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Episode 2 Edokko won't bend the bridge so much!

　In the afternoon, I decided to go to the local reference room with the yellow little bird. Kotori said he would definitely like to go there.

"I like to read books that the birds don't read,"

　And the yellow little bird says.

"What do you read about the birds?"

　When it comes to it

"I don't know,"

　And he turned to the other side.

　So I decided to put the yellow little bird on my shoulder and put it out.

　I like the old-fashioned appearance of the Kyobashi Library. There is a counter in the middle, and the librarian is sitting. In the newspaper corner, the uncles of the company employees of the house are widened, and the bench in the magazine corner is always full of mothers who spread cooking books and grandpas who turn pages with difficult faces. .

　At the Sankun Garden in front of the library, seasonal flowers welcome visitors. A glass-walled bulletin board stands, in which old photographs of Chuo-ku and ukiyo-e are displayed for each theme, and are handmade using colored paper and glue.

　There is a blue vinyl handbag for take-out, as if it was a little time ago, and it contains white letters "Kyobashi Library". There are small desks where you can put some baggage and organize the books you borrowed, and this month's recommended books are lined up in such an inconspicuous place.

　There's nothing to worry about. That's why I like the Kyobashi Library.

　The regional archives are located in the basement of the Kyobashi Library. Books on Chuo-ku are substantial, and there are everything from books published by the ward, reports on cultural property surveys, and commemorative magazines of the town council.

　If you go down the stairs and look through the glass window in the door, you will see already have a customer. Turn the doorknob and get into it.

"Hello,"

　And the librarian said to me.

"Hello,"

　And I returned, and Kotori-chan made a bird-like voice.

　There are two large desks lined up in the regional archives, where you can study there, and most of them spread a large map, and a librarian and someone talk about the city.

　A grandfather wearing a mountain cap.

"Surely, it should be Muromachi 2-chome. It's written in ancient documents. But I don't know how much I find it. What did you do?"

　And his grandfather set his arms.

"Edo was a town on both sides."

　And the librarian opens the map.

"Ryogawa-machi?"

"Oh, there's a town on both sides across the public road. Nowadays, it's common that the name of the town is different from the other side of the road.

　The "road" of the Edo period meant "the center of town." It was a place where people and things gathered and exchanged information, forming the core of the community in urban life. In other words, the role of the "open space" in Western Europe was the "path".

　I often say "the three houses are next to each other," but that's exactly what the three houses across the street and the two sides are the basic units that make up the town."

　And the librarian.

"It's completely different from now. The road was not to divide the town, but to connect the town.…」

　They looked into the map on the desk.…

"Oh! This is it!"

　And the grandfather of the mountain hat cheered.

　The librarian, too, smiled happily.

"You can't find it all the time. It was across the street. No, I'm refreshed with this. I can finally sleep tonight."

　And the grandfather took his hat and bowed.

　Listening to conversation like this is also a study. The people who come here have what they want to know in the middle of their chests, and come straight to check it out. The faces of those people are very good. People who are crazy about something are really good.

　I and Kotori nodding while standing in front of the bookshelf, dung, and nodding.

　People who are volunteer guides often use this place. A lady with a thick material in both hands came in. He seems to know the librarian, and thanks him lightly.

"It's about Eitai Bridge,"

　I'm going to get into the main subject.

　Eitai Bridge is a bridge that was built in 1698 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi. The steel balanced tie arch bridge, which now has a solid and robust impression, is a reconstruction bridge built in 1926 and is compared to Kiyosu Bridge. In 2007, both were designated as important cultural properties of the country.

"Originally, it wasn't the present place,"

"Yes. It was about 150 meters upstream from the present location."

　I think of a map in my head. If you say 150m upstream…Well, it was above Toyomi Bridge. Toyomi Bridge is a bridge that spans the mouth of the Nihonbashi River and features a unique design that looks like a ladder beside it.

"That's why the streets over there were prospering. Since the position of the Eitai Bridge changed, I've been completely depressed."

　I think of the origin of the Bank of Japan. At first, you used the building of the Hokkaido Kaitaku Sauce Sales Office. It was designed by Josaiah Condor…。 Now it's a little lonely road with little traffic, but I wonder if that side was the main street.…Let's think about it.

　For the back street, it may have been that the road width was wide. Remnants of the old main street…。

"Why did the participants change the position of Eitai Bridge? I was asked a question. Why, I am?…I thought again, and today I came to check it out."

　Said the lady.

　Hey, I spoke to the little bird in a loud voice.

"Do you know the Jizo-sama of Minato Sanchome?"

"Oh, of course. I'm a friend with the Jizo over there."

　The yellow little bird says proudly.

　guardian of children and travelers Shiomi. In the vermilion hall, there is a Jizo that appeared from the bottom of the river during the Meiji era. The locals are always clean and surrounded by freshly filled potted plants and flowers.

"Is it written about Eitai Bridge in the history of the basket?"

"Oh, it seems that many people who were killed in the Eitai Bridge collapse accident in 1807 have flowed to that place. There is a Jizo-sama in order to calm the soul."

　And the yellow little bird.

"Maybe it has something to do with it!"

　I said with a certain expression.

"Let me tell the librarian,"

　And the yellow little bird pepted my cheeks.

"Oh? But…」

　Hesitant

"It's my study to speak,"

　He said in an adult tone, and nodded.

"So?"

"Mochi!"

　So, I felt courage,

"Ah,…」

　And raised his hand in a little bit.

　The librarian and the lady turn around.

"maybe…I thought that Eitai Bridge fell at a festival in Fukagawa Hachimangu Shrine during the Edo period, right? After that, it seems that it fell every time it was replaced by floods and fires. It seems that this place is auspicious, so I may have moved to the current place.…」

　I said it.

　Shi-n…。

　Maybe it was a mistake? My face turns red at once. Both the librarian and the lady seem to be having trouble replying. There

"Edo kid doesn't have to bend the bridge so much!"

　A loud voice rang in a quiet local archive.

　…It's a little bird.

　I slowly turn around to the little bird on my shoulder.

　The librarian laughed at him,

"That's right!"

　He said. Then the lady was taken,

"Yes, indeed,"

　And he began to laugh.

　Kotori seems to be satisfied. When I look at me, I see a face like this.

"I didn't say that little bird told me,"…」

　I'm crying.

　I decided to go home after a break at a coffee shop in Chikaku.

　The yellow little bird is on the menu and reads characters one by one, so it takes a while. Finally,

`I'll do this,'

　And he took a picture of the coffee float with his beak. So I raised my hand to the clerk, and ordered the coffee float with red cherries.

"If you think about it, the Eitai Bridge became the current location when it became an iron bridge in 1897. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the fall of Eitai Bridge. And after that, the Edo kid went to the same place again."

　And I spread out a big book called "Hashizume Square in Chuo-ku", which I borrowed from the Regional Archives.

`Wow,'

　And remembering a little earlier, I will turn red again.

"When the transportation network was improved in the Meiji era, it may have become that place in consideration of the good convenience. So-called Eitai-dori St. The road is connected to Koto-ku."

　When the coffee float was brought, the little bird cheered.

"Nice! Nice!"

　And he flew around the coffee float. Then he sat down on the edge of the glass, and began to poke the ice cream.

　I laugh at the coffee part with a straw.

　Small paper with a return deadline stamped with a stamp is placed on the Eitai Bridge page instead of a bookmark. A while ago, the librarian put it in the book. There is an owl picture printed on it, and the paper is yellow, yellowish green, light blue, and different depending on the day.

　Somehow, it's warm. I like this kind of place.

"Yes?…」

　I suddenly think.

"As I said earlier, the road was the center of the town during the Edo period. The town was connected sideways. Get along and hold your hands. If so, the current road connects the town vertically. The distant towns and towns, which do not know their faces or names, are actually connected by a single road."

"If you think so, your dream will spread out,"

　And the yellow little bird moved his beak, filled with ice cream.

"Oh! I'll do my best!"

　And I stretched my hands,

"That way! Yeah!"

　And the yellow little bird swung the sank like a chiagar bonbon.

Continue

♪ Currently, the Kyobashi Library has changed some of its services. When using, I think it is safe to check on the website etc. in advance.

♪ Reference "Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia", Chuo-ku Tourism Association / News No. 78 "Michi" in Chuo-ku (Part 2) Edited and published in 1993 / "Bridge and Hashizume Plaza in Chuo-ku" Chuo-ku Board of Education 1998

Correspondent Minato kid, Chuo-ku Tourism Association
No. 119 March 16, 2021