Reactions to Physical Barriers
Reactions to
Security Actions
by Toshiaki
Introduction
Aside from Signs, physical barriers can also control and limit people’s actions to a certain extent. In Kabukicho, physical barriers seem to work better compared to other methods.
Unsuccessful Barriers
Anti-sitting Rails
Usually rails to block cars and motor cycles would have a round corner as the photo shows.
However, the rails we see in Kabukicho are unusual.
As the photo shows, these rails that blocks cars and motorcycles to enter a certain area, has another purpose. It also prevents people from sitting on it, as it is designed to make it hard to sit on it. However, it has not seen much success.
Successful Barriers
Anti-Sitting Spikes
Rails
Rails do a great job of physically blocking cars and motorcycles to enter. No one would risk their car and body to enter a place that is not allowed. Not only do rails physically block cars and motorcycles, but also give a strong message, usually by Shinjuku-ku, that cars and motorcycles should not be entering that specific area.
As Whyte states in “New York and Tokyo: A Study in Crowding”(Whyte and Bemiss, 1979):
Save in one respect it has all of the elements we have found to be basic for successful plazas. It is, for one thing, eminently sittable: its ledges and planters alone provide more sitting space than the minimum we recommended for the new zoning standards in New York.
Ledges and planters are considered a place to sit by many people in urban areas. However, it should also be noted that it is decided by the owner of the land/building if the places are meant to be sat or not. In the case of these photos, which were taken in Kabukicho, they are not meant to be sat.
As a way to counter people from sitting, owners have put spikes or decorative pieces to avoid people from sitting.
The main reason the owner wanted to avoid people from sitting could be due to the effect on scenery, and littering associated with people sitting.
Barricade
Barricades also prevent cars to enter a certain street or road. These barricades can be observed in Kabukicho as Kabukicho has a pedestrian zone (æ©è¡Œè€…天国) during a specific time.
Conclusion
These physical barriers work far better than signs. It almost indicates that if it is a sign it is technically allowed, but if it is a physical barrier it is not allowed. Also, the action is physically blocked. The physical barriers act as the final border to differentiate extralegal activities that are allowed and not allowed.
The prevention of cars helps people just walk on the streets which is also kind of unique to Kabukicho and a few other places in Tokyo. When people are on roads instead of sidewalks, maybe people feel superior or feel the freedom as Kabukicho is famous for.
People in Kabukicho will see these physical barriers instead of signs and automatically process that it is something not to do because it is so serious, that it has been made into a physical barrier.
Sections
Reactions to Security Actions