Official

　In the Meiji era, when the Japan-US Osamu Trade Treaty was concluded and trade with other countries began, "Tsukiji Foreign Residents' Settlement" was set up in the current Akashicho area. Today's Hatoba Park is literally a wharf, with steamers coming and going between Yokohama and Tokyo, and around St. Luke Garden, it was called Tsukiji Beach or Kaigan Street, and there were many sailing ships.

　Unlike Yokohama, which prospered as a trading port, the opening market in Tokyo, that is, Tsukiji foreign settlements, gradually gathered with churches, mission schools, hospitals and ministerial halls, and deepened their cultural colors. The windows of the Western-style building were warm lights, the sound of the church bells echoed, and on Christmas, hymns filled the town. In one corner there was the American Embassy.

　From 1875 to 23, it corresponds to a part of the south side of the site of the current St. Luke Garden, which covers five blocks that span the settlement No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 21 and No. 22. Just around Akashicho Riverside Park, which approached the curved slope, the sunbeams flowing beautifully.

　At present, the only thing that remains is the monument to the site of the U.S.

　The monument to the site of the U.S. Embassy is a stone monument that is approximately 80 cm square and 30 cm thick. It is made of stone cut off on the coast of Izu Peninsula, with a symbolic design of the United States. There are three types: Goryo stars, shield-shaped star-shaped flags, and white head eagle, and a total of five remain in Chuo-ku.

　It is preserved in two places, three in the courtyard of St. Luke's International Hospital and two in St. Luke's Garden Water Park, all of which are Goryo's stars and shield-shaped star-shaped flags, in the courtyard of St. Luke's International Hospital, there is a white head eagle.

　The reason why I said earlier "in Chuo-ku" is that there are actually eight monuments to the site of the U.S. It means that five of them are located in Chuo-ku. Then, where did the other three go?

　The answer was simple, and it was given to the American Embassy in Akasaka in 1984 as a sign of friendship between Japan and the United States. Now it seems to be displayed in the front yard of the embassy.

"But I still don't know what purpose the monument to the site of the U.S. Embassy was made."

　I said to the yellow little bird, wrapping a mug with a warm cafe or me with both hands.

"Yes, now it is displayed in a well-maintained place as the central ward Tangible Cultural Property, but I don't even know if it was something to decorate in the first place."

"Yes, when it is discovered, I would like you to put them side by side in a desolated garden, where it is slightly elevated."

　The yellow little bird turned around the pages of several books, with his neck swaying and splashing his eyes on the edge of a small plate with milk.

"In the 'Walking in Chuo Ward'," Fugoro Kawasaki said.

　‐I don't know what I used for. It is said that it was carried at the time of relocation from Azabu Zenpukuji Temple, which Harris used as a mission.‐

　I'm talking about it. In the booklet entitled "Chuo-ku Residents' Cultural Properties"

　‐But unfortunately, it's completely unclear when and for what these stones were made.‐

　And they use the word "a mysterious existence."

"Well, it's really a mystery,"

　And I do my arm.

"In addition, if you read the newsletter from the local room of the Kyobashi Library Regional Archives, if you made it in the sense of commemorative,

　‐Why do you think there are five or six things that can be done with one?‐

　I'm telling you.

　When the U.S. Embassy moved to Akasaka in 1890, it was Kikuji Ando who guessed that the 13th Minister Swift made it to preserve the existence of the United States Mission in this area for future generations. "

　However, for the purpose of this monument, Haruro Kawasaki, a leading expert in Tsukiji foreign settlement research, is another reasoning.

"In the Tsukiji Foreign Settlement,"

　‐July 4, 1876 (Meiji 9) marks the centennial of the United States' independence. After moving to the residence completed in Tsukiji Reservation with his family, Minister Bingham came up with the idea of engraving a memorial stone to the Japanese masonry on the occasion of his 100th birthday of his homeland.‐

　And he guessed it."

"I don't know anything about the purpose, application, or when it was created."

"In addition, I found a sentence that I couldn't hear,"

　And the yellow little bird breathed.

"This is a book called" Tsukiji Akashicho Past and Present "written by Chiaki Kitagawa, but I wrote a story about the old man in Akashicho. It is noted that the old man remembered ten monuments."

"Ten?"

　And I curse my eyebrows.

　I thought that there were 8 units in all, but did there really be 10 units?

"In addition, according to the survey map of 1883, Kitagawa pays attention to the fact that there are several symbols that indicate the location of something in the garden of the American Embassy. This is the figure that he created based on the survey map."

"What is it?"

　And I looked seriously at the yellow little bird's open page.

　There are 18 U-shaped signs in the garden, with several lumps of each, in total.

"If this mark indicates the place where the monument is placed, there were all 18 monuments at the ruins of the United States Mission."

"18!"

　I gave a very loud voice.

"Mr. Kitahara, too. This seems to be a symbol that represents the location of the monument. And what's interesting is that until the very beginning of the Heisei era, the remnants remained as they were."

　Said the yellow little bird.

"The little height of the garden, which had raised the morning star flag, remained, and it was desolated, but the seasonal flowers swayed in the wind, and it seemed that the time was flowing. You could see the Western-style building and the church building.

　After that, the construction of the St. Luke Garden began, and the one was covered with white walls. The walk in Chuo Ward (3) is a book written at that time, and I feel like I can see the profile of Akashicho, which is about to change drastically. "

"It was in 1994 that St. Luke's Garden was established."

　The monuments given in the first year of the Meiji era are the Great Kanto Earthquake of the Taisho era, the war in the Showa era, the reconstruction and development after that, the Heisei era when Akashicho changed drastically, and Reiwa. It has survived.

"What kind of building was the American legation?"

"It was a cream-colored wooden two-story Western-style building."

"Wow, it's nice! But I don't have any pictures left."

　By the way, I go to the computer and open the homepage of the Chuo City Library.

　Even if you search for images stored in the regional archives, you will not see photos of the American Embassy. It doesn't seem to be painted in Nishiki-e. Oh, I'm sorry. But

"Surely, there's nothing left."

　And the yellow little bird said, and when he was on the keyboard, he bounced the letters one by one with a beak, jumping.

「hoteru metoropo-ru」

　Hotel Metro Paul, I'm going to tell you.

　Then a monochrome photo of a Western-style building with a chimney attached to his head with a shallow triangular roof came out.

"The American Embassy moved to Akasaka in 1890. After that, the building was left in the hands of the hotel owner. The United Club in Yokohama."

　Three square buildings with clapboards are lined up toward the back of the site, overlapping diagonally.

"Hey, there was a garden here,"

　And the yellow little bird turns his beak to the right of the screen.

"The one with the Sumida River. It's Tsukiji Beach. Not in the picture, but there must be a lot of sailing ships. At high tide, the tide was full, and the grass of the garden gave a peaceful and calm impression."

"That's good! What was the inside of the building?"

　Then, the yellow little bird fluttered a little specially, and when he chose one of the books spread on the table, he pinched with a beak, made his feathers flutter, and turned the page dexterously.

"Here, here,"

　The yellow little bird climbed on the page and jumped like following that part.

　I'm going to read it.

　It was a diary of an American girl named Clara Whitney.

"Clara's father was a foreigner hired by Arinori Mori, who was invited to the Commercial Code Training Institute. It's the predecessor of Hitotsubashi University. At that time, there was a school building in Kibiki-cho, and the Kurara family seemed to live there."

　In his diary, along with his mother and his sister Adi, he asked the American Missionary and told him about the moment he had been in the guest room.

　‐It was a beautiful and big house, and there was a nice carpet that was used in the United States. ----- a warm, pleasant, luxurious furniture house‐

　I'm writing it.

"Wow, amazing! I was able to know what the American Embassy was like, thanks to Krara's writing! There is no way to know that people at the time have to keep records."

"In addition, Clara's older brother is interpreting for the American Mission,"

"I'm connected!"

　I'm moved all at once.

　Now, I and the yellow little bird decided to infer various things the true identity of the monument at the site of the American Embassy. Who made it for what purpose? And when was it made?

　Surrounded by many books scattered on the table, I and the yellow little bird went back in time to Akashicho, Meiji period, for a while.

Continue

♪References

`` Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia '' Chuo-ku Tourism Association / `` Walking in Chuo-ku Ward (3) '' Fugoro Kawasaki, Chuo-ku Planning Department Public Relations Section 1992 / `` Chuo-ku Residents' Cultural Properties '' Chuo-ku Board of Education 1991 / `` News from Local Room No. 61 '' Kikiji Akashi Kyobashi Library Regional Materials Room 1

Correspondent Minato kid, Chuo-ku Tourism Association
No. 220 February 4, 2024