Economic disparity in Japan has been increasing since approximately 1980. This change has been particularly significant in one of its global cities, the Tokyo metropolitan area, resulting in a dramatic transformation of its socio-spatial structure. Until the 1980s, economic disparity in Tokyo was not as large as that in the whole of Japan. Moreover, the concentration of high-income households in the center of Tokyo was not significant. However, the old middle class, which consist of self-employed individuals, and small capitalist class began to dissolve in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively, resulting in a decline in the population in the center of the city and its surrounding areas. In the 2000s the new middle class began to move into these areas. This was gentrification; however, because of the time difference between the dissolution of the old middle class and small capitalists and the influx of the new middle class, it was not violent but proceeded in a relatively peaceful manner. Until 1990, in areas 20-40 km from the center of Tokyo, income levels and the proportion of the new middle class were high, however by 2010 the proportion of the working class had increased, and income levels had fallen significantly. Thus, in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the old middle class and the small capitalists in and around the center of Tokyo were replaced by the new middle class, and a hierarchical socio-spatial structure culminationg in the center of Tokyo developed.

中文翻译：

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时差绅士化作为一场不流血的革命：1980年代后东京都市区的阶级结构和空间极化

大约自 1980 年以来，日本的经济差距一直在扩大。这种变化在其全球城市之一的东京都市区尤为显着，导致其社会空间结构发生了巨大变化。直到 1980 年代，东京的经济差距还没有整个日本那么大。此外，东京市中心的高收入家庭集中度并不显着。然而，由个体户组成的旧中产阶级和小资产阶级分别在 1980 年代和 1990 年代开始解散，导致市中心及周边地区的人口减少。在 2000 年代，新的中产阶级开始进入这些领域。这是高档化；然而，由于旧中产阶级和小资本家的解体与新中产阶级的涌入之间存在时间差，因此没有暴力，而是以相对和平的方式进行。直到 1990 年，在距东京市中心 20-40 公里的地区，收入水平和新中产阶级的比例都很高，但到 2010 年工人阶级的比例有所增加，收入水平明显下降。因此，在东京都市区，旧中产阶级和东京市中心及其周边的小资本家被新中产阶级所取代，形成了在东京市中心达到顶峰的等级社会空间结构。在距东京市中心 20-40 公里的地区，收入水平和新中产阶级的比例很高，但到 2010 年工人阶级的比例有所增加，收入水平显着下降。因此，在东京都市区，旧中产阶级和东京市中心及其周边的小资本家被新中产阶级所取代，形成了在东京市中心达到顶峰的等级社会空间结构。在距东京市中心 20-40 公里的地区，收入水平和新中产阶级的比例很高，但到 2010 年工人阶级的比例有所增加，收入水平显着下降。因此，在东京都市区，旧中产阶级和东京市中心及其周边的小资本家被新中产阶级所取代，形成了在东京市中心达到顶峰的等级社会空间结构。