Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Hello. I'm a new correspondent (Hannes)
March is approaching, and it is time to find "small spring".
Kikaku Takarai, a poet related to Chuo-ku, wrote about the spring (New Year) of Edo.

"There is no day when one bell can't be sold, spring in Edo"

It is said that Edo was prosperous enough to sell even the bells of temples that are not usually sold.
I can't see such a sight now, but
In Chuo-ku, there are many bells that have seen the passage of time for a long time.
This time I went to see some of those bells.

■Bell: Kokumachi The Bell of Time (5-2, Nihonbashi Kodenmacho) / Made in Japan
This bell was set up in Honishi-cho around the time of Hidetada, the second shogun, and informed people of the time of Edo Castle.
Because it was near Nagasakiya, Kawayanagi was written saying, "The bells of Kokumachi can be heard to the Netherlands."



The bell is about 170cm tall and is about the average height of an adult male.
(Speaking of about 170cm in Chuo-ku)...The iron bodhisattva head of Daikanonji has the same size. )
On New Year's Eve, you can hit this bell specially, so I'd like to hit it someday.

■Catholic Tsukiji Church (5-26 Akashicho) / Made in France
Here is a copper bell (Tangible Cultural Property inhabitant of a ward) called "JEANNE LOUISE DE YEDO" in Edo.
This bell was cast and donated in 1876.
At that time, it was in the Meiji era, and it was already renamed from "Edo" to "Tokyo".
So why was it named "Jeanne Louise of Edo" as the bell inscription says?...
The reason for this is that at the time of ordering the bell to Rennes, the name "Tokyo" was not yet fully understood.

There was an event that could be said to be the origin of the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in 1732.
The name has changed with the times, and it seems that the current name has taken root is newer than expected.
Looking at the change of the name, it is interesting to see a glimpse of the historical background and intentions.



The bell "Adelaide Josephine", which once dueted with this bell,
As Mr. Harumi Madame introduced last year.

Both bells were spared from metal offering during the Pacific War and did not become cannons.
As an aside, while Jeanne Louise remains intact to this day.
Adelaide Josephine has overcome the storms of the times.
Because the name of the French legal scholar Boissonade was engraved on the bell.
The metal supply during Pacific War was escaped, but
Once broken, it was recasted in 1957 with the donation of a believer of Sekiguchi Church.

■Peace Bell (within the median strip between Nihonbashi 3-4 and Kyobashi 1-1) / Made in the Netherlands
This bell commemorates the 380th anniversary of Osamu Nichiran in 1989.
It was established by Chuo-ku in hopes of world peace as a member of an international city.
The 26 bells are the world's largest manufacturer of Carillon Swingbels.
With more than 100 years of history and excellent technology and achievements, he was awarded the Royal title by the Royal Family of the Netherlands.
Manufactured by Royal Ai Suva Uz of the Netherlands



At 0 minutes per hour, the bell plays a song represented by the song "My Town" in Chuo-ku.
For those who are concerned about the melody, those who live far away,
Please visit the Heiwa, Chuo-ku Prayer Virtual Museum



■Bell of Ginza (Ginza Church: Ginza 4-2-1) / Made by U.K.
This is not much known compared to the above three bells,
Located on the right side of the stairs of Ginza Church,
It is a historic bell that has witnessed the change of Ginza for about 90 years since the third synagogue was built in 1928.

However, it was cast as old as 1878, and the same age as the bell of the Catholic Tsukiji Church!
Blews & Son of Birmingham has a total of 227kg.
The owner, William Bruus, remains a record as a craftsman making brass candlesticks,
It seems that the church bells were also cast, and the bells of that time remain in the home of Birmingham.
How did this church bell cross the sea?...Don't you care?



So if you look at the bell inscription, you can see words about the founders and churches, but take a closer look at lines 3 to 4.
How is it engraved with NAGASAKI JAPAN?
This will be a great clue before the bell comes to Ginza.
As a British lover, I can't withdraw here, so when I looked further, I found out the following:

In 1873 (Meiji 11), Japan's oldest Protestant seminary, which later became the Dejima Anglican Seminary, was established in Nagasaki.


(The building is shown by the red arrow. When I visited last year, I didn't know that it was related to the Ginza Church. )

At that time, the bell, which Thomas Graber specially ordered, was attached.
However, the bell fell in an earthquake that occurred in 1922....
After that, the missionary Scot bought it.

The following year, the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred and the Ginza Church was burned down....
It was revived in 1928, when the aforementioned third synagogue was completed.
At this time, the bell obtained from Scot was installed.

Finally, the relationship between Nagasaki and Ginza as seen in this bell has emerged.
Why Graver Bespokes to Bruus and Sun
It has not yet been clarified what kind of person missionary Scot was and what kind of relationship he had with the Ginza Church.
When you know the details, I will introduce them again on the blog!

■At the end
This time, we introduced the bells seen in the ward, how was it?
All the bell manufacturers are different, and I feel once again that Chuo-ku is international.
An unexpected connection with Nagasaki was also found.
As I mentioned, there are some retired bells.
If you read the history of the active era in this way, you can gradually see the background of the era at that time.
In Chuo-ku, I would be grateful if you could think that "one bell" is very interesting

[References and Websites]
"Summary of seismic activity in Nagasaki Prefecture (August 2003)" (viewed on February 16, 2019)
Tsukiji Catholic Church 100th Anniversary Magazine Editorial Committee "Tsukiji: The 100th Anniversary of the Consecration" (Tsukiji Catholic Church, 1978) ※Not for sale (you can see it at the church.)
Nagasaki Baptist Church "Recommended Walking Course - Course B: From spectacle bridge to Dejima / Oura 3" (viewed February 16, 2019)