Kabutocho - Helmet

The name of a street in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, became Nihonbashi Kabutocho in 1947 (Showa 22). Securities companies are concentrated around the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the world's third largest after the two exchanges in New York, and the area is affectionately known as the "island." The name Kabutocho is synonymous with the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is also synonymous with the Japanese securities market. The name comes from the legend of Kabutozuka, which is located in one corner of the town. There are various theories about the origin of Kabutozuka, including one that says that Minamoto no Yoshiie built a mound of helmets on his triumphant return from his conquest of Oshu to pray for the protection of the gods and Buddhas of the Eastern Barbarians and for victory in battle. Japan's first national bank was established here in 1873 (Meiji 6), and Japan's first Tokyo Stock Exchange (current Tokyo Stock Exchange) opened in 1878. Since then, many securities companies have moved into the area, and the foundations for the area to become the center of the securities industry and securities market have been established. Since the end of World War II, Kabutocho has consistently worked to democratize stocks and contributed to popularizing stock investment.

[Atsushi Oketa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都中央区にある町名で、1947年（昭和22）以降日本橋兜町となる。ニューヨークの2取引所に次いで世界第3位にある東京証券取引所を中心に証券会社が集中し、「島」の別称で親しまれ、兜町の名は東京証券取引所の同義語として、また日本の証券市場の代名詞ともなっている。兜町の名は、町の一角にある兜塚の伝承による。兜塚の起源については、源義家(みなもとのよしいえ)が奥州征伐の凱旋(がいせん)のおり、兜で塚を築いて、東夷(とうい)鎮護の神仏加護と戦勝を祈願したという説をはじめ、諸説がある。1873年（明治6）に日本最初の国立銀行がこの地に設立され、1878年に日本最初の東京株式取引所（現在の東京証券取引所）が開設されてから、多数の証券会社が進出し、証券業界、証券市場の中心となる基礎がつくられた。兜町は第二次世界大戦後、一貫して株式の民主化への努力を重ねて株式投資の大衆化に貢献してきた。

［桶田　篤］

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