Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

On September 22, the last summer heat of this year, we helped with the town walking tour “Nihonbashi Long-established Tour”.

In this course, we will visit three famous long-established stores, "Ninben", "Yamamoto-noriten", and "Eitaro Sohonten" to listen to the history of the store and the story behind the products. This time, I helped with my correspondent Ken. Ken is from Kyoto, but has a deep knowledge of the history and geography of Edo, and is good at speaking, so it is encouraging.

The first house is Mr. Ninben. In Genroku 12 (1699), it was the shop in Nihonbashi that began trading bonito and dried salts with doorboards lined up. The store, which has changed its appearance with the times, will be temporarily closed on October 21 for the development of the Higashi area of Nihonbashi Muromachi, and will start operating at coredo Muromachi on October 28.

The household miniature shrine inside the store makes you feel like a long-established style.

Left: Ask them to explain the history of the shop and the manufacturing process of bonito (the bonito model is cute!)

Right: Experience the scent and taste of freshly shaved bonito (both can't be delivered on the blog!)

After that, enjoy shopping in the store. I was surprised that the soup I tasted was delicious. Moreover, I was surprised twice because I just stretched the white dashi in the bottle with hot water. Not only bonito flakes and dashi-related products, but also cooked rice ingredients are recommended.

The next one we headed was Mr. Yamamoto-noriten. Founded in 1849. The interior of the store has a large curved ceiling like the bottom of the ship, a wall reminiscent of a sail with a wind, a Shigaraki ware tiles that stylize the male cells of laver, and an image of a laver ship.

Left: The "enclosure pot" that preserves seaweed, which was used from the time of its founding until the early Meiji era.

Medium Old tools such as seaweed cans, abacus, and ledgers

Right: Photographs of advertisements modeled by Yoko Yamamoto (from 1976 to present). Mr. Yamamoto has appeared in advertisements and commercials as an image character of Yamamoto-noriten since 1967, but this is the world's longest record registered in Guinness.

 

 

After learning about the history of the shop, tasting and shopping. I wish there was a way to attach the taste and aroma of freshly baked seaweed to my blog ...

  

Left: Demonstration of baking laver

Medium You can buy the freshly baked seaweed.

Right: Kitty's seaweed is popular as a souvenir.

And last is Eitaro Sohonpo. Founded in 1857. I was told in front of the shop, but there were already a lot of highlights before entering, and as expected, a long-established store.

Left: On the seal of the shop, the remnants of the name "Izutsuya" at the time of its founding are found.

Medium The famous stone "Red cobblestone of Eitaro"

Right: "Gokage paving stones" at the entrance of the store when it was founded 

Left: It's fun. I often see square ones, but "Tsubaba" is a sword brim, so it is originally circular.

Medium http://www.chuo-kanko.or.jp/blog/assets_c/2010/09/km37-3122.html The “Tsukimi Rabbit” is a cute “Tsukimi Rabbit”

Right: You can also eat slowly in the store. Four and a half centuries ago, I was at Nihonbashi OL, and I was looking forward to having lunch here.

Well, it's time to open. Two hours have passed since I went around three shops to listen to stories and enjoyed shopping. I'm full of knowledge and stomach. The history and backstory of the store cannot be written on the blog very much, so be sure to visit each site (click the name of the store in the article to display each site).

The fare is free for everyone on the Edo bus on October 1, 2, and 3 (Friday).

Let's rediscover the charm of the new Chuo-ku on the Edo bus for the autumn day.

Invite your family and friends to participate in the Chuo-ku Commercial Festival “Treasure Hunting” event, which is being held at the same time.

Sunday, October 31 The whole museum day of Chuo-ku is also free.

The Bank of Japan was born on October 10, 1882, at the side of Eitai Bridge (now Nihonbashihakozakicho).

At that time, the building was relocated due to narrow buildings and poor transportation, and the Bank of Japan's head office was completed in Nihonbashi Honishi-cho in 1896.

Nihonbashi Honishi-cho long ago had a Nauman elephant, and its fossils came out ... It's true.

In addition, the current location of the Bank of Japan is Koza, which made gold during the Edo period.

The designer of the old building was Dr. Kingo Tatsuno, who also designed the brick station building at Tokyo Station and the former Ryogoku Kokugikan.

The Bank of Japan "Neo Baroque architecture" is modeled on the Belgian central bank.

In Western architecture, it is two masterpieces alongside the guesthouse, and is now designated as a national important cultural property.

In the "City Walk Tour", there was the "Bank of Japan and Money Museum Course", and 20 participants (three leaders) gathered at the west gate to start the tour.

At first, they showed me the video and were briefed on the outline.

The old building of the Bank of Japan is rarely used now, but I walked along the corridor on the second floor with portraits of the first to the 26th president.

 Current Governor Masaaki Shirakawa (Masaaki) is the 40th President.

The Governor who was interested in ...

First Governor, Shigetoshi Yoshihara

The reason why "NIPPONGINKO" is printed on the back of banknotes such as 1,000 yen bills because he is from Kagoshima (Satsuma), he pronounced "Japan" as "Nihon" and pronounced "Nihon". It seems that is the reason.

4th President Yanosuke Iwasaki

He is an 18-year-old younger brother of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi.

7th President Takahashi Koreyoshi

It was said that he was called "Dharma Governor" because he looked exactly like Daruma's face.

16th President Keizo Shibusawa

He is the grandson of Eiichi Shibusawa, who led the business world from the Meiji era to the Showa era, but since he was the governor of the Bank at the end of the war, it is a portrait standing in a burnt field.

 Materials gallery space

There was an oak clap that was used at that time.

Until the new building came out in 1969, the start and end of the bank's business hours had been announced in claps.

It seems that if you hit four, "Ha-ji-ma-ri", if you hit three, it was "O-wa-ri".

Happi (deer skin) worn on firefighting was displayed.

Deer skin is lighter than cow skin and has breathability.

In addition, we were guided to the underground safe that was used until 2004.

The large American door, which was installed in 1932, had a heavy and dossiri style.

There was a small hole in the wall and a hole in the floor of the corridor.

It seems that the dry wind was taken in from the wall and moist air was released under the floor to adjust the humidity.

The bricks on the walls and ceilings in the safe are the same as they were built in 1896.

The white spots on the wall are like water spots during the Great Kanto Earthquake, fire fighting, and restoration.

 Currently, the banknotes in use have been replaced by new banknotes in the Bank of Japan in a few years.

The old banknotes are checked one by one with a high-performance machine, and the old banknotes are replaced with new ones.

The souvenir on the day of the tour was a crushed piece of shredder with old or damaged banknotes that were no longer used in a business card-sized plastic bag.

And a tour of the room when I was open in the past ...

At that time, there were customers who came to the store by horse, and there is still a horse drinking fountain in the courtyard.

The Currency Museum, located opposite the Bank of Japan, had a free tour of about 30 minutes.

I visited the chronology of the history of money in Japan very interestingly.

"How much is one car from the Edo period now?" ・There was also an interesting pamphlet.

It is a place where you can easily visit Nihonbashi while shopping.　

Please come and see it.　

Opening hours　：　From 9:30 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00)

Closed days　：　　Monday/holiday (but open if it overlaps with Saturdays and Sundays)

　　　　　　　　　Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 4)　

Admission fee　：　Free of charge

The same course will be held again on November 19 (Fri).

Please apply for the Bank of Japan and the Currency Museum Course.

Report on the "2010 Town Walking Tour" Industrial Course <" Important Cultural Property "Nihonbashi Takashimaya Course> held on September 15.

This time, a total of 10 people participated and departed at 10:00 with the guidance of Mr. Shikita of the concierge, who is also a correspondent of the tourist association.

Following the outline explanation at the entrance, after looking around the exterior of the building from the front, toured the rooftop on the 1st and 2nd floors.

The building at the time of its construction was "Toyo Hoboy: Keynote Tosuru Contemporary Architecture", completed in 1933 (designed by Sadataro Takahashi). Since then, it has become a store that occupies one block by repeating the expansion and renovation of the fourth term (design: Togo Murano).

In 2006, it was designated as the Tokyo Metropolitan Historic buildings. In 2009, it was designated as an "important cultural property" for the first time as a department store with an evaluation of "high degree of perfection as an integral part of the design while expanding for about 30 years".

    ①　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ②　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  ③

　　　　①Iron door at the front door: A solid iron door that combines Japanese and Western design motifs.

　　　　②Ceiling at the front entrance: coffered ceiling is a traditional Japanese style. plaster sculpture is the same as it was built.

　　　　③Water fountain at the front entrance: An arch shape decorated with flower motifs.　

    ④　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ⑤　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ⑥

           

    　      　

            

　　　　⑬Marble wall: Fossil of Belemnite.

　　　　⑭Rooftop fountain: The work of Shinobu Komori.

　　　　⑮Rooftop tower: The motif is the child elephant "Takako", which has been kept on the rooftop for four years since 1950.

Takashimaya is derived from the name "Takashimaya" of a rice grain dealer who adopted the son-in-law of the founder Shinshichi Iida.
It is said that "Takashimaya" was named after his father-in-law Gibei was born in Takashima-gun, Oomi country (currently Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture).

The Nihonbashi River is a Koishikawa Bridge near the border between Chiyoda-ku and Bunkyo-ku, separated from the Kanda River, and joins the Sumida River at the end of Toyomi Bridge.

 The Nihonbashi River is a river line that was opened by Seki after the battle of Hara in 1600 (1600) and played a major role as a canal connecting Edo Castle's large tactics and Sumida River almost straight, and has supported the prosperity of Edo. .

In Chuo-ku, there are Toyomi Bridge, Minato Bridge, Kayaba Bridge, Armor Bridge, Edobashi, Nihonbashi, Nishikawabashi Bridge, and Ichiishi Bridge, but this time from the mouth, Toyomi Bridge, Minato Bridge, Kayaba Bridge, Armor Bridge, Edobashi I will introduce in the order.

It's Toyomi Bridge. It is located at the bottom of the Nihonbashi River.

It has an unusual design like a ladder lying down.

It has been replaced several times, but the current bridge was completed in 1927 (1927).

It is Tangible Cultural Property inhabitant of a ward.

The following is Toyomi Bridge seen from Minato Bridge.

In the center of the bridge, "Minato Bridge" is written.

(Nihonbashihakozakicho-Shinkawa 1-chome)

It was built to connect Reigishi Island (now Shinkawa) with Hakozaki on the opposite bank.

The surrounding area was the entrance to Edo Minato, so it became Minato Bridge.

The pier is a three-piece arch made of reinforced concrete. 

Kayaba Bridge (Nihonbashi Kayabacho 1-chome - Nihonbashikoamicho)

In the past, the area around Minamizume of the bridge was a storage area where kaya was cut and piled up, so it became "Kayaba Bridge".

One of the features of the balustrade of the bridge is the design of three triangles on the handrails. 

 Armor Bridge (Nihonbashikoamicho, Nihonbashikabutocho, 1-chome, Nihonbashi Kayabacho)

 Until it was bridged in Meiji 5 (1872), there was a ferryboat called "handing of armor".

The bridge was aging and the current bridge was replaced in 1957.

The outside of the balustrade is going out like an elbow. 

  Edobashi (Nihonbashi Muromachi 1-chome, Nihonbashi Honmachi 1-chome to Nihonbashi 1-chome)

The current bridge is a steel arch bridge that was built as part of the reconstruction plan after the earthquake in 1927.

The fine continuous pattern of the balustrade is illuminated by the sun and looks beautiful. 

The 29th Chuo-ku Tourism Ambassador and Miss Chuo have been decided.

It is Mao Kamata, Saori Kobayashi, and Kumi Sasaki.

Congratulations.　　　(Photo from left: Kobayashi, Kamata, Sasaki)

 The harsh summer heat continues, but I've been watching the finals, so I'll introduce it.

 On September 4th (Saturday), the final round was held on a special stage where the "Tenjo Statue" in the central hall on the 1st floor of Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store watched.

 

The final round was held with 21 of the 22 people who passed the qualifying round (held at Courtyard Marriott Ginza Tobu Hotel on August 21, 89 people applied). 

Continuing from last year, the final round started at 1:00 pm with the combination of Yasushi Ono, a talented talent who is good at relieving tension, and an assistant (Himeno).

 

It is divided into two groups, Group A (11 people, 1 missing) from entry numbers 1 to 12 and Group B (10 people) from Etre Numbers 13 to 22, and first participant in Group A After a one-minute self-promotion in front of the microphone at the center of the stage, one by one on the stage, the judges took turns into a question.

 

 

  The Chairman of the JuryChuo-kuChairman of the Tourism and Commerce Festival Executive CommitteeChuo-kuMr. Shigemori, Vice Chairman of the Tourism Association.

And the jury

President of Ginza Street Federation (Mr. Kosaka),Chuo-kuChairman of the Board of Education (Mr. Suzuki)

Chuo-kuVice Chairman of Tourism Association, Vice Chairman of Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Central Branch (Mr. Hosoda),Chuo-kuChairman of Parliament (Mr. Nakajima)Mayor of Chuo (Mr. Yada),Editor-in-chief of the Tokyo Shimbun, Mr. Kawazu,Managing Executive Officer Matsuya Co., Ltd. (Mr. Obito)24th generationChuo-kuTourism Ambassador Miss Chuo (Mr. Inoue)Chuo-kuChairman of the Tourism Association Business Planning Committee (Mr. Ban), Mr.

It's like that.

 

 The above 10 judges are standing right below the stage, so the contestants who receive self-promotion and questions would have been nervous.

 

 The screening will be completed in about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and the jury will make a selection in a separate room.

 

 

In the meantime, as an attraction, singing songs based on Mother Teresa of singer "U (Yu)" was performed, and everyone at the venue listened to the beautiful singing voice for a while.

30 minutes after the selection started, the results of the screening are finally announced. The contestants line up on the stairs on both sides of the statue of the heavenly woman.

Mr. Sawada of Miss Chuo, the 28th Chuo-ku Tourism Ambassador, Miss Chuo, will receive the paper with the results of the examination from the chair of the examination and hand it to the chair.

 

And Yasushi Ono reads out the names of the three people.　　It's a moment of tension!

 

The first call was entry number 14 "Kumi Sasaki", Mr.　

Next, Entry No. 13 "Saori Kobayashi", Mr.

 

And lastly, the entry number 19 "Mao Kamata" was called.

 

The photo shows the moment Mr. Kamata is finally called and goes to the stage. I'm very happy.

 

 

 

The three people in the 29th generation who became the tourist ambassador and Miss Chuo were newly appointed from the 28th Tourism Ambassador and Miss Chuo.

 

I was dressed in "Tasuki" and "Gown", and the glory "Tiara" was put on each head.

After that, diplomas, prizes, and supplementary prizes were awarded by the jury chair, ward mayor, chairman, and sponsoring companies in the order of Mr. Kamata, Kobayashi, and Sasaki of the new tourism ambassador, Miss Chuo. It's very luxurious!
 After the award ceremony, the moderator, Yasushi Ono, had a brief interview with three Shin Chuo-ku Tourism Ambassador Miss Chuo.

 

Mr. Shigemori, on behalf of the organizer, said, "The three selected members will be selected over the next year.Chuo-kuParticipate in tourism and commerce festivals and various events in the city.Chuo-kuWe want you to try for PR, image improvement of ward in blogs of tourist association. If you are selected, I want you to make use of this valuable experience in each field. " 

 

 

Finally, a commemorative photo session (the photo below is with the jury member, the 28th Chuo-ku Tourism Ambassador Miss Chuo)

 In the photo on the left, the newly decided 29th generation and the 28th Chuo-ku Tourism Ambassador Miss Chuo came together in the camera together.

(From the left, Mr. Kobayashi, Mr. Kamata, Mr. Sasaki, Mr. Takagi, Mr. Sawada, Mr. Mikami)

 

Mr. Sawada, Mr. Mikami and Mr. Takagi, I think it was a quick time, but it was really hard for a year. I will never forget you.

 

 

The 29thChuo-kuThe sightseeing ambassador Miss Central Selection Finals ended around 3:30 pm without delay.

The heavy sound of the pipe organ was echoing in the venue where I was still excited.

Mr. Kamata, Mr. Kobayashi and Mr. Sasaki, who were selected today, will be the Chuo-ku Tourism Ambassador Miss Chuo for the next year.

Various events and campaigns in Chuo-ku, welcome foreign passenger ships, etc.

I am waiting for a great job of participating in more than 30 events and working to promote and improve the image of Chuo-ku.

And by all means, take this opportunityChuo-kuKnow more deeply, refine yourself, and interact with various people.

WeChuo-kuTourist association correspondents are also supporting us. With youChuo-kuIncrease knowledge and experience related toChuo-kuLet's do our best for that. (O umbrella (Oh))