As Japan's population shrinks, the Japanese government bans the development of new shopping malls or amusement centers exceeding 108,000 s.f. in suburban areas to prevent the 'hollowing out' of urban centers.
"Despite opposition by the business community, the upper house of parliament unanimously backed the proposal amid worries that American-style sprawl would be unhealthy as Japanese have fewer children.
Japan has seen a more than decade-old shift toward the suburbs by residents who buy cars to flee the famously high rents inside the densely populated cities.
...The revised City Planning Law, which was already approved by the lower house, will go into effect by the end of next year, an upper house official said."
Thanks to Ashwani Vasishth
Read the full story: Japan bans suburban sprawl as population slips
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