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100 years after the Great Kanto Earthquake: Ask the Reconstruction Small Park
On September 1, this year, 100 years have passed since the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred in 1923.
In this article, I would like to introduce one place at this milestone where you can touch the trajectory of recovery from the Great Kanto Earthquake.
In Chuo-ku, earthquake motions and subsequent large-scale fires caused enormous damage to most of the city to be burned down.
In the recovery from the Great Kanto Earthquake, the development of arterial roads such as Showa-dori and Taisho-dori (currently Yasukuni Dori), the reorganization of land and parcels centered on them, the construction of a reconstruction bridge for the Sumida River, and the construction of the Tsukiji Market. Construction and construction of Hamacho Park were promoted. Indeed, it can be said that the skeleton of the city of Chuo-ku, which is connected to the present, was formed during the reconstruction period after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Here, there are two other important projects included in the reconstruction project from the Great Kanto Earthquake. It is the maintenance of reconstruction elementary school and reconstruction elementary school.
Reconstruction elementary schools have developed reinforced concrete elementary schools, which were rare before the earthquake, in various places. Elementary schools, which do not burn, are resistant to earthquakes, and contribute to the aesthetics of the city, may have been a symbol of reconstruction for the surrounding cities. Some existing and active ones, such as Yasuaki Elementary School and Tokiwa Elementary School, are well known for their elegant designs such as rounded windows.
It may be less well-known than reconstruction elementary schools, but at the same time, reconstruction small parks have also been developed. Reconstruction Elementary Park was supposed to be used as a place for the formation of local communities and disaster prevention while maintaining a park adjacent to the reconstruction elementary school and supplementing the small schoolyard.
In Nihonbashi Ward and Kyobashi Ward, which are equivalent to the current Chuo-ku, a total of 24 reconstruction elementary schools have been constructed, of which 11 reconstruction small parks have been constructed next to some. In addition, at three existing parks adjacent to the Reconstruction Elementary School, redevelopment was carried out according to the Reconstruction Elementary School. The list is shown on the map at the beginning. (Prepared by the author based on the "Tokyo City Educational Facilities Reconstruction Map". The background is the Geographical Survey Institute's "light map". )
Reconstruction Elementary School and Reconstruction Elementary Park
Reconstruction Elementary Park and Reconstruction Elementary School were designed not only on the adjacent land, but also in consideration of mutual relationships.
In the most common pattern, including other wards, the U-shaped elementary school building opened in either south, east, or west, and the reconstruction elementary school park is located on the open side, so that the elementary school school yard and small parks were designed to be a continuous space.
In addition, even if the school building was sandwiched between the schoolyard and the small park, in many cases the entrance of the elementary school was set up on the small park side.
This aerial photograph shows the former Jushi Elementary School and Jisshi Park taken by the Army before the war (provided by the Geographical Survey Institute).
It is easy to see that the elementary school schoolyard and the park square are a continuous space.
In addition to ensuring the sunshine of the school building, a large space in the schoolyard where children are active is also used for the local men and women of all ages.…In Tokyo, which was already overcrowded, reconstruction small park was an excellent idea for efficient use of land to create a safe and comfortable urban space.
Now in the Reconstruction Small Park
Both reconstruction elementary schools and reconstruction elementary parks have changed after more than 90 years.
Elementary schools have been rebuilt, expanded, and used have been changed due to a decrease in the number of children and aging buildings.
The playground equipment at the time of the opening of the reconstruction small park was almost removed due to aging. In some cases, the park era has been abolished or reduced due to the rebuilding or expansion of schools.
Therefore, the number of places where you can understand the "continuation of schoolyards and parks" explained earlier is decreasing, but this time, when we examined the reconstruction small park in the ward, we found a place where only one place can still experience the space I found it.
…It's Hakozaki Park (18-18, Hakozakicho, Nihonbashi).
Hakozaki Park, where you can still experience the characteristics of reconstruction elementary school and reconstruction elementary school.
Former Hakozaki Elementary School, adjacent to Hakozaki Park, is a reconstruction elementary school, but was closed in 1944 after group evacuation.
However, after that, Tokyo Metropolitan Katsushika Junior High School → Nihonbashi Junior High School → The school building continues to be used as Nihonbashi High School, and after the high school moved to Sumida-ku, the building is currently being used as the Tokyo Performing Arts Activity Support Center (Suitengu Pit), which conducts stage training.
It seems that half of the U-shaped school building at Hakozaki Elementary School was demolished for the construction of a gymnasium when it was used as a high school, but the schoolyard-like space still remains. And it is still clear that it is a space where Hakozaki Park and the old schoolyard are connected.
The entrance side of the Suitengu Pit has been beautifully renovated with tiles affixed, but the old schoolyard side has a strong impression of Hakozaki Elementary School.
It is a place where you can experience the relationship between school buildings, schoolyards, and parks in reconstruction elementary schools and reconstruction elementary parks, which are not complete.
Such a place is now very valuable, so if you are near, be sure to stop by Hakozaki Park!