Edo - the EDOPEDIA -: April 2019

4/22/2019

Hisamatsu Hamacho districts Chuo

The district was divided from 村松町 Muramatsucho in 1617.
Later it became part of 日本橋浜町 Nihonbashi Hamacho and 日本橋橘町 Nihonbashi Tachibanacho and then became one separate district.

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The town that was reborn three times
Nihonbashi Hamacho / Nihonbashi Hisamatsucho / Nihonbashi Nakasu
From a samurai town to a stylish town
The Nihonbashi Hamacho area has changed greatly three times.
The town of Hamacho was a town of samurai warriors and was lined with residences of feudal lords during the Edo period. There used to be merchant homes in some parts of today’s Nihonbashi Hisamatsucho, but there were many shops that sold long and short swords, too. I think it was a quiet neighborhood of common people that was quite different from the lively downtown area of the nearby Ningyocho, where craftsmen lived. It is said that the residences of the Kasama Clan had storehouses where the Shogunate kept its gold coins. This was probably a top-secret affair. To this day, nobody knows the exact locations of the residential storehouses.
The Hamacho area underwent a complete change along with the falling of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The land where the daimyo residences stood was handed over to the people in 1871, when the feudal system ended after about 260 years after its establishment. It is the prestigious Japanese restaurants and similar establishments that were built on these grounds. The colorful dining culture where wealthy merchants enjoy themselves with geishas got its start here.
- The dining culture emerging
There was a canal known as the Hamacho River between Nihonbashi Hamacho and Nihonbashi Ningyocho before the land was filled in 1972, and it is said to have been popular as the starting point of sightseeing trips down Sumida River. It was famous all throughout the country as a stylish and luxurious town, and there were over two hundred and fifty geishas and almost a hundred restaurants during its peak. It was thirty five years ago when I became acquainted with Nihonbashi Hamacho and I can still remember the elegant scenery of fine restaurants surrounded by the black walls. By the way, the geishas in this area that was known as Yoshicho back then were known to be stylish, lively, and skilled at their trade. This attracted many famous, successful, and wealthy business owners who patronized the establishments where they worked. Sadayakko, who was the first Japanese actress, also used to be a geisha from Yoshicho.
With the revising of town names in 1977, the name Yoshicho began to disappear along with the successful businessmen, the geishas, and the fancy restaurants. The only remaining fancy restaurant that remains from this era is Hamada-ya, which has been in business for over a hundred years, and there are now only a dozen or so geishas.
- A townscape where the appeal of both the new and old meet
The Hamacho area suffered great damage during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, but the huge 33 meter-wide Kiyosubashi Street was formed between Kiyosu Bridge and Asakusa Bridge; becoming the pride of the downtown district. Hamacho Park along the Sumida River is the largest park in Chuo Ward. In 1929 the remains of the residence of the Hosokawa daimyo family from Kumamoto was renovated and opened as a popular hall among the local people for activities such as strolling, exercising, and holding Oedo Festivals.
- Fureai-no-Hana ...
- Tourist spots in the Nihonbashi Gonobe area
Suitengu
Hamacho Pedestrian Road
Meijiza
Kiyosubashi
- source : nihombashi-tokyo.com/history...

久松児童遊園 Hisamatsu Childrens Park
16-6 Nihonbashi Tomizawacho, Chuo
with a pool to splash around ジャブジャブ池

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Hamachoo, Nihonbashi 日本橋浜町 Hamacho district "beach district"
Chuo ward, 日本橋浜町一丁目 - 三丁目　first to third sub-district

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浜町公園デイキャンプ場 day camping
source : bbq-park.com/park..

Hamacho Koen, Hamachō Park 浜町公園 Hamacho Park
2-59-1 Nihonbashi Hamacho, Chuo
On of the most important parks in Chuo ward.

Hamachogawa 浜町川 river Hamachogawa
It was a canal connecting 神田川 the Kandagawa river and the 隅田川 Sumidagawa river.
In 1691, it was also connected to the 竜閑川 Ryukangawa river in an L-shape.
Around 1950, most of the river was landfilled and became a park.
. Ryuukangawa 竜閑川 River Ryukangawa .
There is a statue of 弁慶像 Musashibo Benkei in the park.

source : castle-in-spain.at.webry...

Hamacho ryokudo midorido 浜町緑道 Hamachogawa Green Road
along the former Hamachogawa river.

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4/20/2019

Kuremasa district Chuo

source : edo.amebaownd.com/posts...

This was an old district, already shown in the Kanei Kiriezu map 寛永切絵図 around 1630.

kure 榑 refers to lumber where the bark of the tree has not yet been removed.
The bark could later be used to make roof tiles.

In former times this area was full of reeds and no humans lived there. During the construction of Edo castle, this place was used to store the lumber.
Later when people came to live here, they used the name Kure.

In July of 1868, it became part of 江戸府 Edo, and in September of 1868, part of 東京府 Tokyo.
In 1872, there were 150 homes in the area, with about 560 people living there.
In November of 1878, it became part of Nihonbashi and in 1928 the name was finally changed to
江戸橋三丁目 Nihonbashi sanchome, third sub-district.

Now the road 昭和通り Showadori is flanked by the district on both sides.
This avenue was planned after the 関東大震災 Great Tokyo Earthquake in 1923. It was a wide road for easy traffic, finished in 1928.

Showa-dori Avenue

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.................................................................................　Kuremasacho 榑正町

iken 異犬 a strange dog
On the second day of the seventh lunar month, a strange dog was born in Kuremasa.
His mouth was quite wide and it had only one eye. Its nose was above the eye.

. inu 犬と伝説 Legends about the dog / Hund .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

. Edo, Tokyo　江戸 - 東京 - 伝説 Legends Index .

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4/16/2019

river Myoshojigawa

The name refers to the temple Myosho-Ji, where it starts.

- quote
... designated as a Class A river by the Japanese government with a length of 9.7 km and a basin area of 21.4 km².
It starts in the 妙正寺池（Myōshōji Temple pond in Suginami Ward, and joins the Edo River later on. It flows into the Kanda River (Takadanobaba Channel) in Shinjuku Ward.
東京都杉並区の妙正寺公園内妙正寺池（すぐそばにある妙正寺に由来）に源を発し、途中中野区松が丘二丁目で江古田川を合わせ、新宿区下落合一丁目の辰巳橋付近で神田川高田馬場分水路に合流する。

- Recent history
Due to the progress of urbanization, the water retention capacity of the Myōshōji River has fallen and there is an increasing risk of water damage. To cope with this situation, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has constructed revetments that can handle rainfall of up to 50 millimeters per hour.
- Bridges
妙正寺橋 Myoshojibashi
辰巳橋 Tatsumibashi
There are more than 50 bridges over this river.
- source : wikipedia

妙正寺橋 Myoshojibashi Bridge
杉並区清水３丁目
- source and more photos : river_myosyoji/tokyo... -

. Nakano ku 中野区 Nakano ward - "Middle Wild Field" .
The river 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa flows through this ward.

. Amanuma district 天沼 "heavenly swamp" - Suginami .
The rivers 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa and 桃園川 Momozonogawa flow through this area.

. Igusagawa 井草川 River Igusagawa - Suginami .
If flows into the river 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa from the Arakawa water system.

. Ochiai 落合 Ochiai district - Shinjuku .
The area where the rivers 神田川 Kandagawa and 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa merged was called Ochiai.

Edo Waterworks drawing from the Tama River (Tamagawa)
Water for drinking and household use therefore was drawn from lakes or farther upstream.
The Kanda waterworks in Edo drew water from three lakes, Myoshoji, Zenpukuji and Inokashira,
and supported the life of the Shogun and the city population.
. Minuma Tusen Bori (barge canal) .

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source and more photos : daietu-kk.co.jp... 依田しのぶ
Cherry blossoms along the river Myoshojigawa

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妙正寺川公園　Myoshojigawa Park Athletic Field
1-33 Matsugaoka, 中野区 / 中野区松が丘一丁目33番

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hotaru-gari ホタル狩り catching fireflies
along the river 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa in 落合 Ochiai

- quote -

江戸時代の蛍狩りの名所としては、谷中の蛍沢や王子の音無川などが知られていたが、特に、
神田上水と妙正寺川の清流が落ち合うことが名の由来といわれている「落合」の蛍は、大きくてひときわ明るかったようだ。

落合ほたる」広重 Ochiai Fireflies, Hiroshige
- reference source : suumo.jp/journal... -

. ensoku 遠足 excursion, day trips in Edo .

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Myōshōji Temple
3 Chome-5-10 Shimizu, Suginami City,
法光山妙正寺　東京都杉並区清水3-5-10

The temple was founded in 1352.
Main treasures are
久遠実成本師釈迦牟尼仏 Shakamuni Buddha, 日蓮聖人 Saint Nichiren and
Jikkai mandala 十界曼荼羅 Mandala for Invoking the Ten Realms

stamp of the temple

- HP of the temple 法光山妙正寺
- reference source : myosho-ji.com... -

- quote -
Ninoe Myōshō-ji Temple 二之江妙勝寺

Seaweed harvested in villages like Ninoe, 今井、船堀、桑川 Imai, Funabori, or Kuwakawa was called 葛西海苔 "Kasai-nori,"
and was a different type of seaweed from "Asakusa-nori".
Myōshō-ji is a temple of Nichiren Buddhism called "Hongaku-san Jōju-in." It also bore a responsibility called "Furegashira," which included controlling temples in the entire Kasai area and communicating the orders of the Shogunate's commissioner of temples and shrines.
- source : Tokyo Metropolitan Musaum -

. Asakusa nori 浅草海苔 Nori from Asakusa / Edo .
. Ninoechō 二之江町 Ninoe town, Edogawa ward .

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. The Rivers of Edo .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. Japanese Architecture - The Japanese Home .

. Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - - - - #myooshooji #myoshoji #myoshojigawa - - - -
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4/12/2019

Seibu Train Posters

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
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Seibu Train Posters

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Seibu Railway's train etiquette posters in ukiyo-e style
are a hit in Japan and overseas
Posters that use traditional kimono-wearing characters portrayed in the style of Edo Period ukiyo-e to educate train passengers on proper etiquette have gained attention abroad, with the works featured in a British exhibition and printed in Taiwanese textbooks.

First introduced in September 2016, the light-hearted yet educational posters can be found in train stations operated by Seibu Railway Co. in and around Tokyo. The ukiyo-e art form traditionally depicts scenes of the Edo Period (1603-1868).

One image shows a courtesan sitting on a train as she uses a smartphone, while a man with a topknot lounges next to her with a book on his lap. The surrounding passengers are looking at them in annoyance and the poster has text reading,
“Please let others sit comfortably.”

The cultural reference points are used in a range of posters, including one asking commuters to be thoughtful of fellow travelers by depicting an anthropomorphic frog and monkey talking loudly as passengers cover their ears in protest.

The posters were an immediate hit when they were first put up at Seibu train stations, with some passengers asking for the images to be printed on merchandise.

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum began exhibiting the posters in March, noting the interesting amalgamation of tradition and modernity.

“The posters illustrate the bustle and thrill of city life in modern Japan. Humor tempers the message about how to be a well-behaved commuter,” it says on its website introducing the pieces.

A company running cram schools in Taiwan also included the images in their Japanese textbooks.

“We wanted to attract interest from the growing number of overseas visitors,” said Seibu Railway customer service official Konomi Yamamoto, who originally proposed the idea.

“We were able to depart from stereotypical posters by making (the ukiyo-e) appealing. I’m surprised by the overwhelming international response,” she said.
- source : Japan Times

Seibu Railways (西武鉄道)

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - The Japanese Home .

. Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - - - - #seibutrain #ukiyoeposters #posters #manners - - - -
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4/11/2019

Iogi 井荻 Iogi district

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
- Kugayama, see below
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Iogi 井荻 Iogi district
Suginami　杉並区

The name Iogi machi 井荻町 / 井荻村 Iogi mura was abolished in 1932.
It was the former 東多摩郡 Higashi-Tama district, including the villages
上井草村 Kami-Igusa mura, 下井草村 Shimo-Igusa mura,
上荻窪村 Kami-Ogikubo mura and 下荻窪村 Shimo-Ogikubo mura.
The name I-OGI was constructed of the first letters from Igusa and Ogikubo.

. Igusamura, Igusa mura 井草村 Igusa village .
. Ogikubo 荻窪 Ogikubo district .

i 井 well
ogi 荻 reeds

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井荻駅 Iogi Station opened on 16 April 1927.

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Igusagawa 井草川 River Igusagawa

If flows into the river 妙正寺川 Myoshojigawa from the Arakawa water system. Part of the river is now a 遊歩道 promenade.

In the park 道潅橋公園 Dokanbashi Koen there was a bridge over the river, better known as 道潅橋 Dokanbashi bridge.
3 Chome-14-２３ Kamiigusa, Suginami

Along the river 今川 Imagawa is a park called 道潅公園 Dokan Koen.

source : yamap.com/activities....

. Oota Dookan, Ōta Dōkan 太田道灌 Ota Dokan (1432 - 1486) .

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Kugayama 久我山 Kugayama district
Suginami, 久我山一丁目 - 五丁目, first to fifth sub-district

くが kuga means open space, space for leisure
山 yama means mountain

In the Edo period it was an open space in the Musashino plain, called 久ケ山 Kukeyama.
Around 1889, it was known as 久我山村 Kugayama mura village, with about 65 families living there.

Located in the South-West of Suginami ward. A quiet residential area.

Near the station is the shopping mall
久我山連合商店会
They have a firefly festival in summer, thanks to the two main rivers in the area,
the 神田川 Kandagawa and the 玉川上水 Tamagawa Josui Waterway.

- CLICK for more photos !

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Train station
京王井の頭線の久我山駅 Kugayama, Keio Inokashira line

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Kugayama Inari Jinja 久我山稲荷神社
東京都杉並区久我山3-37-14 // 3 Chome-37-14 Kugayama, Suginami City

Since olden times the Shrine of the protector deity of Kugayama.
The main festival is on the first of October.
A Kagura dance called 湯の花神楽 Yunohana Kagura is performed. It is in memory of a time of epidemic disease, when water was boiled in the Shrine and splashed on the ground and on people to purify all.

source and more photos : kugayama-h.ed.jp...

- Deity in residence
Ukemochi no Mikoto 受持命

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4/10/2019

New Banknotes

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Persons and People of Edo - Personen .
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New Banknotes

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Japanese banknotes get a makeover
On Tuesday, Japanese finance minister Taro Aso announced that Japanese banknotes will be getting a redesign. The new notes are expected to enter circulation around 2024, the first change since 2004.
Three historical figures
have been chosen for the new designs, selected based on several guidelines. They include that the figures must be widely known in Japan, that their achievements be such that the Japanese people take pride in them, and that precise pictures of them exist so as to prevent forgeries.
There are a couple exceptions to the makeover. The 2000 yen note will remain unchanged, as there are not many in circulation, while the 500 yen coin will be redesigned around 2021.

The new 10,000 yen note will feature famed industrialist Eiichi Shibusawa. He was a driver of Japanese industry from the 19th through early 20th century, and is considered the "father of Japanese capitalism."
Following the Meiji Restoration, Shibusawa worked with the finance ministry before becoming a businessman. He helped establish and develop more than 500 businesses. Among them was Japan's first bank, which eventually became Mizuho Bank. He also created the predecessors of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce.
The reverse side of the note will feature the Tokyo train station building.

The 5,000 yen note will feature Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer in Japanese women's education. She became one of the first Japanese women to study in the United States at 6 years old, and went on to found Tsuda University in Tokyo.
The reverse side will have wisteria flowers.

The 1,000 yen note will feature bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato. His achievements in the field of infectious disease prevention include the development of a treatment for tetanus.
The reverse side is Japanese ukiyoe master Katsushika Hokusai's "In the Well of the Great Wave off Kanagawa." It's one of the world's most famous woodblock prints.

The new notes will be the same size as the current ones but the Arabic numbers will be written in larger letters.

The notes will also incorporate new 3D holograms and other anti-forgery technology. The images will look like they're moving as the angle changes. It's believed this is the first time this technology is being incorporated in banknotes anywhere in the world.
Aso said banknote designs have to be changed every 20 years or so to prevent counterfeiting. He said the changes were announced now because it takes about five years to prepare the new bills.
The finance minister also said the three figures on the notes each made huge contributions to issues that remain relevant today and are appropriate for the upcoming Reiwa Era.
Economic benefit
Experts say the redesign will also be a boost to the economy, creating demand in a range of industries. ...
- source : NHK world / Maiko Eiraku

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4/06/2019

Tabata Oji Kita

The name means 「田の端」にあった町 a town at the end of the fields.
Another spelling is 田畑, meaning many rice and vegetable fields.

In the Edo period, the area was called 豊島郡田端村 Toshima district, Tahata village.

- quote -
Tabata (on the edge of the field)
... In the Edo Period, 田端村 Tabata Mura Tabata Village was located on a section of the elevated area that is geographically referred to as the 上野台地 Ueno Daichi the Ueno Plateau, but was to known at the time as 上野山 Uenoyama Ueno Mountain. The area was well known because one side was bordered by a cliff. Although, most people don’t notice it now, the west side of Tabata Station clearly shows the cliff – it’s just been woven into the fabric of the modern metropolis.
It’s said that meaning of the name is 田ﾉ端 ta no hata on the edge of a rice paddy. Historical records and maps from the early Edo Period are vague at best, but the area would have been quite rural at the time. The presence of 田畑 tahata rice paddies and fields is more or less a given. Speaking of tahata, a second etymology says that via rendaku, tahata became tabata.

Tabata sits on a ridge – a cliff, if you will – on the edge of the Ueno Plateau. The agricultural lands here were eventually surrendered to the Tokugawa Shōgunate in the name of 参勤交代 sankin-kōtai alternate attendance[ii], for the purpose of building daimyō residences and samurai residences. Without clear historical records, the “edge” could have referred to rice paddies on the plateau itself, or could refer to the cliff – a proverbial “edge” clearly delineating the yamanote and shitamachi, thus indicating the farming was being done in the valley.
A second, more intriguing theory maintains that the place name is most likely far more ancient than the kanji reveal. ... This theory maintains that the oldest place names are all based on the terrain. This theory maintains that the oldest place names are all based on the terrain....
... This alternate theory uses some archaeological findings to back it up. The area has been inhabited since the Jōmon Period but the real activity picked up around the Yayoi Period. During the early to mid Jōmon Period (7,000-4,000 years ago), this area was coastline, and the high areas were inhabited by villagers, communities highly reliant on the sea and not farming. The sea began receding during the Yayoi Period and we find evidence of all kinds of coastal fishing activity, but no farming. Because the only people who farm next to the ocean are idiots.
Again,
if this is an ancient name – not a medieval name – the kanji does not matter. Kanji have sounds (readings) but no kanji is divorced from meaning. It always has a meaning. Going by this theory, the archaeological evidence has led a small group of people to maintain that the name comes from a very ancient place name that originally meant “the top of the plateau.” One of the more interesting speculations was that the name is evidenced by 束旗 tabahata → tabata a bundle of flags, because the high ground is where you can build your fort (and of course put up your flags, which can be seen from everywhere).
- source : Marky Star -

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Atrevie Tabata アトレヴィ田端
Finished in 2008.
Tabata station, 1 Chome-17-2 Higashitabata, Kita

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田端文士村記念館 TABATA Memorial Museum of Writers and Artists
6 Chome-1-2 Tabata, Kita
Admission - Free
- source : kitabunka.or.jp/tabata -

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. 宝珠山 / 寶珠山 Hojuzan　地蔵院 Jizo-In　与楽寺 Yoraku-Ji .
北区田端1-25-1 / 1 Chome-25-1 Tabata, Kita

Dairyuuji 大龍寺 Dairyu-Ji
東京都北区田端4-18-4 / 4-chōme-18-4 Tabata, Kita

With the grave of the haiku poet
. 正岡子規 Masaoka Shiki .

. Toogakuji 東覚寺 Togaku-Ji .
北区田端2-7-3 / 2 Chome-7-3 Tabata, Kita

Nearby is
田端八幡神社 Tabata Hachiman Jinja
東京都北区田端2-7-2 / 2 Chome-7-2 Tabata, Kita

- quote -
The shrine is located right next to Tokakuji Temple.
It's told that this shrine started when Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura government, stopped by on his way back to Kamakura after the conquest in North Japan, at the end of 12th century.
- source and photos : richiefukuda.blogspot.com... -

上田端八幡神社 Kami-Tabata Hachiman Jinja
東京都北区田端4-18-1 / 4 Chome-18-1 Tabata, Kita
- reference source : tesshow.jp/kita/shrine_tabata... -

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Ooji, Ōji 王子 Oji district
Kita, Oji 一丁目～六丁目 first to sixth sub-district
王子本町 Oji Honcho (Motomachi) 一丁目 - 三丁目 from first to third sub-district
下十条町 Shimo-Jujo machi was located in the 東京都王子区 Oji district.
. Juujoo, Jūjō 十条　Jujo district　. - Kita

The place where the deity 若一王子 Nyakuichi Oji / 若王子 Nyakuoji from Kumano are venerated.
熊野本宮大社の若一王子

The area was first called 岸村 Kishimura, "village on the shore". After the sharing of a deity from the 熊野本宮大社 Kumano Hongo Taisha in Wakayama a new Shrine was built for the deity
若一王子 Nyakuichi Oji The Srine was named Oji Jinja and the district named
王子村 Oji mura village.
This deity is not a prince, but the special deity
熊野権現 Kumano Gongen.

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Ooji Jinja, Ōji Jinja 王子神社 Oji Shrine
王子本町１丁目 / 1 Chome Ojihoncho, Kita

source : wikipedia

In this shrine Kumano Gongen 熊野権現 is venerated.

The Shrine is famous for its huge 王子神社のイチョウ gingko tree.

The local deities in residence are

Semimaru ko 蝉丸公(神霊) (a poet of the Heian period)
Sakagami hime 逆髪姫(神霊)
Furuya bijo 古屋美女(神霊)
Deity of hairstyle 髪の祖神

The Oji Shrine was founded in the 14th century. It is situated on a hill and from there you have a great view.
The shrine buildings of today were reconstructed after WW II.

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. Ooji Inari Jinja 王子稲荷神社 Oji Inari Fox Shrine .
1-12-26,Kishi-Machi,Kita-Ku,Tokyo / 東京都北区岸町1-12-26
This shrine was also called Kishi Inari 岸稲荷.
Once a year on January 1, the foxes from the Kanto region would pay a visit to the great fox shrine . . .

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王子製紙 Oji Paper Company
A paper-making company from the area.
Founded by Shibusawa Eiichi.

- CLICK for more photos !
Kami no Hakubutsukan 紙の博物館 Paper Museum
- reference source : ojipaper.co.jp -

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Ōji Ōgi-ya 王子扇屋 Oji, Ogiya

During the Edo period,
Ōji bustled as a tourist destination for worshipping Ōji Inari Shrine and waterfall bathing.
It is said that restaurants stood in line near the Otonashi River. Ebi-ya and Ōgi-ya, in particular, were listed in the restaurant ranking of the Edo period.
Ebi-ya was run by the brothers of Ōgi-ya, but only Ōgi-ya remains until now.
- source : Tokyo Metropolitan Library -

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. Kita ku 北区 Kita ward, "Northern Ward" .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. Japanese Architecture - The Japanese Home .

. Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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4/04/2019

Akabane Jujo Kita

The area was known for its red clay, 赤埴 aka hani, later pronounced Akabane.
赤羽 literally means "red feathers".

On the other side of the River Arakawa is 埼玉県川口市 Saitama, Yamaguchi city.

- quote
... Historically speaking, 赤羽村 Akabane Mura Akabane Village wasn’t a particularly important place, but in the Kamakura Period a highway called 岩槻街道 Iwatsuki Kaidō was built. The road is better known by its Edo Era name, 日光御成街道 Nikkō O-nari Kaidō.
あか aka means red.
はね hane is the old local dialect word for 埴 hani, clay.
The 荒川 Arakawa River apparently deposited a lot of red colored volcanic ash from Mt. Fuji here. The buildup of this material produced a red slimy, clay-like soil that was particular to the area. If an area eroded, the red clay would become exposed. Thus the area was called 赤埴 Akabani Red Clay. But in the local accent the name was pronounced Akabane. Later, as literacy rates improved in the area, the second kanji was changed to actually match the pronunciation. So 羽 hane wings was added, thus obscuring the origins of the place name as 赤羽 Akabane Red Wings. ...
Apparently, 赤羽橋 Akabanebashi (Red Wing Bridge) in Shiba (Minato Ward) has the same derivation. Archaeological findings in the postwar years confirmed the existence of medieval kilns and earthenware factories.
- source : Marky Star

武蔵言葉で「ハキ」、「ハケ」といい、赤土の露出した崖を「赤バッケ」とも呼ばれていたため、
この名前と関連するとの説もある。
- wikipedia

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Akabane - A fun and down-to-earth Tokyo neighborhood

Convenient, cheap and cheerful. That describes Akabane, a residential area on Tokyo's northern border with Saitama that has true retro charm. Popular with Tokyo's workers, the area comes alive at night when the narrow alleys around the station glow with red paper lanterns and revelers spill out of inexpensive bars and restaurants.
Close by, the town of Oji is famous for cherry blossoms in spring and hydrangeas in summer at Asukayama Park, and its spectacular New Year's Eve fox parade. Kyu-Furukawa Gardens is a popular green space nearby, with a mix of classical Japanese and European gardens surrounding a grand European mansion.
- - - Paper, foxes on parade, and massive gardens
... The area is dominated by Asukayama Park high on the hill,
- source : gotokyo.org/en... -

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. Akabanegawa 赤羽川 River Akabanegawa .
where a strong Tengu lived

Akabanebashi, Akabane-bashi bridge 赤羽橋 / Hiroshige
- CLICK for other images ! -

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Pagoda of the Zojoji Monastery and Akabane
Utagawa Hiroshige

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Akabane Hachiman Jinja 赤羽八幡神社 Shrine
4 Chome-1-6 Akabanedai, Kita / 東京都北区赤羽台4-1-6

The shrine was founded in 784 by 坂上田村麻呂 Sakanoue Tamuramaro on his way from Kyoto to subdue the rebels in Northern Japan.
. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro 坂上田村麻呂 (758 - 811) .

The main festival is in Mid-September in years with an even number, like 2018.

1225年の歴史と伝統
- HP of the shrine
- source : ak8mans.com... -

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Uhyo! Tokyo-to Kita-ku Akabane Manga ウヒョッ!東京都北区赤羽
清野とおる Seino Toru

- quote -
A non-fiction manga based on information gathered by the author Seino Toru, who lives in Akabane, in Tokyo.
He depicts the bizarre episodes through his experiences with Akabane residents who have their own criteria for happiness (such as a charismatic middle-aged homeless woman) and strange shops in the area (such as a bar which never serves customers). As a sequel to Tokyo-to Kita-ku Akabane (Akabane, Kita Ward, Tokyo), it includes episodes which were not published.
- source : archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en... -

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Juujoo, Jūjō 十条　Jujo district　
The name does now exist only in these five districts :
上十条 Kami, 一丁目 - 五丁目 first to fifth sub-district
中十条 Naka, 一丁目 - 四丁目 first to fourth sub-district
東十条 Higashi, 一丁目 - 六丁目 first to sixth sub-district
十条台 Dai, 一丁目 - 二丁目 first to second sub-district
十条仲原 Nakahara, 一丁目 - 四丁目 first to fourth sub-district

literally, "ten roads", "ten paths"

- quote -
十条 - Jūjō (10 paths)
... The village first got mentioned in 1448 in a document called 熊野寮豊嶋年貢目録 Kumano-ryō Toshima Nengu Mokuroku. This was basically the annual tax reports of the 豊嶋氏 Toshima-shi Toshima Clan. The area was rural until quite recently and for most of its life was part of 豊嶋郡 Toshima-gun Toshima District.
In the Edo Period, 豊嶋郡岩淵領十条村 Toshima-gun Iwabuchi-ryō Jūjō Mura Jūjō Village, Iwabuchi Fief, Toshima District was one of many villages on the 日光御成道 Nikkō O-nari Kaidō and the 鎌倉街道 Kamakura Kaidō. The former being the private road of the shōgun’s entourage to the funerary temples at Nikkō, the latter being the route to the ancient capital of the first shōgunate at Kamakura.
The first stab at an etymology came at the end of the Edo Period. 1804-1829 – 新編武蔵風土記稿 Shinpen Musashi Fudoki-kō New Description of the People and Lands of Musashi Province features the first extant recorded etymology. According to that book, 豊嶋清元 Toshima Kiyomoto oversaw the 勧請 kanjō ceremonial transfer of 熊野権現 Kumano Gongen from 熊野本宮大社 Kumano Hongū Taisha Kumano Grand Shrine to 王子 Ōji. In transit, the kami came to be associated with Kishū no Jūjōtōge 紀州の十条峠 a mountain pass in Kishū called Jūjō.
... In modern times, a more realistic etymology has emerged.
This one points at the 条理制 Jōri-sei Jōri System as the root of this place name. Jōri was a system of land management (or for our purposes, a measurement convention) that was common in the Heian Period.
Which brings us to the kanji.
条 jō meant “stripe, road” and 里 ri was a kind of measurement. So the jōri system described farmlands in terms of the size of certain swathes of land.
If you’ve ever seen a rice paddy, it’s essentially a shallow swamp dug into an enclosure that keeps the water from escaping. In the jōri system, 10 parallel 畦道 azemichi footpaths divided the paddies into discrete units. These footpaths used the counter for long roads, 条 jō.
Therefore, 十条 jūjō means a “field that consisted of 10 parallel footpaths.” In short, this was a huge rice growing area divided into 10 sections.
... 条 jō generally ran east to west.
- source : Marky Star -

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Jōri-sei 条理制 Jōri System, Jori system

条と里
上述の単位に区画された土地において、里の横列を「条（じょう）」、里の縦列を「里（り）」とし、任意に設定された基点から、縦方向には一条、二条、三条と、横方向には一里、二里、三里というように、明快な位置表示が可能となっていた。
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Jūjō (十条) is a working class district in Kita, Tokyo, Japan.
It is about 10 minutes north of Ikebukuro by train. It is serviced by the Saikyo Line which stops at Jūjō Station. It is particularly well known for the long serpentine shopping arcade known as Jūjō Ginza, very close to the main entrance/exit of Jūjō Station.
At first glance Jūjō seems a run-down place but a real sense of community thrives here, evidenced by the large number of traditional shops, small scale public baths (sentō) and enthusiastic festivals.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Jujo Ginza 十条銀座　A fun shopping street!

The Jujo Ginza shopping street is a long arcade shopping street that is fun to walk down.
From delicious eateries that will entice gourmet-lovers to shops with cute clothing items and convenient daily goods and even relaxing massage parlors.
You might find everything you need for your life here!
This is an introduction of this highly charming Jujo Ginza shopping street.
Lots of delicious food!
The first thing that will shock you is the number of eateries.
Not only Japanese food but also Chinese food, Western food, side dishes and sweets. There is sure to be a delicious shop that will please anyone who visits!
It's okay even if it rains!
A shopping street with kindness
- source : jujo-ginza.com/en... -
2 Chome-24 Kamijujo, Kita City

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下十条町 Shimo-Jujo machi was located in the 東京都王子区 Oji district.

. Ooji, Ōji 王子 Oji district . - Kita

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