Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

　♪Dreams sometimes bloom from a cup of coffee ... (Ko Fujiura lyric)

 

　According to the encyclopedia, coffee was brought by Dutch people who came to Nagasaki during the Edo period, but it seems that Japanese did not receive it. Nanpo Ota (Shusanjin), who worked in Nagasaki, wrote, "I can't stand it and taste it." In addition, Kano Siebold wrote, "It's strange that Japanese people who drink hot tea and like friends don't get acquainted with coffee." After the Meiji era, coffee shops and cafes opened and gradually became drunk, and according to statistics, it is now the third largest consumption in the world, with more than 10 cups per Japanese per week.

　In March 1944, the first store called "Cafe Plantan" will open at 20 Hiyoshicho, Kyobashi-ku (currently Ginza 8-6). Seiki Kuroda and other Western painters Shozo Matsuyama (1884-1970), who studied with Seiki Kuroda and Okada Saburosuke at the Tokyo Bijutsu School, opened a European cafe in Temoto with a friend painter, Gonpachiro Hiraoka (1883-1943, and a member of the restaurant Kagetsuro in Takekawa-cho) in collaboration with a group of Kitahara Hakushu andOkada Saburosuke.

　If it was my first time to call it a cafe, it was my first time to put a hand-held phonograph and play Western music such as classical and dance. Grape shelf at the entrance, large oil paintings drawn by Shozo Matsuyama were placed inside the room, and graffiti such as improvisation of visitors and caricatures were drawn on walls painted in white plaster, creating an atmosphere similar to a cafe in Paris. As for the menu, Western and Western sake are the main players rather than coffee, the specialties are hot sandwiches and macaroni, the sake is rich in assortment, and Western sake that is not familiar in Japan at that time were also prepared.

　If so many celebrities gather, various anecdotes are left. Ougai's daughter, Mari Mori, was a young girl like a white hat, returned home from the Imperial drama taken by "Black Man" (Ogai), and drinking coffee for the first time in my life here. I put a hot coffee on my chest. ("Café Plantan of Memory") Also, drunk Shunro Oshikawa sold a fight with Kafu Nagai and Aoi Ikuta (Mt. Aoi), accompanied by the Tomoe family's Yaeji (later Seiju Fujikage). It was this shop. (Aoi Ikuta's "Plantan's Light at that time") Plantan was later pressed by Lion (Owari-cho corner) and Paulista (Minaminabe-cho), but it was a little threshold for ordinary people Is it partly due to the fact that it was considered a high shop?

　The smoke of Macaroni and Mocha rises

　Cuffet, outside the plantan window

　Midnight in the early summer on the streets of Hiyoshi-cho　　　(From Kafu Nagai's Improvisation)

 

　Gonhachiro Hiraoka, who will draw his hand later, is the creator of the poster (1913) of "Kaidai Bijin" playing the biwa at Mitsukoshi Kimono Store. Shozo Matsuyama's child is the fifth generation of actor Kunitaro Kawarasaki (1909-1990), and his grandchildren are Eitaro Matsuyama (1942-1991) and Masaji Matsuyama (1947-). At the cemetery of Meiseiji Temple in Chofu City, Shozo, Taro Kuni, and Eitaro are one grave and sleep forever.

 

[On the photo] Around the present Namiki-dori St., where there was a plantan.

[Lower photo] The tomb of the Matsuyama family in Chofu.

 

 

 

When I bothered you before, "Cute! When I prepare a gift for an important person someday, I will definitely do this! "
This time, such an opportunity came to Ginza immediately!

Ginza Shiseido Parlour is known by all means.
Last spring, it was a shop that tasted the French toast of Ginza honey (laughs).

This time, I visited the food shop on the 1st floor.
There are many products full of Shiseido's style, such as sweets, wine and soups, as well as sweets. The inside of the store is decorated with a lot of seasonal patterns and Valentine gifts.

 

Today, the name is "Makiage Chocolat". Please take a look! The flower camellia of Shiseido motif is such a colorful chocolate!

It is beautifully displayed one by one, like jewelry or cosmetics. You can enjoy different flavors depending on the color, such as champagne, mango, yuzu lime, etc. The box containing 5 pieces is perfect for a small gift. The wrapping is also elegant like Ginza!

The flower camellia mark was born in Taisho 4 (1915).
The design was designed by Shinzo Fukuhara, the first president of Shiseido and a photographer.
Around this time, cafes opened in Ginza Brick Street one after another, and we were entering a gorgeous era with the scent of Taisho romance.

Even after 100 years, Hanatsubaki has been loved as such a wonderful chocolate ...
In considering the history of Ginza, I realized once again that the keyword "stylish" is inseparable after all.

This flower camellia chocolate is sold only at the Ginza main store. How about a Valentine gift for a wonderful man who understands "real fashion"?

[Shiseido Ginza Main Store Shop]

8-8-3, Ginza, Chuo-ku 03-3572-2147　

http://parlour.shiseido.co.jp/food_products/list/ginzashop.html

 

 

I went to "Ginza Gallery Tour".

Mr. Yoko Noro, Vice President of Yanagi Gallery, guided us.　After gathering at Yanagi Gallery before 12:00, paying 3,000 yen worth the lunch fee, listening to the chat and explanation for a while.

 

While having a delicious lunch at the Spanish food "Senol Masa", we headed for the gallery while talking about art and talking about small things.

　

 

At the Whitestone Gallery next to Yasuaki Elementary School, the Yayoi Kusama exhibition will be held until February 27. The explanation of Yayoi Kusama alone is impressive.

A collection of works that continue to run at the forefront of art as a unique existence that expresses the eternity that should be called the microcosmic by repeatedly drawing nets and polka dots, as well as the mystery of love and life, is exhibited. You can purchase it.

　

 

In "Galley Tamenaga", I was able to appreciate the paintings quietly. http://www.tamenaga.com/

 

At Shingendo, the president explained Chinese, Korean porcelain, Kakiemon, etc. in hand. I enjoyed studying art.　Of course, you can purchase what you like in the gallery.

 

At Akika-dong, he showed a treasured ukiyo-e and a picture of a three-piece set of drama-like around 1877 with a careful explanation.　This is the good thing about visiting the gallery, isn't it? http://www.aojc.co.jp/corp/

 

It is also recommended for "Ginza Gallery Tour", friends and foreign customers. Click here for the schedule. 

http://www.yanagi.com/gallerytour2012-1-3.shtml

 

 

 

My friend came to Tokyo last December, so I went for lunch.

There are several soba shops that haven't been to Ginza yet.

I'm an egg toji soba and my friend is Kizami green onion. Both were 1100 yen.

When I was in elementary school, the soba I ate in Tokyo with my mother was black.

Ten years since then ... black broth is no longer visible.

Did the taste of soba in Tokyo become gentle? (* ^^ *)

Egg Toji soba, I ate it for the first time in a long time, but it's delicious.★

I can't see soba because it's full of fluffy eggs (laughs).

　

　

Udon is Kansai, but the soba is delicious in Tokyo.★

The homepage of Meigetsuan Ginza Tanakaya

 

 

This is the fourth talk about railways in Chuo-ku today.
This time, I will change my viewpoint a little and explore the name of the station that is no longer available.

 First of all, it is Nihonbashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line. The entrance of the station is located on Showa-dori. It is connected to the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Tozai Line through the underground passage, but compared to the two stations with bustling locations such as [Takashimaya] and [Cored Nihonbashi], the station on the Asakusa Line feels a little calm and quiet.

It should be that, in the first place, [Nihonbashi] station on Asakusa Line was another station. When the Asakusa Line (which was called "Toei Line 1" at the time of opening) opened in 1963 (Showa 38), it was [Edobashi] station.

Certainly, there is "Edobashi" right next to it, and I feel that it is more straightforward as a station name.

 Since then, it was renamed Nihonbashi in 1989 for the purpose of uniting, due to an increase in the number of passengers connecting with Tokyo Metro (at that time, "Mitsui Subway").

By the way, the station name [Edobashi] is located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture as a Kintetsu station station. It's strange that the station name that disappeared from Tokyo now exists far away.

Another station that existed in Chuo-ku is [Nishi Ginza] station.

The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line runs only a little in Chuo-ku. It's just near Sukiya Bridge. There is an entrance to [Ginza] station on the Marunouchi Line at the intersection of Sukiyabashi, where [Hankyu Men's Museum] and [Lumine] are recently renovated and bustling [Yurakucho Marion] stands out in front of you, but this is exactly the past [Nishi Ginza] station.　 

When the Marunouchi Line opened in 1957 (Showa 32), it started as a [Nishi Ginza] station. It seems that there was already a [Ginza] station on the Ginza Line, and it was a little far away. 

Later, when the Hibiya Line was opened in 1964 (Showa 39), the station on the Marunouchi Line was renamed [Ginza] along with the opening of [Ginza] station on the same line. [Nishi Ginza] was a naming for just under 7 years.

Even today, the name "Nishi Ginza" remains in the shopping mall under the elevated expressway.

One of the popular songs sung by Frank Nagai is "Nishi Ginza Station". This song written by Takao Saeki and composed by Tadashi Yoshida is a modern song that begins with "ABC XYZ". It was launched in 1958 (Showa 33), the dawn of Japan's high economic growth. Along with "Let's meet in Yurakucho", which was released the previous year and became a big hit, surely the atmosphere around here was filled with a new sense.　

 

Including the abolished Toden station name (electric stop name), there were various names in the ward. For example, tasteful names such as [Mihara Bridge] and [Echizenbori] seem to see the scenery.

 

This time, I looked back on the post-war history of Chuo-ku, taking advantage of the two disappearing stations of the subway. Did you have a little nostalgic feeling? 

 Next time, I would like to deliver an episode related to railways. Thank you very much.　

 

 

The Tokyo Marathon will be held on February 26 this year.

I think that the hard work of the runners running on the day and the volunteers who support it behind the scenes is also difficult.

There's a free guide to walk along this course in a fun way.　

Why don't you have a fun guide to Chuo-ku?　Ginzo also participates.

The contents of the flyer are: 

Free walking tour in Tokyo by volunteer guides

※For details such as meeting place, please contact the following.

Along with the “Tokyo Marathon Festival 2012”, a “free walking tour” will be held in which volunteer guides will guide you through sightseeing routes around the Tokyo Marathon Course.

Participation fee is free of charge. (There are some courses that require admission fees.)
A 6-minute course tour (1-6) and Asakusa area tour (7) divided from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to the finish Tokyo Big Sight. In addition, a tour around Kaminarimon in Senso-ji Temple (8) was held.
Walk all the courses of the Tokyo Marathon while visiting sightseeing points. (about 2.5 hours to 3 hours each day)

 Date of implementation and course

①Saturday, January 28

Meeting place, time: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Minami observation deck 12:50, Departure at 13:00. 　

Course: Tokyo Metropolitan Government - Under Shinjuku Daiguard - Hanazono-jinja Shrine - Shoin-in-Ichiya Hachimangu Shrine - Iidabashi Station

②Saturday, February 4

 Meeting place, time: JR Iidabashi Station ticket gate 12:50, departure 13:00

Course: Iidabashi Station, Tokyo grand shrine, Showakan, Imperial Palace Higashi Gyoen, Kokyogaien, Hibiya Park

③Saturday, February 11

Meeting place, time: Hibiya Park Hibiya Flowerbed 12:50, Departure at 13:00.

Course: Hibiya Park-Zenjoji Temple-Sengakuji Temple-Other Historic Sites-Shinagawa Station

④Saturday, February 18

Meeting place, time: Ginza 4-chome Ginza Mitsukoshi Lion Statue 12:50, Departure 13:00

Course: Ginza Monument-History Historic Sites of Ginza and Kyobashi-Coredo-Suitengu-Ryogoku-Asakusa (detour to the place where newcomers were set)

⑤Saturday, February 25

Meeting place, time: Ginza 4-chome Ginza Mitsukoshi Lion Statue 10:20, Departure 10:30

Course: Ginza-Tsukiji-Tsukuda-Tsukishima (lunch). It's a personal expense.)

⑥Saturday, February 25

Meeting place, time: Exit 3 at Tsukishima on the Oedo Line at 12:50, Departure at 13:00.

Course: Tsukishima, Toyosu, Tokyo Big Sight

⑦Sunday, February 26 10:00 ~ Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Area

⑧Feb. 18 (Sun) 9:30 - From Asakusa Mitsuke to Senso-ji Temple

 

※For details such as meeting place, please contact the following.

Contact: NPO Tokyo City Guide Club Secretariat TEL: 03-6912-1518 　

http://tcgc.5.pro.tok2.com/