B Anderson wrote:

> Tokyo seems to have a highly extensive network of canals. Almost 
> everyone in Tokyo would live near a waterway of some sort.

No, it doesn't, but it used to.  Mostly throughout Shitamachi.  Take a 
look at the places that are well inland that have names like -- 
Kobunacho (just for one example) and nani-nani-bashi where there is 
nothing for a bridge to cross.  Also take a look at maps now and maps of 
Edo and you'll see that a lot of the larger roads are covered-over 
waterways.

Canals became the place of choice to scrape off the wreckage in 1923, 
1945, and 1962 (for za Orimpikkusu).  Then, instead of using the canal 
rights of way for a decent kosoku system, they built ugly flyovers 
because they produced more profit for road construction companies.

> Why don't they use them for transport, in such a congested city?

They use one of the bigger ones still.  It is the section of the Shutoko 
from Hamazakibashi to the turnoff for Ikebukuro.

> You could have small boats taking people (and goods) to their 
> destination quickly and conveniently. There would be no traffic to 
> compete with.

Between that and raising the price of fuel, you'd wipe out the larger 
trucking companies.  But who would send large bribes to Ishihara, then?

CL