01 April, 2014

Sakura, Cherry blossoms in Nihonbashi

Here in Tokyo, Sakura has been fully in bloom since last week. I found "new species" in Nihonbashi area, so let me share with you.  

The wall of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi is colored  with cherry pink.



And also Sakura petals are floating on the wall of Mitsui Building and Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower (Mandarin Oriental). I'm sorry I can't show this as a movie.

Of course, you can enjoy real Sakura trees here.

This illumination event will be held by 6th April. Don't miss it. The Mitsukoshi-mae stop of Tokyo Metro Ginza-line will be most convenient for you.

The map of this area is here (Google Map).

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27 February, 2011

Art event / Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower

A strange object appeared suddenly on the 2nd floor in Mitsui Tower Building.

What's this? Sea shells? Cokkies? Macaroons?

From Feb.15th, An art event has been held in Nihonbashi area. On the public floors of "Coredo Nihonbashi", "Koredo Muromachi" and "Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower Building", a lot of art works created by young artists are being displayed.
... I didn't know that the 1st and 2nd had been held here.

Melted chocolate ice popsicle? (1st floor / Mitsui Tower Bldg.)
??????????? (1st basement / Mitsui Tower Bldg.)

The sign board says "please sit down and feel this art" and I felt my butt hurts.... oops, sorry.
I'd like to check the other works displayed in the other buildings before the installation ends on March 14th.
The closest station is "Mitsukosi-mae" of Tokyo Metro Ginza line.

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24 November, 2007

Mt. Fuji in the dusk / the view from Nihonbashi


This is the twilight view from our office. There were no clouds between Mt. Fuji and Nihonbashi (around 100km).


It's a typical winter weather of Kanto-area. High atmospheric pressure overlies the Pacific side of Japanese archiperago. We can enjoy crisp air during winter season.


According to the picture of Edo era, Mt. Fuji could be seen clearly from Nihonbashi. (click to the Ukiyoe of Nihonbashi 1, 2) Now a day, it can barely be seen between skyscrapers from the top of tall building.

This is a morning view of Mt. Fuji from the same position.

It's a little bid blurred. Can you see the snow-covered top of Mt. Fuji behind the white building? I think you could see it more clearly if you would click the photo to enlarge it.
(Jump to another Mt. Fuji posting)

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20 September, 2006

Nihon Ginko (The Bank of Japan) / Nihonbashi area (2)



Lee(L): What is this scary building? The haunted house?
Shige(S): It's not scary at all. This is a main building of the bank of Japan. They issue Japanese currency. This building was built in Meiji-era. This has been designated as an important national cultural asset. By the way, do you know the origin of Ginza?
L: Ginza the shopping area? Uh, I heard that the coin manufacturer was there in Edo era.
S: Exactly. Gin means silver. Silver coins were made there. Actually, in Edo era, there was Kinza, too. The place where gold (Kin) currency was manufactured. Can you imagine where the Kinza was?
L: Could it be that,,,,, here?
S: Bingo! So, Japanese currency has been issuing here over a few centuries.
L: Ah! Now I know why this place made me feel so scary. There must be a lot of ghost who ruined their life because of MONEY!
S: ...Don't scare me.

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14 September, 2006

Nihonbashi / Nihonbashi area (1)


As you well know, Nihon means Japan, and hashi (converted to bashi when some words added to the head) means bridge.
As it's name suggests, Nihonbashi is a representative bridge of Japan .
400 years ago, Tokugawa Ieyasu, 1st Shogun of Edo government, built the Nihonbashi, and he set it as a basing point of Japanese 5 main roads ( Tokaido, Nakasendo, Koshu-kaido, Nikko-kaido, Oushu-kaido ). Even now, this is the base point of the national roads. You'll can find the "Zero Milestone of Japanese Road" at foot of the bridge.

King of bridges and Lord of road (it shall reign forever... Don't you like Handel?).
It was made of wood in Edo era ( Nihonbashi drawn by Ando Hiroshige), then reconstructed with stone blocks in 1911.
Edokko (Tokyonese) were proud of this beautiful bridge.

HOWEVER, you will be shocked if you visit there now.
Ugly raised highway run over the bridge. It's one of the saddest sight I've ever seen.

In early 1960's, the period of spectacular economic growth, some politician did it. And public welcomed it as a symbol of new era.

Some culturati, economic men, people from academia have raised their voices, and now, the council of advisors to the prime minister has been discussing that how can we remove the highway from this historically important monument. They are urging to remove it away from Nihonbashi within 10 years. I'm really looking forward to seeing the bridge under the sky.

This name plate (says "Nihonbashi") was written by Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last Shogun of Edo government.

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29 October, 2005

Shrine on the roof



This is not related to walking but is very "Tokyonese" scene, so I'd like to show you. This photo is the view from the office where Shige is working, which is located near the Tokyo station. Can you see a small shrine on the roof of a building? Sometime we can find such shrines in Tokyo, or urban area of Japan. Can you imagine why this shrine is on the roof?

As everybody well knows, church of Christianity or mosque of Islam are the place to pray and the place for missionary work. But, shrine of Shinto (Japanese indigenous religion) is not. Shrine is the place to enshrine "gods" who live there. If someone bought a land for making the building and found there was a shrine, he/she could be recognized as a invader by "gods" who lived there. So he/she would rebuild a new shrine for them on the roof of the new building. I heard that some building have the pipe which is filled with soil from the ground to the roof top shrine. The building owner can say "I've never invaded You. Your house is same as before!".

That is why this shrine is located on the roof of the building although nobody can't come there. Isn't it interesting?

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