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Episode 7 If you walk the sidewalk of Akashicho

"The cherry blossoms are coming soon!"

　The yellow little bird and I are walking along Akashicho Riverside Park. The Sumida River shines brightly in the morning sunshine, and the cherry trees along the dike begin to inflate buds. Go down the slope where the rubbing falls, go to the green road that once flowed by the Tepposu River.

　Well, I stopped.

　The sidewalk is paved with dead leaves-colored blocks. Some of them were made of whitish and smooth material. I think that some kind of design had been put in. Many pictures on the sidewalk show the history and characteristics of the town, and there are new discoveries and create opportunities to get interested in the town.

　However, the picture at my feet was completely faded, and there were still some patterns left in some places, and I didn't know what it was.

"Wow, there was a picture here!"

　I'm obsessed with my eyes.

　At the end of St. Luke Street. St. Luke's International Hospital and St. Luke's Garden face each other, and on the other side there is Akatsuki Park, which is known for its Siebold bust. And on the side where we stand, there is a modern building with brown tiles.

　I always think at such times.

"I wanted to meet this town sooner…」

　For I would have walked this path while this picture was clearly contour and color.

"If you open your mouth, it's always the case."

　And the yellow little bird laughs.

"Konaida wanted to see it as soon as the Tsukiji Unsho was there, wanted to drink a champagne rider in the Chari building that was on the boat, or wanted to eat the Siberian cake at Sakurai Western Confectionery near the Kakobashi, or I wanted to go to A6 Women's School in the end of giving up!"

"Well, that's true. A6 Women's School was the first mission school opened by Julia Karo Sols in 1870 in a foreign settlement in Tsukiji. It's the first Western-style building that I've been able to do, and it's not that everyone's attention. Well, the beautiful view of the Sumida River, the sound of the bell, the sound of the hymn…」

　I'm enchanted.

　There, a yellow little bird says shyly.

"If you were born in that age, you won't be able to go. Anyway, you're running around to collect New Year's Eve account?"

　And laugh with kerakera.

"What's it?"

"On New Year's Eve in Edo City, merchants would have been rushing around to collect unpaid money from their clients. On the other hand, if you look at Tsukiji's foreign settlement, you will hear a calm piano sound from the church, and the blue-eyed women and children will look stylish and dazzling smiles to celebrate the New Year.…」

"That's good…I'm there!"

"No, I'm here. You run around."

"No, I'm singing to the piano,"

"English song, can't you sing?"

"No, then let's go to church together."

"No, no, in such a sacred and strict place, only birds can enter."

　And we repeated for a while. It's almost like a house.

　Nevertheless, we were laughing somewhat happily.

　Today's Akashicho area is the place where "Tsukiji Foreign Settlement" has been located since 1868.

"After all, the landmark of Akashicho is the cross of the St. Luke Chapel at St. Luke International Hospital. It's always the hope and landmark of the people of the town."

"Yeah. There are times when that cross feels like being protected."

"The predecessor of the Saint Luke's International Hospital was the health company of Henry Falls, which was founded."

"It was a small wooden hut. It seems that the town people called Tsukiji Hospital with familiarity. I heard that there were times when I went to the poor for free. The medical students begging for teaching were forming a line in front of mansion every morning. Yes, it was in March that Henry Falls arrived in Yokohama."

"It was 1874. I wonder if the cherry blossoms were blooming.…」

"After staying a little in Yokohama, he took the newly opened railway to Shimbashi and then entered the Tsukiji foreign settlement."

"After that, in 1901, Dr. Toysler laid the foundation for the present St. Luke's International Hospital. The St. Luke Chapel is a Neo Gothic style built in 1936. It's designed by J. Bergaminy. Along with the old ward, Historic buildings has been selected by Tokyo. Every day in the morning, noon and evening, the carillon chime sounds. It's lit up at night, and it feels majestic."

　On the other hand, the monument honoring Henry Falls' achievements is in the bushes of the green path in front of St. Luke's Garden. It is the place where his mansion was located at 18th settlement. In front of my eyes, the Tepposu River flowed, and the Urahori Bridge was built. Opposite the current settlement street, there is Tokyo Matching Shin School and the current Meiji Gakuin, and if you aim for the Sumida River along the street, there was A6 Girls' School on the banks of the river.

　There are so many "town memories" sleeping in the place where we are now. If the picture on the sidewalk at the foot tells the memory,…、

"Is it a picture of St. Luke's Chapel, a portrait of Henry Falls or a painting of fingerprints? That's the picture of Tsukiji Unjo and A6 Girls' School! "

　After saying,

"Slightly,…。 Then, the Toysler Memorial Hall would be fine. It has now been relocated and restored to the courtyard of St. Luke's International Hospital, but it was originally built in 1933 as a missionary building on the banks of the Sumida River. That's where there is St. Luke's Garden!"

　And I am inspiring.

"There's too much, and there's no decisive factor,"

　And the yellow little bird laughs as if he was in trouble.

　Above all, in Akashicho, historical lost items are scattered in glittering jewels. As if you were looking for something Takara.

　The table contains warm coffee and cookies, and warm milk for the little bird. After that, we went around the Kyobashi Library and the ward office. It was nice to have turned around, but it was totally dazzling in the maze and tired.

　It's like this.

"If you ask someone who works for the company there, you may know what the picture was."

　Said the yellow little bird.

　That brown modern building looked like a company. Certainly, if you are an employee, you should walk on that sidewalk when you go to work every day. Moreover, the tiles in the picture are in front of the entrance.　

"I must know at all, I want to hear you, I want to hear you."

　And I swayed myself.

"But what kind of pictures were there on the sidewalk here? I can't hear you."

"You may be a person who lives nearby or a person who often passes that way."

"But I can't ask anyone who passed by.…」

　And I sigh.

"Let's go to the Kyobashi Library!"

　Said the yellow little bird.

"That's the only thing!"

　From the sidewalk where you found a faded picture, go straight along St. Luke Street, and go to the Kyobashi Library across Heisei Street, with a poultry shop with a patina and astringent signboard architecture.

　I told the librarian how it was.

"There was a picture in such a place. It's interesting. It may be left in the image archive."

　He gave me an idea.

"I see!"

　And I and the yellow little bird shine their face and immediately put it in front of the computer for viewing. How about if you're looking for it for a while? And the librarian looked into the screen.

　"The picture of the sidewalk came out, but there seems to be no sidewalk in Akashicho."

　Still, some interesting pictures came out.

　A picture of Ishikawajima Lighthouse, which used to be on Tsukuda Naka-dori, a picture of a streetcar and a picture of a tree planting on Heisei-dori in Kayabacho.…。 In this way, it is valuable just because there are people who left the picture of the sidewalk.

"It's a picture of the sidewalk in Akashicho…」

　The librarian twists his head to see if there is any way to find out.

"If you are a ward office, you may have a record. It may be the Regional Promotion Division. If it's a sidewalk picture, I often put such a picture in shopping streets or town councils."

"I see!"

　I was happy and clapped my hand, and immediately headed to the next ward office.

　In the lobby on the first floor of the Chuo-ku government office, large oil paintings are displayed on portraits of successive honorary residents. There is also a glass showcase, with a souvenir from the friendship city of Sutherland, Australia, like a plate with a picture of otter and a medal, and a wood carving of an owl from Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture.

　I would like to go up to the floor where the Regional Promotion Division was located and immediately know what the picture on the sidewalk was, but when I mention the matter, maybe no one comes to ask such a thing, a little Please, the staff talked to other staff members and looked up the bookshelf.

　But…。

"I'm sorry, there's no such record.…」

"Is that so?…Thank you very much."

　And I and the yellow little bird dropped their shoulders and pulled back.

"If this happens, I have no choice but to use my hand."

　Said the yellow little bird.

"What's your hand?"

"Akashicho, don't you forget the most important place?"

　I think so much and inspire.

"Time Dome Akashi!"

　The Chuo Ward Local Tenmonkan is known for the nickname of Time Dome Akashi.

　This is a great place to learn about the history and culture of Chuo-ku. There are wooden gutters and buried basins that tell the history of waterworks during the Edo period, excavated during the subway construction in Muromachi, and carbonized ancient document when this area was still a samurai area, and beef bones and wine bottles discarded by missionaries who lived there when they were foreign settlements.

　You can also see diorama and photographs explaining the prosperity of the Nihonbashi Fish Bank, a signboard for Ginka Kishida's Seikisui symbolizing Ginza during the Civilization and enlightenment period, a gift box used by Tsukuda Island to offer white fish, and a seat ticket for Edo Sanza. The corner of literary artists related to Chuo-ku is also interesting, and the touch panel-type riddle corner is quite difficult and swollen.

　And what I don't want to forget is the Wan'an Tower, which was quietly displayed in the elevator hall. Wan'an-ro is a pre-war luxury restaurant that was close to Shintomi-cho, and the ranma in the guest room remains properly.

　When you go up the elevator, Hello, and the sister of reception welcomed me. Hello, and I and the yellow little bird also say hello. Right away

"In fact, there seems to be a pictured tile on the sidewalk there, but now it fades and I can't see the picture. I would like to ask you what kind of picture it was, if there were any materials left."

　And I asked.

　She thought a little, and said, please wait, and went into the back. He came back after a while, and guided me to the office.

"It's getting more serious,"

　And I hear the yellow little bird.

　In the office, the staff were heading to the desk. There was a sofa and a table for reception in front, and the staff inside recommended the sofa.

"Thank you,"

　And I sit down.

　There is a new view of the window.

"From here, you can see Akatsuki Park.…Somehow strange."

　It's completely different from walking outside.

　I'm impressed and stretched my neck. What kind of scenery you can see is just the same as the number of windows. Even if it is the same town or the same building, you can see a completely different view depending on its height, position, angle, etc. Each time we feel as if we had found a new expression of the city, and we were impressed.

"What kind of inquiry do you have?"

　And a staff member sat across me and pointed a pleasant smile.

　And when I explained the picture on the sidewalk, the staff brought me a map.

"Ah, it's around here,"

　Yeah, yeah.

"Maybe there was a picture of the American Embassy,"

　He said.

"It's around the Garden of St. Here, from 1875 to 23, there was the American Embassy. The place is close, and how about it?"

"I see!"

　And the yellow little bird and I look into the map.

"There are three monuments in the courtyard of St. Luke's International Hospital and two in Shinsui-Koen Park, St. Luke's Garden. It is in the shape of a white head eagle, a shield designed with a star flag, and a star of Goryo. That's made of Komatsu stone from the Izu Islands."

　After explaining that, in fact,…Take a moment,

"I have three more!"

　He said.

"Oh! Do you have three more?"

　This is mystery. In fact, there were eight in total. Where did the three disappear?…。

"In 1984, I donated it to the American Embassy in Akasaka. Three types, one each."

　The staff spoke so secretly, and nodded.

"Perhaps are still in the garden of the American Embassy,"

"I see.…」

　And I nodded.

　I would like to see it, but in the embassy, I can't get very close.…。

　Yet,

"What kind of building was the American Embassy?"

　I was worried about it.

"I don't have much material left, but it seems that it was a creamy Western-style building with clapboards."

　Said the staff. He showed me a book called "Tsukiji Remaining, the Origin of Modern Culture". On the photo page at the beginning of the book, there was a black-and-white photo.

"But it's weak as a picture…」

　I say it.

"Because it's not a particularly distinctive building. If you look at this picture, there are few people who know that it is the American Embassy. If so…More impactful buildings…」

"Tsukiji Hotel Hall Is it?"

"That's it!"

　The staff level their fingers.

　The yellow little bird pretends to be good at it.

"The little bird is amazing!"

　Indeed, the tiles on the sidewalk were long. Tsukiji Hotel Building is a symmetrical pseudo-Western style building. Moreover, it seems that it was a large hotel with 102 guest rooms, so a horizontal screen would be better fit. Even in a number of Nishiki-e, it is drawn as if both hands were stretched sideways.

"Speaking of that, it was a little pale,"

"Yes, yes,"

"It might be the roof of the Tsukiji Hotel Building!"

　And the staff took off.

"In some Nishiki-e, some roofs are painted blue."

"That's good!"

　I hit both hands with joy.

　In addition, a yellow little bird

"It might be the sea!"

"Yeah! After all, I was looking for the blue sea!"

"It's empty!"

　And the staff.

"After all, it was a nice hotel!"

"Yes,"

　We look at each other and look at each other.

"It's already a rule,"

　And nodded.

　And we were completely convinced that we had come up with the answer, but we had no choice but to answer it anymore.

"I wanted to see it,"…」

"If there is a picture left…」

"I don't think I can.…」

"Is that right?…」

　And he was still smiling, exchanging words with him.

　We are a genuine Chuo-ku fan.

　Look for the picture drawn by Tsukiji Hotel.

　To put it simply, the second generation Kuniki "Tokyo Tsukiji Gun Sukei" and "Tokyo Tsukiji Hotelkan", Hiroshige Midai "Tokyo Tsukiji Hotelkan", which also depicts the steamship City of Ed, Yoshitora Utagawa "Tsukiji Hotel Hall Omotekakenozu", Gountei Sadahide "Tokyo Tsukiji Hotelkan Kaigan Map", etc.

　It is said that more than 100 Nishiki-e paintings depicting the Tsukiji Hotel Museum. It was a famous architecture that attracted the attention of the people.

"Speaking of that, every picture hangs something from the top of the tower, but what is that?"

　Several things like Christmas bells, bells, and bonbons are tied to strings, and four of them flow in all directions.

"That's a wind taku,"

　Said the yellow little bird.

"Kazetaku?"

　I make a loud voice.

"It's like a big wind chime that goes down from the roof of a temple, isn't it? What a Japanese style!"

　The little bird laughed at me,

"Even though it's a Western-style hotel, the spirit of Edokko has survived," he said.

"It's interesting! I'm going to hang such a lot. Did you hear the sound properly?"

"How about it, in the first place, I wonder if it hung it to enjoy the sound? I think it has a strong meaning for decoration. And it might have been the meaning of amulet. But if you think about it, at that time the noise would not have been as bad as it is now I wonder if the night was quite quiet."

"Well,…The windy days were in the room, karan…You might have heard the sound like that.…。 Wow, it's the wind.…。 For foreigners who stayed there, this is Japanese! What did you think?…」

　Yet…。

"Ah~! I wanted to stay at Tsukiji Hotel Building!"

　And I sigh while biting cookies.

"I started again!"

　And the yellow little bird laughs. And then

"If you were born in that era, you won't be able to stay at the Tsukiji Hotel. You are a foreigner, and you don't do business."

　And he never forgot the harsh thing.

　Such a little bird has a dreamy look. While rinsing coffee and milk, we thought about the former Tsukiji foreign settlement.

Continue

Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent Minato-kochan CChuo City Tourism Association Correspondent Minato-kko chan 2023

♪Sweeping
This story is a fiction written based on the fact that the author found a sidewalk picture faded in Akashicho around 2018.

The Chuo Ward Kyobashi Library was newly opened on December 4, 2022 as Book Forest Chuo. The regional reference room in the story and the Chuo Ward Local Tenmonkan Time Dome Akashi have been relocated and attached to the facility.
The current exhibition contents of the local museum are subject to change. For details of the exhibition, please contact the local museum directly.

The Forest of Books
1-13-14, Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Chuo City Library Homepage
https://www.library.city.chuo.tokyo.jp

About Chuo Ward Folk Museum (1st and 2nd floors of Honnomori Chuo)
https://www.city.chuo.lg.jp/bunkakankou/bunka/kyodoshiryokan/index.html
Board of Education Secretariat Book Cultural Properties Division Local Museum
０３－３５５１－２１６７

♪References `` Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia '' Chuo-ku Tourism Association / `` The Origin of Modern Culture Tsukiji Reservation Study Group '' NPO Tsukiji Reservation Study Group / `` Walking in Chuo Ward '' Chuo-ku Planning Department Public Relations Section / `` Chuo-ku Planning Department / `` Chuo-ku Planning Department 9 Introduction of Meiji Toru '' Chuo-ku Board of Education, Chuo-ku

Correspondent Minato kid, Chuo-ku Tourism Association
No. 174 March 14, 2023