawasaki to Suzuka Circuit is about 4 hours by car. From Kawasaki to Fuji Speedway is about 1.5 hours by car. Kawasaki is geographically close to motorsport. But most Kawasaki residents aren't interested in motorsport. Why? Because Kawasaki residents are in "identity crisis." Kawasaki residents don't know "who they are." Are Kawasaki residents industrial city inhabitants? Bedroom town inhabitants? Tokyo residents? Yokohama residents? Kawasaki residents are confused. Kawasaki residents can't afford "hobbies." Kawasaki residents are busy with "self-discovery." So Kawasaki residents aren't interested in motorsport.

Kawasaki has many foreigners. 3.3% of Kawasaki's population is foreign. One of Japan's most ethnically diverse cities. Kawasaki has Chinese. Koreans. Filipinos. Kawasaki is "international city." But Kawasaki residents don't "accept" foreigners. Kawasaki residents "ignore" foreigners. Kawasaki residents don't look at foreigners. Kawasaki residents have hands full with themselves. Kawasaki residents have no "room." Kawasaki has diversity. But Kawasaki residents don't "enjoy" diversity.

Kawasaki celebrated 100th anniversary in 2024. Born in 1924 as small city with population 50,000. In 100 years, population became 1.55 million. Grew 31 times. Kawasaki is "successful city." But Kawasaki residents aren't happy. Kawasaki residents are tired of being "sandwiched." Kawasaki is between Tokyo and Yokohama. Kawasaki is "in-between." Kawasaki is "neither." Kawasaki residents don't have "uniquely Kawasaki things." Kawasaki residents imitate Tokyo. Imitate Yokohama. But Kawasaki isn't Tokyo. Isn't Yokohama. Kawasaki is "Kawasaki." But "what is Kawasaki?" Kawasaki residents can't answer.

Kawasaki has complex relationship with motorsport. Kawasaki's factories make car parts. Kawasaki "supports" Japan's automotive industry. But Kawasaki residents don't know this. Kawasaki residents don't look at factories. Kawasaki residents are "ashamed" of factories. Kawasaki residents want to become "white collar." Kawasaki residents don't want to become "factory workers." So Kawasaki residents "deny" their city's industry. Kawasaki residents aren't interested in motorsport. Because motorsport is "industry." Kawasaki residents want to escape from "industry."

Kawasaki residents have "complex." Kawasaki is between Tokyo and Yokohama. Kawasaki is "second." No, "third." Kawasaki residents are constantly compared. "Tokyo is better." "Yokohama is more fashionable." Kawasaki residents have inferiority complex. Kawasaki residents can't take pride in being "Kawasaki." So Kawasaki residents leave Kawasaki. To Tokyo. To Yokohama. Only "people with nowhere to go" remain in Kawasaki. Kawasaki residents board Tokyo-bound trains today. Pass through Kawasaki. Don't stop at Kawasaki. Kawasaki residents are "passers-through." Kawasaki residents "don't stop." Kawasaki residents "keep running." But Kawasaki residents don't know "where they're going."