Official

This map of 1876 (1877) depicts Ishikawajima and Tsukuda Island.

So, what do you think is this square under Tsukuda Island?

The square identity is the Tsukuda Island Battery.

In 1864 in late Tokugawa shogunate (1864), a battery for the defense of Edo Bay was built on the south side of Tsukuda Island.
It is said that the size was almost square, about 70m east-west and about 72m north-south, and the area was about 1,370 tsubo.

There is an explanation board near Tsukuda-ohashi Bridge. <Explanation board, 1-1-8 Tsukishima >>

In the Meiji era, Tokyo needed a port for international trade. However, Tokyo Bay has a shallow water depth due to the natural accumulation of soil from the Sumida River, and large ships cannot enter.
In order to build the port, dredging of earth and sand was planned from 1883 (1883), and the creation of a landfill was planned with this earth and sand. The starting point of the landfill was the Tsukuda Island Battery.

<Shinsen Tokyo All Figures 1892, Chuo-ku Historical Map Book-Tsukishima Hen->
The landfill site is shown in a rectangular shape south of the battery.

“Tokyo Ichimoku New Figure” (1897)

Construction started in 1887 (1887) and completed in 1892 (1892) at Tsukishima's first landfill.
 
At this time, the names of the landfills were "Tsukishima" and "Tsukishima", and finally it became Tsukishima. There seems to be a theory that this area has been a famous spot for the moon for a long time. In Tsukishima, it's too literally. It's the same reading, but it's a good name!

 
Two years later, in 1894 (1894), the second landfill of Tsukishima, and in 1896 (1896), Shin-Tsukuda Island was also created.

On the revetment of the Asashio Canal (Tsukishima 2-chome and 4-chome between Asashio Ohashi and Tsukishima River), you can still see the stone wall at the time of the construction of the Tsukishima No. 1 landfill.

In 1893 (1893), the year after the landfill was completed, a cast iron manufacturer called Nippon Casting Iron Co., Ltd. started operations, and a factory of machinery and metal manufacturing began operations. There are many subcontractors at the Ishikawajima Shipyard (now IHI), and Tsukishima has developed as a coastal industrial zone in Tokyo.

According to the Tsukishima Survey in 1920 (1920), the number of factories was 214 and the population was about 30,000.

From 1892 (1892) to 1940 (1940), a ferry called "Tsukishima's ferry" connected the current Tsukishima 3-chome and Tsukiji 7-chome.
Initially, it was a private paid ferry started by Yusaburo Suzuki, but was operated by Tokyo City in 1901 (1901), and the following year, alternate operation by two steamship tugboats began, making the fare free. In order to respond to the increase in the number of passengers accompanying the development of an industrial zone, we have also been ferrying all night.

The average daily user of the three ferryboats, Tsukuda's ferry, Tsukishima's ferry, and Kachidoki's ferry was 53,000.
Tsukishima's ferry and Kachidoki ferry have been abolished with the completion of Kachidokibashi.

In 1988 (1988), Tsukishima Station on the Yurakucho Line opened. In 2000 (2000), Tsukishima Station and Kachidoki Station on the Oedo Line were completed, making access more convenient.

Tsukishima was home to people working in many factories and their families.
In a tenement house-style house, more than a dozen shared faucets in the middle were used.

At that time, Tsukishima was the state-of-the-art industrial area, but the town split was made of a square block surrounded by a width of six (10.9m) roads in sixty squares (109m). This is the same as that of the Edo period.

This town split would have reduced the distance of the residents and created the atmosphere of the downtown area.

There are many Monjayaki shops on Monja Street (Nishinakadori Shopping Street), which attracts tourists.

It seems a little surprising that the number of Monjayaki shops has increased here since the beginning of Heisei.

If you take a glimpse from this street, you will find an alley.

Why don't you enjoy the uniqueness of Tsukishima?

Reference: “Chuo-ku History Book-Tsukishima Hen-” “Chuo Ward Local Tenmonkan 13th special exhibition Tsukishima Hundred Views”