Okachimachi district Taito

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Okachimachi 御徒町 Okachimachi district
Taito ward, Okachimachi , 御徒町一丁目 - 三丁目 Okachimachi first to third sub-district
仲御徒町 Nakaokachimachi 一丁目 - 仲御徒町四丁目 first to fourth sub-district.
After 1964, the area was re-distributed and is now part of
台東区台東 Taito and 東上野 Higashi-Ueno.



The name refers to the foot guards of the Shogun,
okachigumi, o-kachi-gumi 御徒組 / okachigata 御徒方.

The kachi 徒 were very low-ranking Samurai.
Their living quarters were here.
They had to look after the safety of the road when the Shogun was going out.
Many had a low income and had to work at other jobs to make ends meet.

The O-Kachi samurai were divided in various groups:
本丸15組 15 groups for the Honmaru part of Edo castle.
西ノ丸5組 5 groups for Nishi no Maru.
Each group had two leaders and about 28 members.

okachi 御徒 is also spelled 徒士.

goyoogeikoo 御用稽古 "official training" of the Ssamurai of Edo castle.
Swimming was especially taught to the elite of the groups.


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... a 徒 kachi is one of the lowest ranking samurai of the Edo Period. They were not permitted to ride horses. Until the 1800’s, they were not allowed to wear clothes with a family crest as their families were not considered successive clans. Some people draw a parallel between this rank of samurai and low level salarymen and low level management of Tōkyō – the analogy being in the type of housing and accessible neighborhoods according to their salary. This isn’t a good analogy, in my opinion, in that the samurai ranks were highly regulated by the Tokugawa Bakufu and a modern worker can marry “out of his station” or just move to the suburbs and get a bigger place. ...
... Even though these kachi were direct retainers of the shōgun, they were a kind of non-commissioned officer. They were expected to live in barracks. In many cases they wouldn’t be granted permission to live with their wives and children. In times of war, they were forbidden from marching in the vanguard. In times of peace, they were basically the white trash of Japan. They were supposedly privileged, but in reality, they were just commoners. The commoners had to show deference to them, but the rest of the samurai elite probably shat on them. ...
... the whole area from O-kachimachi to Ueno is considered the low town today. ...
- source : japanthis - Marky Star


- Other Samurai in service of Edo castle:
oobangumi 大番組　Obangumi, castle guards
onandogumi 御納戸組　keepers of the Shogun's personal stores.
Their living quarters were the
kumiyashiki 組屋敷　group residence

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Okachimachi
is an area on the JR Yamanote Line, just south of the major Ueno Station. It is one of the areas of Tokyo that is well known for its shopping and excellent range of foodie options. Expect lots of fashionable youngsters here and crowds of hungry shoppers.
- - What to eat and drink in Okachimachi
There is a shopping street in the Okachimachi area called Taito-ku’s Torigoe. This is where you must go for eating and drinking. The street features around 230 shops that sell a huge range of groceries, ready-made meals and the very traditional and well-loved okazu (sides). This is Japan, so eating on the street and walking is frowned upon, but luckily street-snacking is more than welcome here as there is a small designated rest area with tables and chairs, which is found near the middle of the street. Eat away friends. Do note that most of the shops are closed on a Sunday.
There is of course sushi
to be had in this area. Head to Ginzo Sushi for some tasty options. The atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxing with piano jazz playing and there are also smoking and non-smoking seats, which can be rare to find in Tokyo. Go for the Sakura Nigiri Set for 790 yen, which includes 8 pieces of sushi, chawanmushi (a type of savory egg custard and prawn) and a delicious miso soup. Lunch sushi sets will cost you from 790 yen up to 2,600 yen. If you’re not a sushi fan, they also have a good range of other sets which include udon, grilled fish, tempura and donburi. Great value and great choice here.
- - - What to do in Okachimachi
Ameyokocho is said to be Japan’s last black market. This little number is great for both food and shopping. It really is just a random selection of stalls here. You can see heaps of clothes racks filled with shoes and coats. At another place will see you okonomiyaki, another monja, some French and Italian cuisine here, and other types of Asian restaurants there. You can find running shoes, perfumes, toys, watched, lychees, kebabs and shaved ices all in the same vicinity—the possibilities really are endless. Go here for an interesting and ever-ending browse.
Let’s get some shoes.
Told you this area was a fashion hub. With heaps of options at this shoe haven of an area, your feet will feel fabulous at any of these Okachimachi finds. Hit AbAb for a very good summer sale with pairs of shoes being reduced from 7,000 to as a little as 1,000 yen—bargain! (Do be warned though, if you have a larger size of feet for a woman, you may struggle to find a shoe that fits in Japan!)
Located near Okachimachi Station
lies the Shitamatchi Museum. The museum displays the history and life of shitamachi (downtown). The first floor showcases the living space of shitamachi such as a merchant’s house and a row of tenement house flats. The second floor shows a range of materials that detail the history of the shitamatchi area and there is even an area where visitors can see olden-day toys.
- source : tokyocheapo ... -



. Ameyoko あめよこ (アメ横) shopping in Ueno .


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キムチ横丁 Kimchi Yokocho alley.
Near Ueno station east of Showa-dori Street is the oldest “Korean Town” in Tokyo called Kimchi Yokocho.
There are many Korean restaurants, yakiniku restaurants, and stores selling Korean food products like kimchi here. The area developed after World War II, when a number of restaurants, butcher shops, and stores selling traditional clothes opened here.
- source : authentic-tokyo .. -


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station Naka-Okachimachi eki 仲御徒町駅
This station was built in 1961.

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. Taitoo, Taitō 台東区 Taito 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 .

. 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 .


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Tabata Oji Kita

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Tabata 田端 Tabata district
Kita, Tabata 一丁目 - 六丁目 first to sixth sub-district
東田端 Higashi, 一丁目、二丁目 first and second sub-district
田端新町 Shinmachi, 一丁目 - 三丁目 first to third sub-district



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.

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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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Edo Tokyo Hyakkei 100 Views

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Edo Tokyo Hyakkei 百景 100 views of Edo / Tokyo

Maybe the most famous is
Meisho Edo Hyakkei 名所江戸百景 One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
by 歌川広重 Utagawa Hiroshige


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One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (in Japanese 名所江戸百景 Meisho Edo Hyakkei)
is a series of ukiyo-e prints begun and largely completed by the Japanese artist Hiroshige (1797–1858). The prints were first published in serialized form in 1856–59, with Hiroshige II completing the series after Hiroshige's death. It was tremendously popular and much reprinted.
- - - Full list in the WIKIPEDIA !


12 . Uenoyama Shita 上野山した / 野山志た .
37 . Sumida-gawa Hashiba no kawaragama 墨田河橋場の渡かわら竈 .
95 . Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine and Linked Bridge 真間の紅葉手古那の社継はし .
103 . Kanasugi, Mikawashima 蓑輪金杉三河しま / 箕輪　金杉　三河しま .


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Shin Tokyo Hyakkei 新東京百景 1928 - 1932



In 1928, a group of eight Japanese artists got together to produce a series of prints, called
Shin Tokyo Hyakkei, One Hundred Views of New Tokyo, New One Hundred Views of Tokyo

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Shin Tokyo Hyakkei:
The Eastern Capital Revisited by the Modern Print Artists
by James B. Austin
In his introduction to the catalogue of modern Japanese prints exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago early in 1960, Oliver Statler distinguishes four generation of sosaku hanga artists.
First came the pioneers, men such as Yamamoto Kanae and Tobari Kogan who pointed the way. Then came a second generation “who created a sound intellectual base for the movement, who fought through to recognition of their prints as serious art, and who, by their personal magnetism, attracted scores of younger artists.” This was the generation which began to reach artistic maturity in the early days of Showa. Though few of them had, at that time, achieved either the artistic freedom or personal style which was to characterize their later work, all were experimenting. Moreover, they were collectively striving to form some viable association which would solidify the movement and nurture its growth. These efforts, from the acceptance of such prints at the Government show of 1927 to the formation of the Nippon Hanga Kyokai in 1931, are described by Onchi in his Nippon Gendai Hanga (of which a partial translation in English appeared in Ukiyo-e Art, No. 11, 1965) and by Fujikake in his book, Japanese Wood-Block Prints (1938).
An interesting and revealing example of this tendency
was a group of eight artists who, in 1928, banded together to publish, over the next four years, a series of prints entitled Shin Tokyo Hyakkei (One Hundred Views of New Tokyo).
These artists were
Hiratsuka Un-ichi, Onchi Koshiro, Fukazawa Sakuichi, Kawakami Sumio, Maekawa Sempan, Fujimori Shizuo, Hemmi Takashi and Suwa Kanemori.
Hiratsuka recalls that this series was planned so that many aspects of Tokyo could be “remembered by people for a long time.” In this connection, one must keep in mind that much of Tokyo had been destroyed in the great earthquake and fire of 1923 so that the city and its life which the artists wished to depict were, in many respects, rather new.
One cannot help wondering whether they were intending, consciously or unconsciously, to record the current scene against the possibility of new disasters. They were, in a way, repeating what Hiroshige had done 75 years before in his Meisho Edo Hyakkei series.
01. HYAKKEN-TEN, SHIBUYA
13. ATAGOYAMA RADIO STATION
26. NIJUBASHI
39. BOTANICAL GARDENS, UENO
52. NIHONBASHI
64. AOYAMA CEMETARY
76. SHIBA ZOJOJI TEMPLE
89. SHIMBASHI EMBUJO
- - - - - look at the full list on this page
- source : myjapanesehanga.com/home...

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Another list of Tokyo 新東京百景一覧
compiled in 1982.
- - - List in the WIKIPEDIA !

. 73 田無山総持寺 Tanashisan Soji-Ji .



新東京百景 by 山口瞳 Yamaguchi Hitomi





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Tokyo Shitamachi Hyakkei (Japanese Edition)
by Tsuchimochi Shinji
歌川広重の「名所江戸百景」をモチーフに、東京に今なお残る下町の風景を切り取ったつちもちしんじ「下町百景」シリーズ
"100 Views of Tokyo" gets the idea from "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo", Hiroshige Utagawa’s works.
These artworks were rendered views of extant old town in Tokyo. It published on the web and created a sensation until finish in 2016. We gather these works into one book. Moreover, we added newly drawn pictures like guide maps of 3 areas in Tokyo and 5 Views of Osaka.
This book is written in Japanese and English. Therefore this is the most suitable gift from Japan or for friends in Japan.


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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 .


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Edo six Benten Shrines

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Edo hyaku Benten 江戸百弁天 100 famous Benten in Edo
. . . . . pilgrimages to Benten sanctuaries


- - - - - Benten on a dragon - - - - -


. Benten 弁天 / 辨天 / 辯天 / Benzaiten 弁財天 .
Goddess of Music, Poetry, Learning, Art
River Goddess, Patron of Children / Protector of the Nation

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Edo roku Benten 江戸六弁天 Six famous Benten in Edo

千歳 Chitose, former 本所 Honjo
一ツ目弁天　Hitotsume Benten / 江島杉山神社 Shrine Ejima Sugiyama Jinja
墨田区千歳1-8-2 Sumida ward, Chitose
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. 冬木弁天堂 Fuyuki Benten .
冬木弁天堂 Fuyuki Bentendo Hall, 宝珠山 Hoshusan
冬木辯天堂 Fuyuki Bentendo
江東区冬木22-31 Koto ward, Fuyuki - the shrine of the Fuyuki family.

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. 須崎弁天 / 州崎 / 洲崎 Suzaki / Susaki Benten .
須崎 / 州崎 / 洲崎 Suzaki / Susaki
浮弁天州崎神社 Uki Benten, Shrine Suzaki Jinja
江東区木場6-13-13 Koto ward, Kiba - Sunosaki Shrine

. 滝野川 弁天 Takinogawa Benten .
岩屋弁天 Iwaya Benten - 弁天の滝 Benten Waterfall
松橋弁天洞窟 Matsubashi Benten cave


上野 Ueno
不忍池弁天堂 Shinobazunoike, Bentendo Hall / 寛永寺 Temple Kanei-Ji
台東区上野公園２－１ Taito ward, Ueno Koen Park

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. 区余丁 Yochomachi - Nukebenten .
抜弁天厳島神社　Nuke-Benten, Itsukushima Jinja
新宿区余丁町8-5 Shinjuku, Yochomachi


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Seven Benten Shrines of Good Fortune in the Eastern Capital
(Tôto shichifuku Benten, 東都 七福弁天)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳

This series of fan prints (uchiwa) pairs beautiful women with shrines to Benten:

Asakusa chinai Rojo Benten
Asakusa chinai Tafuku Benten
Chomeiji chinai Benten
Fukagawa Hachiman shanai Benten
Fukagawa Susaki Benten
Hitotsume Benten
Shinobazu Benten

- Publisher: Ise-ya Ichiemon
- source and photos : kuniyoshiproject.com... -



- Fukagawa Susaki Benten


- Hitotsume Benten
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. Edo 江戸三十三ヶ所弁財天霊場 Pilgrimage to 33 Benten Shrines .
Established in 1780.

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江戸弁財天百社　100 Benten Shrines in Edo



Shrines 01 to 30
- reference source : ameblo.jp/ryuuren99... 留連のブログ - 01

Shrines 31 to 40
- reference source : ameblo.jp/ryuuren99... 留連のブログ - 02

Shrines 41 to 50
- reference source : ameblo.jp/ryuuren99... 留連のブログ - 03

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake .
- often associated with a Benten pond.

.................................................................................　Tokyo 東京都


The Inokashira Benten Shrine in Snow (Shatô no yuki)
Kawase Hasui 川瀬巴水 (1883 - 1957)

. Inokashira Benten pond 井の頭弁天 / 井ノ頭辨天池 .

ryuukotsu 龍骨 dragon bones
Once a young priest was cutting weeds when by mistake he cut the mouth of a small serpent in two. This small snake was in fact the dragon living in Inokashira pond, so the river out of the pond was carrying blood for three days.
The young priest died from this curse.
The top part of the serpent dragon head flowed all the way to a temple in 中野 Nakano.
The lower of the serpent dragon head is kept at the Inokashira Benten.
These bones were used for rain rituals. If it had not rained for a long time, the bones were taken outside in a special ritual - the then rain would fall!
.
bake-benten 化け弁天 monster-Benten
The 佐内家 Sanai family did not have any children. So the wife went to the Inokashira Benten to make a wish. Indeed, soon after the gave birth to a girl.
The neighbours said this was 神の申し子 a god-given child.
When the girl had grown up, the mother took the girl and both went to the Inokashira Benten to give thanks.
The girl suddenly turned crazy, went to the pond, stared into it and then was lost in the pond.


yooji 楊枝 toothpick
In the compound of the 井の頭弁天堂 Bentendo Hall at Inokashira there was yanagi 柳 an old willow tree.
The toothpicks for the third Shogun Iemitsu have been made from its branches.
. Legends from 吉祥寺村 Kichijojimura village .


.................................................................................　Hachijoo, Hachijō machi 八丈町 Town with 8 Jo
Hachijoojima 八丈島 Hachijo Island

daija 大蛇 huge serpent
On 八丈島 Hachijo Island there was a swamp and a huge serpent was the master of it.
At night it came to the village to kidnap women or cows and threaten the villagers.
Then came 為朝 Tametomo and killed the huge serpent.
He cut it into eight parts of about ichi joo 1丈 3 m each, hence the name of the island, hachi joo 八丈 Eight Jo.
The pond became red with blood and was called アカミショー （赤み沢）Akamisho.
To appease the sould of the serpent, a sanctuary of Benten was erected.
A retainer of Tametomo, 忠次郎 Chujiro, was killed in the event and is now venerated as チュージョー様 Chujo sama.


Tametomo Jinja 為朝神社 Tametomo Shrine
at 東京都八丈町大賀郷大里

. Minamoto no Tametomo 源為朝 (1139 – 1170) .
(also known as Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo (鎮西 八郎 為朝)
After the Hōgen Rebellion,
the Taira cut the sinews of Tametomo's left arm, limiting the use of his bow, and then he was banished to the island of Ōshima in the Izu Islands. Tametomo eventually killed himself by slicing his abdomen, or committing seppuku.
- quote wikipedia -
23 legends to explore


.................................................................................　Hachioji 八王子市

tatsu 竜 dragon，hakuja 白蛇 white serpent
大谷弁天 Otani Benten is known for its power to help women.
One day a woman came to make a wish, and when the wish was granted she came back to the Shrine to express her gratitude.
Suddenly it became cloudy and dark. From the 弁天池 Benten Ike pond at the side of the Benten Shrine a dragon came out and ascended to heaven. On the way he began to make painful sounds and fell down.
A lightning struck 大松 the great pine tree. The large tree split into three and out of it came a white serpent of about 60 cm. It burst into white powder and fell dead.


the Bentenike pond

. ryuu, ryū 龍　tatsu 竜　と伝説　Ryu - dragon legends .



.................................................................................　Hoya 保谷市

bake Benten 化け弁天 monster-Benten
Once upon a time
near the 駒止橋 / 駒留橋 Komadomebashi bridge a rather wicked Benten was venerated.
If someone passed the bridge, disrespectfully riding his horse, he would fall down.
Sometimes wicked young men wearing woman's headgear came to behave badly.
If a procession with a bride passed the bridge, the wedding would not go well, so nobody even tried to do that.



- quote

東両国の駒留橋 at Komatodomebashi, Eastern Ryogoku / Aoyanagi 青柳 Restaurant
広重 Hiroshige
- source : ndl.go.jp/landmarks

Komadome Hachiman Jinja 駒留八幡神社
5 Chome-35 Kamiuma, Setagaya, Tokyo


.................................................................................　Minato 港区

. kitsune 狐 the fox from temple 増上寺 Zojo-Ji .


.................................................................................　Nishi-Tama district 西多摩郡

daija 大蛇 huge serpent
In 桧原村 Hinohara village in 1868, there was クヨ(鉄砲水) a great flooding and a young wife was washed away. A diviner told the family:
"The young wife is at the pond 長峰の池 Nagamine no Ike.
When they went to look for her, she had changed into a huge serpent and lived in the pond. The family built a small sanctuary in the back of their estate and venerated the soul of the woman.
The sanctuary is called Hebigami sama 蛇神様 Serpent Deity and sometimes 弁天様 Benten sama

There is a pond Nagamine in Niigata.
. . . CLICK here for Photos of the pond!


.................................................................................　Ogochi mura 小河内村

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .
More than 500 years ago, a young man from the village had fallen in love with お里 O-Sato, but the lord of 弁天島 Benten Island, a Tengu, also loved O-Sato.
O-Sato had fallen in love with a young Samurai and the angry Tengu produced a huge flood to wash the Samurai away. O-Sato became a nun. She got healing power and a 霊泉 healing well from Benten sama and begun to heal people. They say she was an incarnation of Benten herself.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -


. Benten 弁天と伝説 Legends about Benten .

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

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

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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Ueno Taito ward

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. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
- Shinobazu no Ike Pond, see below
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Ueno 上野 Ueno district
Taito ward

- quote -
... best known as the home of Ueno Station and Ueno Park.
Ueno is also home to some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Science Museum, as well as a major public concert hall. Many Buddhist temples are in the area, including the Bentendo temple dedicated to goddess Benzaiten, on an island in Shinobazu Pond. The Kanei-ji, a major temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, stood in this area, and its pagoda is now within the grounds of the Ueno Zoo. Nearby is the Ueno Tōshōgū, a Shinto shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. Ameyoko あめよこ (アメ横) Ueno .

. Kuromoncho 黒門町 Kuromon district .

. Okachimachi 御徒町 Okachimachi district .

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Uenosakuragi cho 上野桜木町 Uenosakuragi district "Ueno Cherry Trees"
上野桜木一丁目, 上野桜木二丁目 first and second sub-district
The former name was 下谷桜木町 Shitaya Sakuragi

. Kaneiji 寛永寺 Temple Kanei-Ji .
in 東京都台東区上野桜木一丁目
Kanei-Ji has many sub-temples in the area.

- quote -

Ueno Sakuragi Atari is a collection of shops and community rooms, housed in 3 buildings from 1938, bringing the Old Tokyo feel to life. It is located in the Ueno Sakuragi area, just south of Yanaka Cemetery and north of Ueno park.
It is nice to see all the initiatives in Tokyo to protect and renovate older buildings. In the Yanaka neighbourhood, we have SCAI The Bath House opening in 1993, Hagiso in 2013 and this Ueno Sakuragi Atari building complex in 2015, which consists of three houses built in 1938. They have been renovated into shops and community spaces that can be used for events.
These buildings are a perfect example of the building style in the 1930s, with Japanese shikkui plaster walls (ecological nontoxic Japanese lime plaster) and with both Western and Japanese style rooms. Two of the buildings were specifically designed to offer panoramic views over the interior (formerly private) garden.
What makes this place special is that you can experience some traditional buildings that are actively being used, out in the open, for the community and the visitor to use. There are many old houses all over Japan that are turned into museums.
- source : old-tokyo.info/ueno-sakuragi ... -

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上野山した」 Uenoyama Shita
歌川広重 Utagawa Hiroshige 名所江戸百景 Meisho Edo Hyakkei

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. Kawase Hasui 川瀬巴水 (1883 - 1957) .
woodblock prints


清水堂 Ueno Kiyomizudo



上野東照宮 Snow at Toshogu in Ueno

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Shinobazu no Ike 不忍池 Shinobazu Pond
- quote -
... a pond within Ueno Park (a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taitō, Tokyo, Japan), and a historically prominent Shitamachi feature often appearing in history and works of art. The park occupies the site of the former Kanei-ji, a temple closely associated with the Tokugawa shōguns, who had built it to guard Edo Castle against the northeast, a direction believed to be unlucky by traditional geomancy. The temple was destroyed during the Boshin War. The pond, although modified many times and even once drained, is natural.
... Situated in the south of Ueno Park, the pond is divided in three sections (see map), one called
Lotus Pond (蓮の池 Hasu no Ike) because of the plants that during the summer completely cover its surface, one called
Boat Pond (ボートの池 Bōto no Ike) from the rental boats it hosts, and the third called
Cormorant Pond (鵜の池 U no Ike), which lies within the limits of the Ueno Zoo and takes its name from the birds that inhabit it.
- - - Origin of the name
According to the stone inscription on Benten Island, the area between the Ueno Plateau and the Hongo Plateau used to be called Shinobugaoka (忍ヶ丘), and the pond just took its name from it, but there are alternative theories.
According to one, the early name Shinowazu (篠輪津 Shino wa zu) due to the presence of bamboo grass later turned into Shinobazu.
Another claims the name comes from the habit of young men and women to meet secretly here.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


Rainy Night at Shinobazu Pond / Misty Evening at Shinobazu Pond
Shiro Kasamatsu

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Flower Viewing at Shinobazu Pond
『江戸名所図会』 不忍池 蓮見

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Shinobazu no Ike, Pond in Ueno
Odano Naotake”Toeizan Shinobazuike”（1770s）
Akita Museum of Modern Art
. Akita ranga 秋田蘭画 Paintings from the Akita school .

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江戸高名会亭尽　下谷広小路 Shitaya Hirokoji
歌川広重 Utagawa Hiroshige

In front of the temple Kanei-Ji were many shopping areas and restaurants.
From a restaurant where Shinobazu Pond can be seen, people eating
. hasumeshi 蓮飯 special lotus rice .
and other lotus dishes

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Shinobazu no ike no rakugan 不忍池の落雁
geese alighting at Shinobazu Pond

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿

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Ueno Yamashita 上野山下

Located around today's Ueno Station, Ueno Yamashita was one of Edo's entertainment districts
that developed from the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
The earliest entertainment district in Japan was 両国界隈 the area around Ryōgoku,
and this was then followed by 浅草寺界隈 the Sensō-ji Temple neighborhood,
上野山下 Ueno Yamashita, and 江戸橋広小路 Edobashi Hirokōji.
The area was extremely lively with street performers gathering and show tents being set up,
and people would flock to the area all year round.
. source : Tokyo Metropolitan Library .

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. Legends from Shinobazu Pond .

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- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

. Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 - in Edo .

夕涼や草臥に出る上野山
yuusuzu ya kutabire ni deru Ueno yama

evening cool--
weariness sets in
on Ueno Hill
Tr. David Lanoue

. yuusuzumi 夕涼み enjoy a cool evening breeze .
- - kigo for summer - -

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. Taitoo, Taitō 台東区 Taito Ward .

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

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Japanese Architecture - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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- - - - - ###ueno #uenopark #uenoyama #shinobazu #shinobazunoike #kuromoncho #uenosakuragi #Sakuragi-cho #sakuragicho- - - -
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Kawase Hasui Painter

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. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
. Persons and People of Edo - Personen .
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Kawase Hasui 川瀬巴水 (1883 - 1957)

- quote
He was one of the most prominent print designers of the shin-hanga ("new prints") movement.
..... Style
Kawase worked almost exclusively on landscape and townscape prints based on sketches he made in Tokyo and during travels around Japan. However, his prints are not merely meishō (famous places) prints that are typical of earlier ukiyo-e masters such as Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Kawase's prints feature locales that are tranquil and obscure in urbanizing Japan.
Hasui
considered himself a realist and employed his training in Western painting in his compositions. Like Hiroshige he made travel and landscape prints, though his subjects were less known locations rendered with naturalistic light, shade, and texture, without the captions and titles that were standard in prints of Hiroshige's age.
Kawase
left a large body of woodblock prints and watercolors. Many of the watercolors are linked to the woodblock prints, he also produced oil paintings, traditional hanging scrolls and a few byōbu (folding screens).
In the West,
Kawase is mainly known as a Japanese woodblock printmaker. He and Hiroshi Yoshida are widely regarded as two of the greatest artists of the shin-hanga style, and are known especially for their landscape prints.
- source : wikipedia




. . . CLICK here for Photos　 !

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Tokyo Juni Dai 東京十二題 / Tôkyô jûnidai
Twelve Scenes of Tōkyō / Twelve Views of Tokyo / (1919–1921)
Tokyo Niju Kei / Tokyo Nijukkei 東京二十景 Twenty Views of Tokyo

The twelve views are produced in more subdued colors and often feature people who live in this area.


. Akashi 明石町 .
- hokakebune 帆かけ舟 boat with high sail - Akashi bay
12 - full moon at Akashi bay
- Akashi 明石町乃雨後 Akashi after the rain /20


. Arakawa Satsuki ame 五月雨（荒川) May Rain Arakawa .
Early Summer Rain, Arakawa River (1932) (Samidare (Arakawa)
20

. Atagoyama in spring 春のあたご山　Haru no Atagoyama .
12

. Daikongashi no asa 大根河岸の朝 Morning at Daikon Gashi / Daikon-gashi .
12 / 20

. Edogawa - Yuki no Edogawa 雪の江戸川　- Evening Snow at Edo River .

. Fukagawa Kaminohashi　深川上の橋　Kami no Hashi, Bridge over the Fukagawa .
20

. Ikegami 池上本門寺の塔 Honmonji Temple at Ikegami .
- Honmonji Temple in Snow / Pagoda

. Inokashira 井の頭 .
Inokashira 井の頭の残雪　Snow at Inokashira
The Inokashira Benten Shrine in Snow (Shatô no yuki)

. Kiba no yuugure 木場の夕暮れ Dusk at Kiba, Twilight at Kiba .

. Kiyosu Bridge 清洲橋 Kiyosubashi Bridge . - Koto ward

. Komagata kashi, Komagatagashi 駒形河岸 Komagata embankment .
12 Komagata-gashi

. Magome no tsuki 馬込の月　Moon at Magome .
- - - - - Moon at Umagome 20

. Mukôjima, yuki no Mukoojima 雪の向島 Snow at Mukojima .

. Ochanomizu in Snow　お茶の水 .
20

. Sakuradamon 桜田門 Sakurada Gate .
20

. Sannoo - Hie Jinja 日枝神社 Sanno 山王 .
samidare furu Sanno　五月雨ふる山王 After Rain at Sanno Shrine

. Sekiyado 雪の関宿 Snow in Sekiyado .

. Sensoku ike / Senzoku ike 千束池 Senzokuike pond .

Shiba 芝増上寺 Snow at Shibazojoji Temple

Shinagawa oki 品川沖 Bay off Shinagawa

. Shinkawa - yoru no Shinkawa 夜の新川 / 夜乃新川　Shinkawa at night .
12

. Shirahige - Yuki no Shirahige 雪の白ひげ / 白鬚 Shirahige in the snow. .
12

. Terajima mura 寺嶋村 / 寺島村 .
Terashima - yuki ni kure no Terashima mura 雪に暮れる寺嶋村　 Evening Snow at Terashima Village / Terajima in Snow
Yuki ni ?Kururu (fururu), Terashima-mura)　寺島
12 / 20

. Toyama no hara　/ Toyama-no-hara 戸山の原 Toyama plain .
東京都新宿区中央部　・ 戸山ヶ原 Toyamagahara

Tsukijima - Snow at Tsukijima
20

. Ueno 上野 .
上野清水堂 Ueno Kiyomizudo in snow
上野東照宮 Snow at Toshogu
上野春の夕 Evening Glow at Toshogu

. Yaguchi 矢口 - 矢ノ口 Yaguchi .
kumoribi no Yaguchi 曇り日の矢口 Cloudy Day at Yaguchi / 12 views and 20 views

. Yotsuya 四谷 / 四ッ谷 Misty Morning at Yotsuya Mitsuke .


Some of the places listed above might belong to different series.

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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 .


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