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"Walk Kabuto-cho" - A town built by Eiichi Shibusawa
Adopted in the new 10,000 yen bill issued in 2024, Eiichi Shibusawa, the main character of NHK Taiga drama series's 2021 "Watch the Blue Sky" and Eiichi Shibusawa are attracting attention again. Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931), known as the Father of Japanese Capitalism, celebrates its 180th anniversary this year.
Eiichi Shibusawa was born in an Australian farm in Saitama in the late Edo period, became a minister from the rejection of the king, moved to Europe, retired officials of the Meiji government, and turned to the business industry to bank and insurance. I was involved in the establishment of more than 500 companies, including paper and transportation.
After the establishment of Daiichi National Bank in 1873 to make Kabuto-cho a commercial center for a new era, Eiichi Shibusawa moved his private residence to Kabuto-cho, and several companies were established one after another, and Kabuto-cho developed as the center of the Japanese economy. Eiichi Shibusawa laid the foundation for its development as a securities district.
In Kabuto-cho, there are many retro buildings from the early Showa era that were built after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Let's take a walk in Kabuto-cho, a town built by Eiichi Shibusawa.
The start was "Nisshokan" where the main residence of Shibusawa was located.
At the site where the Nisshokan was built, there was the main residence of Eiichi Shibusawa, built in 1888 (1988). The design is Kingo Tatsuno. This Venetian Gothic-style building along the Nihonbashi River was very famous at the time of its completion. It disappeared due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, and in 1928 (1928), the current Nisshokan building designed by Tamisuke Yokogawa was built. Although nearly 100 years have passed, it is still used as a rental office building.
Right next to it is Kabuto Shrine. It is called Kabuto Shrine because there is a huge rock called Kabutoiwa in the precincts, and it is the origin of the place name of Kabuto-cho.
Mizuho Bank Kabuto-cho Branch, where there is a monument to the birthplace of the bank from Nisshokan. It's the first national bank you all know, Tokyo Daiichi National Bank. Completed in 1873, this building was known as the highest peak of pseudo-Western style architecture, which was designed and constructed by Kisuke Shimizu, the second generation, and also appeared in Nishiki-e at the time. Koji Nishimura (1886-1961), famous for banking architecture, designed the third generation National Bank.
Let's go to the back of Mizuho Bank.
Phillips Securities Co., Ltd. constructed in 1935 (Naruse Shoken at the time of construction) and Yamani Shoken constructed in 1936 are lined up. This building has a contrasting design, but this is also a work by Koji Nishimura.
We have arrived at the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It's a mini-mini tour that can be visited in 20 minutes. Recommended for a walk with cherry blossom viewing.
Kabuto Shrine 1-12 Nihonbashi Kabutocho
1-10 Nisshokan Nihonbashi Kabutocho
