Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

　The "Ginza willow Festival" is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year and will be held on May 5 at Nishi Ginza Street.

Walking around the city of Ginza, seeing the flag of the announcement, my heart is excited and I can't wait.

　It's one of the events I'm looking forward to every year.

Last year, 2016. It was very fun.

/archive/2016/05/may-5th-2016.html　

For details on the Ginza Yanagi Festival, please see this website.

http://www.ginza.jp/topics/7439

　"madras", a luxury shoe store in Ginza 5-chome　

The other day, when I passed in front of the store, I got a leaflet called "The Origin of the madras name".

It's not clear whether this shop or Washington shoe store was the first time I bought shoes in Ginza.

For more than 30 years, the name of this store has been questioning "Why is it the same as the name of the region in India?"

　According to the explanation of the leaflet we received,

"The origin of the madras name:

　　The history of Madras' name goes back to 1946, when Italian Valentino Picolott founded the company alone.

His company has grown to be rewarded for many years of effort and to be recognized as one of the prominent shoe companies in the home of Italy.　

The shoes that were produced in the early days were hand-sewn mochasin using high-quality kids.　This high-quality material is tanned in Italy, but the raw material was available in the Madras region of India.　It is said that the company name was given with respect and appreciation to Madras, the place where this high-quality leather is produced."

　My long-standing question was resolved and I was refreshed.　I wish you all the best for Mr. Madras.

In mid-April, I went to Hamacho Park to see Yae-zakura and other places.

If you thought it was warm this year, the cold days continued, and it rained every other day in early April, and it would have been lost if the cherry blossoms could bloom.

Because of such weather, weeping cherry tree, which usually blooms at the end of March, was still blooming, and it was a competition with Yae-zakura. The building behind is Meijiza.

　The flowers of Chuo-ku, "Azalea, Satsuki" were also beginning to bloom.　The park is decorated with beautiful flowers.

In Hamacho Park, there is a "General Sports Center", and the restaurant, Hamacho-tei, has a full menu.

　And there is Kiyomasa Koji Temple, which enshrines the Prince of Kato Kiyomasa.

According to the "Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia for Walking,"

"This place used to be the Nakayashiki of Hosokawa, Kumamoto feudal lord, and after the Kato family was destroyed, Hosokawa, who took over the Kumamoto clan, was founded in 1861 by Kumamoto Honmyoji in 1861 to enshrines Prince Kato Kiyomasa. The temple was located in the mansion, but it is said that ordinary people were allowed to worship in the Edo period. "　Recommended for a walk during the good season.

　On April 20th, "GINZA SIX" in Ginza 6-chome opened.

On April 23 (Sun), I took a walk from Ginza 8-chome and entered Ginza Six.　The order in which you ride the escalator was not as crowded as the day of opening.

However, when I arrived on the 6th floor and wanted to change to the elevator, I said, "The elevator coming down from the rooftop is waiting for 30 minutes," so I abandoned going to the rooftop.

I went around the art book & cafe/restaurant on the 6th floor.　Yayoi Kusama's red and white balloon decorated on the atrium between the 3rd and 4th floors.

It is said that the logo of "LOVE FOREVER" is drawn on the bottom. It was very nice.　I also looked around the store on the first floor.　I would like to revisit on weekdays after the major holidays in May.

A catch phrase posted on the wall of Mitsukoshi in Ginza 4-chome. "Let's love at 4-chome" is fashionable.

In the window around the building, lions are also drawn, ...

　It is a sophisticated catch phrase and window decoration. The young daughters also took pictures of "kawaii".

　When I came to Ginza 3-chome, the girls said, "Take a picture of walking in Ginza." From behind it.　When I hear the words of my hometown in Ginza, I sometimes feel relieved. It's cute.

　If you want to enjoy the pedestrian paradise slowly, it's Ginza 2 and 1-chome for a while.　

In the future, "Let's love in Ginza"

　At the intersection with Daimon Street, about 100 meters from amazake Yokocho in Ningyocho, there is Osaka Sushi Shop and Sekiyama.　For a long time, the cherry blossoms in front of this store were interested in what kind of flowers would bloom and were looking forward to it.

　In mid-April, Yae-zakura with lots of white flowers, Kazuha was in full bloom. Today, I was fascinated not only by sushi but also by Yae-zakura.

"Kazuha (Ichiyo)" is a double and light red Satozakura (oshima cherry). The pistil changes like a thin leaf (foliage), so it was named like this.

If you introduce the shop, it is a shop specializing in take-out. Various combinations of pressed sushi such as mackerel, salmon, sea bream, etc. are sold, thick rolled sushi and tea cloth sushi are sold. Please drop in once.

　I got off at Hamacho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line, and I'm looking for it today.

I visited "Yumeji Takehisa Special Gallery Minatoya Ekusa Paper Store".

When you open the glass door, you will hear a quiet voice and say "Welcome."　It's a calm and elegant voice of Kyoto language.　Mr. Takako Ohira, my wife, responded.

　Does the shop have a connection with Yumeji Takehisa? I asked, but my husband was a big fan of Yumeji Takehisa and started this shop.

Here in Hamacho, it has been more than 20 years since the store opened.

With permission, I photographed Yumeji's work in the store.　The original color printing work is very nice. Indeed, it's a Taisho Roman.

Small items such as postcards are also sold, and it is also friendly to your wallet.

It is said that a calendar of Yumeji works is released every year.

This time, it's not Yumeji's work, but I bought "Gauze Muffler".

It is similar to the pattern of a kimono that looks like a woman in the picture is wearing. How about "Gauze Muffler" that is gentle to your skin?

　The introduction of the shop can also be found in the monthly Nihonbashi, January 2017 issue, and the Free Paper Nihonbashi Goyomi April issue.

　The address of the shop is 2-18-5, Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Meijiza-mae), telephone 03-5640-5978.