LANDHOLDING BY FOREIGNERS IN FORMER MIXED RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN KOBE AS OCCASIONED BY WORLD WAR 1 DURING THE TAISHO PERIOD

This study considers the former Kobe mixed residential areas, specifically the Kitano-cho and Yamamoto-dori areas, wherein many foreigners working in the former foreign settlement resided, to confirm the impact of the World War 1 on landholding by foreigners. This war led to the closure of foreign trading firms in the former foreign settlement. However, in the Kitano-cho and Yamamoto-dori areas, some foreigners managed to maintain their landholdings against confiscation by the Japanese authorities. Moreover, there were foreigners starting new businesses and buying or building properties. Thus, the Kitano-cho and Yamamoto-dori areas became strongly characterized as residential areas for foreigners.