CONTESTED IDENTITIES AND MODELS OF ACTION IN JAPANESE DISCOURSES OF PLACE-MAKING

This article examines discourses related to newly built neighborhoods in contemporary Japan. The focus on recently constructed housing estat es is a corrective to many recent studies which have been overwhelming ly examinations of ''old'' or ''traditional'' neighborhoods. On one le vel, such discourse is related to the reputational content of a locali ty, that is to the series of typifications and images that capture the character and ''spirit'' of a place. On another level, people often u se the residential community as a medium for discussing or for evoking wider issues. Through addressing specific places and their attendant qualities, people constantly promote or denigrate certain visions of w hat Japan was, is, or should be. This study suggests that a fruitful w ay to explore the complexity of these discourses is to uncover the ''f olk'' models of locality which are held by different local groups. Peo ple use these models to describe, analyze, and evaluate what goes on i n their communities and to prescribe ways to change them.