Nagatacho - Nagatacho

Nagatacho is an area in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, south of the Imperial Palace, separated by the inner moat (Sakurada moat). It occupies the Yamanote plateau and is the political center with the National Diet Building, making it a byword for Japanese politics. The name is said to have originated from the fact that in the early Edo period, there were many samurai residences with the surname Nagata, such as Nagata Denjuro. The area was the residence of many fudai feudal lords, but in the early Meiji period it became military land, and in 1920 (Taisho 9), construction of the National Diet Building began and was completed in 1936 (Showa 11). Nagatacho became known as the center of national politics. In addition to the Diet Building, there are the Prime Minister's Official Residence, the Diet Buildings of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, the National Diet Library, the Cabinet Office (formerly the Prime Minister's Office), and Hie Shrine, famous for its Sanno Festival. The former main building of the Ministry of Justice (red brick building) was designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government in 1994. The area is served by the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Chiyoda Line, Yurakucho Line, Hanzomon Line, and Namboku Line. The Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route runs through the area on the north and east sides, Uchibori-dori Street runs through the area on the north side, and Sotobori-dori Street runs through the area on the south side. The area is surrounded by greenery and has a beautiful modern landscape.

[Kiyoshi Sawada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都千代田区、皇居の南、内堀（桜田堀）を隔てた地区。山手(やまのて)台地を占め、国会議事堂があり政治の中心地で、「永田町」といえば日本政界の代名詞となっている。江戸初期、永田伝十郎ら永田姓の武家屋敷が多かったのが地名の由来といわれる。譜代(ふだい)諸大名の屋敷地であったが、明治初期は軍用地などとなり、1920年（大正9）国会議事堂の建設に着手、1936年（昭和11）完成、永田町の名は国政の中心として知られるに至った。議事堂のほか首相官邸、衆参両院の議員会館、国立国会図書館、内閣府（旧、総理府）、山王祭で名高い日枝神社(ひえじんじゃ)などがある。法務省旧本館（赤れんが棟）は国指定（1994）重要文化財。東京地下鉄丸ノ内線・千代田線・有楽町線・半蔵門線・南北線の各線が通じている。なお首都高速道路都心環状線が北側と東側、内堀通りが北側、外堀通りが南側を通り、緑に囲まれた近代的景観の美しい地区である。

［沢田　清］

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