Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog archive

Hello. This is a new correspondent, Hanes.
In mid-February, I heard that there was a special exhibition that I could not miss for British lovers.
I went to a very quaint gallery in Ginza.
The gallery is a senior correspondent Gimini. ☆Mr. Cricket (2016, 2017, 2018) and Mr. Usako of Tsukuda have also been introduced.
MUSEE GINZA was created by preserving and regenerating modern architecture (retro building) built in 1932!


The entrance is on the left side.

The details of the building itself can be found in the article by Usako Tsukuda, so this time I omitted it.
I would like to introduce you from the places you care about inside the building.

■Entrance to stairs
First of all, press the intercom to open the door.
On the left side of the door is the Palnas Vienna interior, filled with the charm of the Vienna Separation, displayed in the showcase.
And on the wall next to the elongated stairs that stretches in front,
It is decorated with postcards (Sansanmabori, Cafe-Heyday, Occupation Ginza, etc.) that show the state of Ginza for the 90 years that this building has walked.
Each time you climb the stairs, rare historical materials make time slip.



Also, because it is a building in the early Showa era, I found an old Kyobashi Tax Corporation Member Securities in the middle of the stairs!
There are several buildings built in Ginza at the same time.
Even though the exterior is retro, there may not be much left from the time.
Therefore, these casual things are actually rare.



■Observation and Experimental Space
When I visited the gallery, there was a customer who had an aesthetic eye.
We had you show the rooftop before the exhibition.



Normally, the rooftop of buildings is not open to the public.
It seems that installations and performances are also experimentally performed here.
It is a valuable spot where you can see Showa-dori from an open space.



■Special exhibition "The World of British Theater Architecture THE WORLD OF BRITISH THEATER"
After enjoying the rooftop for a while, go to the long-awaited exhibition.
In this exhibition, we will focus on the goodness and historical axis of British theater architecture that flourished at the West End.
On display are 16 copperplate prints excerpted from ancient books that convey its history (published in the early 19th century).


(Photo courtesy of MUSEE GINZA_KawasakiBrand Design)

The British theater, which is the theme this time, has been updated with the times.
Young people in Japan also visit theaters.
It can be said that traditional Japanese performing arts still have little support from the younger generation.

In addition, it is difficult to use old buildings that have once finished their role in Japan as they are.
It is often demolished and reborn as a new building.
However, Rikihiro Kawasaki, who bought this building, updated the architectural space like the British theater.
We have succeeded in preserving and regenerating the building by giving a new role by taking advantage of the land of Ginza.

In this way, this exhibition is linked to Mr. Kawasaki's idea of preserving the building.
It is said that it is actually used at the subway station in London for this exhibition.
We obtained Stair Nosings (Stair Nosings) from AATi in the United Kingdom, which will be adopted for the first time in Japan, as a custom order after six months of negotiations.
I was surprised because it was installed on the stairs by myself.
This may be because it was originally a construction company in Kyushu.
This hardware is often used in British theater architecture, and one of the highlights is the attention that shines in such details.



And I'm interested in the exhibition, as shown in the figure below (The New Theatre Royal in Hay Market in 1821).
Some of them have a gorgeous and glittering British theater, but that's not the only one!


(Photo courtesy of MUSEE GINZA_KawasakiBrand Design)

You can see the uniqueness of the era, British culture, and architectural elements everywhere in the illustrations, so your imagination just expands.
For example, this illustration depicting the choir of St Saviour's (January 1, 1814 Robert Wilkinson published).
I get the impression that the clear hymn is echoing throughout the church, but if you look closely at the details, you will find it even more interesting.


(Photo courtesy of MUSEE GINZA_KawasakiBrand Design)

(The upper part of the photo) Near the ceiling of the pointed arch, which is unique to the Gothic style, is decorated like roses. ：You can see ribs (reinforcement members provided at key points such as board materials to increase the strength of steel structures, and decorations attached to intersections of "ribs").



(Lost left in the photo) Sculpture decoration like an angel
(lower right of the photo) like the Royal Standard

I will omit the details, but in English church architecture, in addition to the distinctive style and stained glass, which are often seen in the eyes.
In this detail, "What is this?" There are charms such as "I'm worried!"

And Mr. Kawasaki says, the most pessimistic work in this exhibition is.
It depicts Drury Lane Theatre, which was fired on the night of February 24, 1809.
At times when evacuation methods and time required for fire extinguishing were different from modern times....
How did the people around you evacuate and what kind of sight did you see?...
I think you can know that from this illustration.


(Photo courtesy of MUSEE GINZA_KawasakiBrand Design)

The old books handled this time were published by the publisher of Robert Wilkinson (1768-1825), who created the map.
Check not only the illustrations depicting the theater, but also the map.
You can see the records of the fire and where and what occupations lived, so it's interesting to see it.


(A PLAN OF THE FIRE IN BISHOPGATE STREET, part of CORNHILL AND LEADENHALL STREET.)

And this exhibition can also be purchased!
Unlike ordinary antique illustrations, it can be purchased at a very affordable price.
It's also surprising that three illustrations were sold only on the day of the visit.


(Photo courtesy of MUSEE GINZA_KawasakiBrand Design)

I can't introduce all the works on this blog.
You can see old British illustrations that you don't usually see easily.
It's also nice to be able to shoot in the gallery like a British museum.

<Aside> Adolf Loos
Designed by Loth, famous for "art is guilt" (i.e., "progress in culture is to eliminate decoration from daily necessities"), Cafe Muséum is characterized by simple interiors.
The gallery also displays a rare chair with a design similar to the Muzeum chair that was there (available).
This Loth's thought sounds somewhat radical,
It was so simple that some buildings were pointed out by the authorities because they were too simple....
But he later became a pioneer in Modernism architecture, and now he has become Vienna as a representative of the architectural world.

I'm not very familiar with art, but I saw a chair about this cafe Museum.
I feel like I was able to understand a little bit about MUSEE GINZA's vision and stance.
As I mentioned earlier, it is difficult to enter a gallery that does not face the road surface.
I think there are times when I don't notice what is happening in the first place.

However, as you can see in the gallery name, you feel like going to MUSEE (Museum).
I felt like it was an open space where everyone could enjoy art.
And the uniqueness of “MUSEE (Museum)” that appeals to the sensitivity of visitors is the essence of “MUSEE” that appeals to visitors.
It is an art-sensitive land called Ginza, which is embodyed while being updated!

This exhibition, which the owner Kawasaki was particular about, will be held until March 17th.
Please drop in if you are near you.

■MUSEE GINZA Special Exhibition "The World of British Theater Architecture THE WORLD OF BRITISH THEATER"
Venue: MUSEE GINZA (Kawasaki Brand Design Building, 1-20-17 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Date: February 6 (Wednesday)-March 17 (Sunday), 2019 11:30-17:30
Closed: Mon/Tues
Admission fee: Free of charge
Official Website: https://kawasaki-brand-design.com/

※We have received permission for photography and introduction from MUSEE GINZA Kawasaki Brand Design Co., Ltd.

 

 

In two times, we are going to go around "the street with the era" passing through Chuo-ku.
In the previous article, we introduced "Heisei-dori" and "Showa-dori".
Today, I would like to go back to the past.
　
■No. 3 Taisho-dori

By the way, the era before the Heisei and Showa eras is "Taisho era", but unfortunately, the name of "Taisho era street" does not exist in Tokyo.
...However, before the war, there was a street named "Taisho-dori".

And the street passes through Chuo-ku!　Click here for the details.

The current name is different, but before the war it was called "Taisho-dori" or "Main Line No. 2".

In the previous article, we introduced that "Showa-dori" was planned as a symbol road for reconstruction after the Great Kanto Earthquake, but in fact, this Showa-dori is "Main Line No. 1".
In contrast to Showa-dori, which runs north and south through Tokyo, Taisho era-dori (main line No. 2) was planned as another symbol road that runs east and west through Tokyo.

Taisho-dori, which connects Shinjuku to Ryogokubashi, is located near the northernmost tip of the ward in Chuo-ku, passing around Bakurocho and Higashinihombashi.
It is 36 meters wide and is less than Showa-dori, but it is a very wide street.
After the war, the Yasukuni Shrine was built near Kudanzaka along the roadside, and Taisho era-dori changed its name to "Yasukuni Dori" and continues to this day. The name of "Taisho-dori" is not currently used, but the street itself is still active.

　

■Extra 1 “Meiji Dori”

Since it dates back to Heisei, Showa, and Taisho eras, the next is "Meiji-dori St."
Meiji-dori St. in Tokyo starts at Furukawabashi (Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku), passes through the three major subcenters of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, and passes through the bases of the outer edge of the city center such as Oji, Minowa, and Kameido. It is a street that connects to the island of Koto-ku.
In other words...From Chuo-ku, it is a route that connects the outside in a ring, and unfortunately does not pass in Chuo-ku.

The photo shows the Meiji-dori St. near the Jingumae intersection in Shibuya-ku. According to one theory, it is said that it passed near Meiji-jingu Shrine and became the name of Meiji Dori.
In addition, this road, like Showa-dori and Taisho-dori, is based on the reconstruction city plan after the Great Kanto Earthquake, and is positioned as "No. 5".

　

■Part 4 "Meijiza Street"
Well, unfortunately, "Meiji-dori St." did not pass through Chuo-ku....、
Is there any other street in the ward with "Meiji"?...When I searched desperately, I found one!
The name is "Meijiza-dori".

Meijiza, located in Nihonbashihamacho, is a theater with a long history that opened in 1873 as Kishoza. After that, it was renamed "Hisamatsu-za" and "Chitose-za", and in 1893 (Meiji 26), it became the current name "Meijiza". (The frequent problem of Chuo-ku sightseeing certification!)
On the south side of Meijiza, there is a row of ginkgo trees, which is also the entrance to Hamacho Park, but this street is Meijiza Street. The name of the street extends beyond Kiyosubashi Street to Hamacho Ryokudo Park, leading to amazake Yokocho.

This row of ginkgo trees is lonely at this time, but it is very beautiful in autumn.
By the way, this "Meijiza-dori" is a two-way road across a row of trees, but it is rare in Japan and is somehow on the right side. Maybe you can enjoy a little foreign feeling. It's also true.

　

■Extra 2 "Edo-dori St."
That's why I was able to find the streets of Heisei, Showa, Taisho era, and Meiji in Chuo-ku, despite some twists. Finally, I would like to introduce another street in the extra edition.
　　
If you call it "● era" in the textbook of history instead of the era, one before Heisei, Showa, Taisho era, and Meiji era is "Edo era".
In fact, "Edo-dori St." also runs in Chuo-ku!

Divided from Chuo-dori at Muromachi 3-chome, proceeded northeast in the ward, crossed Asakusabashi, entered Taito Ward, and ran parallel to the Sumida River to Asakusa, passing through the area that was the first city area of Edo. It is a wonderful street with a place where you can see the Tokyo Sky Tree in the back.

　
I tried to map the positional relationship of Chuo-ku, as I introduced in the previous article and this article.
(created by the author using the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's “National Land Price Information” administrative area data and road data.)

In Chuo-ku, from Edo to Heisei, we found that the names of various eras were street names.
In the previous article, I wrote that the origin of "Heisei-dori" is unknown, but the name of "Heisei-dori" was set in 1989, and there is a theory that it may be derived. Can you make a street with the new era somewhere? While expecting, it may be a good memorial to go around the street with the name of the era and era in the last spring of Heisei!

 

 

This is a new correspondent Harumi Madam.

Today is the retro building "Yamani Shoken".

One day when the sightseeing test approached, I checked with my feet and eyes the armor bridge and the shipping bridge, which are always confused among me (laughs).

I walked around the Kabuto-cho area. I found a retro building

This building, which feels like history, and the logo on the glass is also tasteful.

The building was completed in 1936 by the reconstruction of the earthquake. It seems to be a "Spanish-style office building" by architect Koji Nishimura. The first floor is stone-pasteed, the second floor is tiles, and it is not shown here. 。 。

The roof tiles are made of Spanish tiles.

Yamani Shoken, a securities company that works in such a wonderful company building, is a long-established securities company founded in 1911.

Originally called Kataoka Tatsujiro Shoten, it became the current company name from Yamanikataoka Shoten.

One of the four major securities companies in the past. If you want to grow as large as Yamaichi Securities (established in 1897, closed in 1997), it is a name named after it.

One of the customers of Yamaji, who can be managed firmly, was that great writer Kafu Nagai.

Now that the Heisei era is about to end, one building will connect with various historys. 。

The neighborhoods of Kayabacho and Kabuto-cho are also remarkably redevelopment. However, I would like you to keep such a historic building for a long time.

 

 

Just a short distance from the station in Kodemmacho, there is a cafe called Harritz. It is a shop where you can enjoy freshly baked additive-free doughnuts, sandwiches, and coffee, and is originally a popular shop in Yoyogiuehara. The Kodemmacho store opened last year. What I recommend at this shop anyway?

Limited drink for each season!

The image is a mint chocolate from the previous series, and it was a healing drink where you can slowly see the colors mixed together as well as refreshing and delicious. Right now↓

It's rose chocolate. It has a strong rose flavor and is not too sweet and gentle to remind you of spring.

There are many fans in the beautiful, original and healthy limited drinks, and I'm really looking forward to what the next series will be.

There are a wide variety of donuts, rice-based sandwiches are also substantial, and the price is reasonable. The inside of the store is calm and the toilet is spacious and beautiful (important!) 。

There is a free paper called Harritsu, which is also a very interesting content.

Click here for the official website. →　haritts donuts & coffee

[Tue-Saturday] 9:30-17:30 (for the time being)　
[Closed holiday] Sunday and Monday
9-2, Nihonbashi-Daidenmacho, Chuo-ku Blanton University Temmacho 1st floor

 

 

This project is also intended to walk along the ruins of a river that existed in Chuo-ku.

Kaedegawa is said to have been the coastline at the time of Tensho 18 (1590), when Ieyasu Tokugawa entered Edo.

After that, the remaining soil for the construction of Edo Castle was reclaimed offshore of Kaedegawa to create the Hatchobori area. Kaedegawa was reclaimed in 1960 and is now reborn as the Metropolitan Expressway.

On the Kaede River, the Kaede River was the Kabutobashi Kaiunbashi Chiyodabashi Shinbabashi Kuyasubashi Matsuhatabashi Danshobashi bridge. Unfortunately, Kabuto Bridge and Kaiunbashi Bridge have been abolished, but other bridges still exist, so it can be said that it is a relatively familiar river trace?

Start near the diversion point of the Nihonbashi River (Kabutobashi Ruins) and aim for the Dansho Bridge in front of the junction of Sakuragawa and Kyobashi Rivers.

There is Kabuto Shrine on the right bank of Kaedegawa River. It was Edobashi Junction on the company.

I also photographed the famous Kabutoiwa. In the past, there was Eiichi Shibusawa's residence on the right side of this helmet shrine. Near this area was the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the birthplace of postal mail (Nihonbashi Post Office), and the area was full of highlights.

When I took a picture of the road sign casually in the lower direction, I noticed that the building that came into the background had a sense of sight, and when I checked the building name, I was surprised that it was "Nihonbashi Diamond Building". It was the Nihonbashi Diamond Building (former Mitsubishi Warehouse Edobashi Warehouse Building) designated as Historic buildings, Tokyo. If you think about it, Edobashi is ahead of your eyes and nose, and it is natural to say that it is natural, but it was a good discovery with a clear positional relationship.

Then, let's proceed along Momiji Street toward Shipping Bridge.

There were two main pillars and an explanation board on the shipping bridge.

You can see the word "June 2,535 BC".

At the end of the shipping bridge, there is the birthplace of the bank (Mizuho Bank Kabuto-cho Branch).

On the wall of Mizuho Bank, there was a "Kabuto-cho History Map", which was a nearby guide.

And it is Chiyodabashi that crosses Eitai-dori St... Chiyodabashi, which was newly built in 1928, can be seen from the side that the abutment and girder still exist. There are main pillars, sleeve pillars, and sleeve railings left.

"Pop-Pop-Pop-Pop"

When I went down the left bank of the Kaede River downstream, I heard the unique sound of Gagaku.

What is it? Is this the first noon festival on February 22? No, the first noon of this year is February 2 ...

The first day festival was held at Ohara Inari Shrine. In the lunar calendar, two noon was February 22nd, but I did not know why it was February 22nd, but looking at the priest's performance of felicitation, I thought I had been praying for the safety and prosperity of the neighborhood near Kaedegawa since the Edo period. I felt that I wanted to convey such good old customs and customs to the next generation, no longer in the future, and carefully.

Take the central police station to the left and proceed downstream along the ruins of Kaedegawa. In one corner of this central police station, there is an explanation monument of "Tokyo Metropolitan Momijigawa High School Site". At Nihonbashi Fire Station, Sakamotocho Park, and Sakamoto Elementary School, go downstream along the Kaedegawa Ruins.

The next Shinba Bridge was under construction and was closed to vehicles, but people can freely come and go on the sidewalk. A new fish market was established on this riverbank, and it seems that it became a new place from a new appetizer.

And it is Kuyasu Bridge that crosses Yaesu Street. Originally located in front of the Matsudaira Ecchu Mamoru House, it was also called Ecchu Bridge after that. After the Meiji Restoration, it was changed to Kuyasu Bridge by the Tokyo prefectural government. Hashizume Square is maintained as Kaedegawa Kuyasubashi Park. You can see people like nearby office workers taking a break or taking a break in the smoking space.

The next bridge is Takarabashi. On the right bank of the Ho-Hashigami style, there is Ho-jizoson. It is said that this Jizo-son was set up for the memorial service of children who died after the war in Kaedegawa. The name of the bridge comes from "Takaramachi, Kyobashi-ku".

And it's Matsuhatabashi. There are highways running above and below at Takarabashi, Matsuhatabashi, and Danshobashi.

Matsuhatabashi has a feeling of oppression. Then, the name of the bridge was derived from the bridge that spans Takashiro-cho (Hatchobori side) and Motomokuzaicho (Kyobashi River), but one character from Matsuyamachi (Hatchobori side) in the neighboring town and Inabacho (Kyobashi River) in the neighboring town It seems that Matsuhata Bridge was taken one by one. In the old days, it was also called Matsuya Bridge.

And we aim for the end of this city walk Bansho Bridge. The photo on the left is a picture of Dansho Bridge from Matsuhata Bridge. It is Dansho Bridge that crosses Kajibashi Street. Hashizume Square of Dansho Bridge was also maintained as Kaedegawa Danshobashi Park.

The current Dansho Bridge was bridged slightly upstream from the original Dansho Bridge in 1926. Therefore, for a while, there were two real Bansho Bridges, and the downstream bridge was called the former Dansho Bridge.

What a miniature replica of the former Dansho Bridge was on display.

Dansho Bridge has been here many times in the past, but ashamed, I didn't know the existence of this replica until today. Even the chrysanthemum crest was faithfully reproduced.

I can't do this...

Then, after all, I decided to go to Koto-ku to see the real thing.

Located behind Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Koto-ku, it was maintained as a park.

Moto Dansho Bridge is Japan's oldest iron bridge, mainly made of iron, and is designated as a national important cultural property. The current bridge name is Hachiman Bridge.

The weather was good, but I was the only one who was visiting.

In short, in the Edo period, Kaedegawa developed as a cornerstone of logistics connecting the Nihonbashi River and the Sakuragawa and Kyobashi Rivers, and people lived around the river and built a town, merchants and shrines, and even in Meiji period, banks and post offices were quickly built and were central to the economy. Even in such a modern age, it was very good to be able to rediscover good old customs.

Now, I'll end this city walk with photos taken from Shinbabashi at the end.

Left: Masonry that looks like a revetment of the Kaede River

Right: Nihonbashi Diamond Building Seen from Shinba Bridge

 

 

　Ginza Wako's show window announced that the Tokyo Marathon will be held on March 3.

In addition, the message in the guide said, "It's not just a number. TIME IS WHAT I AM. "

　And some of the figures in the record were shown.

This is the World Record World Record World Record for Marathons because it is WR.

This is a new world record marked by Eli Ud Kipchoge (Kenya) at the Berlin Marathon held on September 16, 2018.

Next is the National Record of Japan because there is NR.

This is a record of the "Chicago Marathon" held in the United States in October 2018 by a Japanese player Suguru Osako.

At present, the Japanese record for the Tokyo Marathon is 2 hours 6 minutes 11 seconds, which was updated by Yuta Shitara in February 2018.

There were other figures in the record.　Let's enjoy the Tokyo Marathon with reference to the numbers in numerous records.

We hope that all players participating in the Tokyo Marathon will be able to achieve the results of their daily practice in production. And I support you to update your records.