Official

Tokei Tsukuda Tajima (Source: National Diet Library "Meiji / Taisho era in Photos-From the National Diet Library's Photo Book" (Expiration of protection period))

When it was still an island, Tsukuda was said to be "an island like another world" even though it was close to Ginza in the same Tokyo.
The old Kawayanagi says, "Tsukuda Island that points on the map of Edo", and describes how small Tsukuda Island was drawn on the picture of Yaohachi Oedo.
However, another Kawayanagi says, "The child of the island is remembered as Tsukuda no Kuni," and the children of Tsukuda Island at that time called "Tsukudako" or "Atata no Shima". That's it.

Well, the preface has become longer, but in this book there is a description of "the kid of otter."

It was believed that this otter was touching a girl coming back from a bathhouse across Tsukuda Kobashi, cutting fisherman's four hand claws, and carrying dried fish secretly.
It is also noted that the stall at Shirukoya, which was located under Tsukuda Kobashi, was repeatedly mischievous.
It is certain that otter visits the Shirukoya when there are no other guests, and he is not familiar with it.
Even though it's cold, it's lukewarm to order.
When I finished eating, I said, "Okane, here" and disappeared, but the next day, the money was a thin stone!

The people of Tsukuda, who were in trouble with such mischief, came up with the idea of enshrining otter as God.
When I asked Mr. chief priest to contain it in the palace, otter's mischief disappeared.
However, it is said that at the same time the river water became dirty and otter became unable to approach Tsukuda due to the influence of landfills.

Even now, in the corner of the precincts of Sumiyoshi-jinja Shirine, there is a "otter no Miya" with nothing written.
I will refrain from posting photos, but why not look for the shrine when you visit nearby?

Image photo (If you still have otter in Tsukuda, you will soon be popular!)

When otter was in Tokyo, in April, Ami fishing, a material for Tsukudani, became popular.
In addition, goodbye fishing began, and looking at the tide, the ship came out even at night.
There was no fish gathering light like this now, and the roots of the pine were burned, so by the time I returned after the night fishing, the fisherman's face and neck were black like a black cat.

Now the number of people who know good old Tsukuda has decreased.
However, despite being not far away from Ginza, Tsukuda's unique goodness and atmosphere that makes you want to call it "Tsukuda no Kuni" remains.
When you visit Tsukuda, close your eyes once, and think about the era when fishing was thriving from the scent drifting in the town and the sound of nature that can be heard?