The center of commerce
Correspondents visit, see, and hear the shopping streets that are loved by the locals, prospered with the residents, and familiar to them. It conveys the lively charm and vitality, special information, etc.
****************************************************
◎Correspondent Visit to Shopping Street (17th)◎
amazake Yokocho Store Association, a nostalgic city with new discoveries
amazake Yokocho is the street that goes east along the middle of Ningyocho-dori toward Meijiza.
As the name was known throughout Japan in the TV drama "Newcomer" last year.
On March 9, we asked Mr. amazake Yokocho Store Association at 2-chome Nihonbashi Ningyocho.
Mr. Seiji Sasaki of Sasaki liquor store, chairman of the store association, met happily while he was busy.
Sasaki liquor store has been founded in 1914 for 100 years.
Ｑ： Could you tell me about the history of the store association?
Chairman: At first, it was for collecting streetlights installed on the street. Then, in 1982, when the streetlights became under the jurisdiction of the ward, we formed the "amazake Yokocho Fellowship". The Federation is the 31or 32nd member of the Association in 2009, so it is a newcomer as a society.
Ｑ： Please tell me the area of the store association and the number of members.
Chairman: In 2009, there were 63 shops on both sides of the street from Ningyocho Dori to Hamachogawa Ryokudo.
Last year, we entered the street from Hamacho Ryokudo to Kiyosubashi-dori (here is Hamacho 2-chome), which is an extension of the street, and became 69 stores.
Ｑ： What is the classification of shops?
Chairman: Is there about half of shops related to food and drinks, and half of miscellaneous goods and clothing? As you can see if you walk, you can meet a shop that is very varied.
Ｑ： I think there are a lot of historical shops.
Chairman: Iwai Tsuzura store is the oldest on this street. It was from the end of the Edo period.
There are many shops from the Meiji era to the Taisho era, including Shino Tasushi (1877).
Ｑ： How about the customer's layer?
Chairman: Ningyocho, Suitengu, and Meijiza customers often visited, so if anything, the elderly were the center, but the effect of last year's TV drama "Newcomer" increased the number of young people . There are many people who come from Hokkaido or Kansai area. In addition, many people from China (homeland), Taiwan and Korea are also visible. The power of TV is amazing.
Ｑ： Could you tell me the appeal of the shopping street?
Chairman: The shops on this street are mainly private shops, so each shop is working hard and demonstrating its individuality to excite the city. As a result, it is loved by everyone as a town where you can feel nostalgic, relax and heal your heart.
Ｑ： Please let me know if there are any events that will be held in this shopping street soon.
Chairman: Every year, the cherry blossom festival
is held as a store association.
This year, we are planning to serve you in amazake on March 27.
Also, those who get a fortune ticket at the store association can have a fun fortune.
Please join us.
The place is from 11:00 to 13:00 at the statue of Benkei on the Green Road.
Let's take a look at the poster.
By the way, the chairman's cherry blossom forecast information this year seems to be March 25!
Ｑ： Finally, please tell us your future aspirations and passions.
Chairman: First of all, in terms of infrastructure development, Ningyocho-dori and Kiyosubashi-dori have been completely cleaned up, so next is amazake Yokocho-dori. I would like to ask the mayor and related departments.
Regarding the activities of the store association, I would like to take from the current "line" to the activities in the "face" including Ningyocho and Hamacho. The Sky Tree will be completed soon, and Akihabara is near, so I would like to consider an approach to attracting tourists.
In terms of culture and history, Matsutaro Kawaguchi's "Meiji Ichidai Woman" is appealing that this is the main family, and I would like to make monuments related to it on the green path, the site of the Hamacho River. (On the road along the Sumida River from Ryogoku Bridge to Hamacho Park, there is a signpost of "Hamacho Riverside Street", but it is.)
However, for the whole city, I would like to leave the atmosphere of the downtown area.
Sweeping
A wealth of experience and knowledge, such as the Hamacho River on the day, Rikidoyama Jim, movie theaters, and vaudeville, were presented one after another, and I forgot the passage of time. I'm sorry that I can't introduce you.
I had a good time interacting with Mr. Sasaki's rough personality.
I would like to thank you again for the further development of the amazake Yokocho Store Association.
Thank you very much.
