The second half of 2019 is already in full swing and next to existing research projects which will be out in print soon (update follows) new research projects focus on alternative lifestyles and new social entrepreneurs in areas as for example Koenji, Kyojima or Kiyosumi Shirakwa.
In a recent fieldnote about Kiyosumi Shirakawa:
“Many similar cafes have popped up in the last year, turning Kiyosumi Shirakawa more and more into Tokyo coffee paradise, a trend the neighbourhood is already known for. Shop owners offer you happily something to try, the tofu store is crowded with locals who look for healthy and cheap products just before dinner time, and hip places like the Artichoke chocolate store or the newest shop Cheese no Koe, a cheeseshop specializing in cheese from Hokkaido, blend in a unique way into the local neighbourhood. Nevertheless, some locals fear that also this neighbourhood becomes a burgeoning place in which hip and new alternatives settle, causing a new wave of gentrification.” (19th June 2019)
For more updates, please check the research project site: https://heideimai.com/portfolio/gentrifying-japan/