Kuramae

This area is located in the southeastern part of Taito Ward, Tokyo. On the right bank of the Sumida River, a rice storehouse was built by the Edo Shogunate in 1620 (Genwa 6), and the area in front of the storehouse along the old Oshu Kaido road was called Okuramae, which gave it its current name. Many rice merchants ran bill-sender businesses here, and it became a financial center. Today, the area is home to wholesalers of toys, stationery, artificial flowers, and other items. In 1954 (Showa 29), the Kokugikan Sumo Hall was completed, and the area became known nationwide for its sumo wrestling, but due to its small size, it was moved again to Ryogoku in 1985. This is also the birthplace of the Tokyo Institute of Technology (formerly Kuramae Technical College). Kuramae Bridge spans the Sumida River between the area and Sumida Ward.

[Kiyoshi Sawada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都台東区(たいとうく)南東部の地区。隅田(すみだ)川右岸で、1620年（元和6）江戸幕府の米蔵が建設され、その蔵の前にあたる旧奥州街道筋の一帯を御蔵前(おくらまえ)とよび、現在の地名となった。米を扱う商人に札差(ふださし)業を営む者が多く金融の中心となった。現在は玩具(がんぐ)、文具、造花などの問屋が集中している。1954年（昭和29）国技館が完成し、相撲(すもう)で全国に知られるようになったが、狭小なため1985年両国へ再移転した。ここは東京工業大学（旧、蔵前高等工業）の発祥地でもある。墨田区との間の隅田川には蔵前橋が架かっている。

［沢田　清］

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