Historico-geographical reconsideration of motive and process in decision-making of planned cities' location

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The decision making process of urban location can be grouped into two types generaly. In one type, the location is determined by a dictator in that time, often seen before modern age. In another type decision is made after discussion between some statesmen. In the latter case, it would be easier to know the detail process than the former one, becaese it is often recorded on documents especially in later period. But it is difficult to follow the process perfectly that planned cities built before nineteenth century were decided to locate there, because the materials are already scattered and lost. With the method depended upon historical document, it is almost impossible to make clear 'what he aimed then' and 'how he decided it'. But the fact that cities were there left undeniable marks on a surface of the earth and so on map.therefore we can analyze these problems by using geographical material and method.For example there is a well-discussed question on Japanese history : Why Ieyasu-Tokugawa chose Edo and built his castle and castle-town there as the base and center of his power ? Many theories have been proposed hitherto. Our method of historical geography is, however, able to give a much clearer answer to this kind of question. It was particularly critical for Ieyasu whether Mt.Fuji could be seen or not from the point of his resident. He persuaded himself to locate his castle there, because 'Mt.Fuji In view' has the same pronunciation with 'immortal' in Japanese (Fuji-mi). Together with this example, we proposed some explanations about the motive and process of location of planned cities : Japanese ancient political cities (kanga), modern planned cities, Asien premodern cities, Washington, D.C.in USA, Canadian cities etc.