Asakusa

Japanese: 浅草 - あさくさ

The name of a district in Taito Ward, Tokyo. In the narrow sense, it refers to the entertainment district and entertainment area around Senso-ji Temple. Since the Edo period, the eastern part of Taito Ward has been collectively called Asakusa, and was named in 1878 (Meiji 11). In 1947 (Showa 22), the former Asakusa Ward merged with the former Shitaya Ward to form Taito Ward. The Sumida River flows to the east, and Shirahigebashi Bridge, Sakurabashi Bridge, Kototoibashi Bridge, Azumabashi Bridge, Komagatabashi Bridge, Umayabashi Bridge, and Kuramaebashi Bridge cross it, bordering Sumida Ward. To the west is Ueno. From Hanakawado near Azumabashi to Kuramae, wholesalers selling footwear, toys, stationery, etc. line the Sumida River. Kuramae was home to the Kuramae Kokugikan Sumo Hall (which moved to Ryogoku in 1985). The Tobu Railway Isesaki Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (starting point), Toei Subway Asakusa Line, and Tsukuba Express all pass through the area.

[Ryukichi Komori]

History

It is said that a settlement was formed around Sensoji Temple in the Nara period, and it is one of the oldest historical areas in Tokyo. The first recorded mention of Asakusa carpenters can be found in the Azuma Kagami, an entry for 1181 (Jisho 5). During the Edo period, Asakusa was urbanized and achieved remarkable development. The Oshu Kaido road ran through Asakusa from Asakusa Gomon (now Asakusabashi) to Senju-shuku from north to south, promoting development and forming towns along the road. In 1620 (Genwa 6), the shogunate built the Asakusa rice storehouse on the Sumida Riverbank in the southern part of the road. Fudasashi merchants lined the street in front of the storehouse. In 1657 (Meireki 3), the Yoshiwara brothel, which was located on the east side of Fukiyacho, Nihonbashi (present-day Chuo Ward), was moved to Nihonzutsumi, Asakusa in the north, and flourished as Shin-Yoshiwara. Between 1842 (Tenpo 13) and 1843, the three Edo theaters, Nakamura-za, Ichimura-za, and Kawarazaki-za (later Morita-za and Morita-za), were moved to Saruwakacho, Asakusa, near Shin-Yoshiwara, forming a theater district. Senso-ji Temple was located in the center of the area, and the surrounding area was a bustling temple town. As Asakusa in Edo developed in this way, it also had the characteristics of a townspeople's town and temple district, and was located in Edo's downtown area. Being a townspeople's town gave birth to unique traditions such as downtown humanity, downtown atmosphere, and downtown temperament.

[Ryukichi Komori]

Downtown

The area around Sensoji Temple is now one of the most popular entertainment districts in Tokyo. It is said to have been an entertainment district since the Genroku period (1688-1704), and became established as such after the Kyoho era (1716-1736). Within the Sensoji temple grounds, there were teahouses and the famous toothpick shops lined up in a narrow space. The west side and rear of the main hall of Sensoji Temple is commonly known as "Okuyama," and was the site of shows such as acrobatics, magic tricks, and exhibitions of strange people and unusual animals. Street performers such as Shidoken the street narrator, Azuma Keshinosuke the shinadama performer, Matsui Gensui the spinning top performer, and Nagai Hyosuke the iai performer performed a variety of arts, and there was also an archery arena.

The grounds of Sensoji Temple were confiscated by the Meiji government in 1871 (Meiji 4), and designated as a park by a proclamation of the Dajokan in 1873. The park was generally called Asakusa Park. In 1883, a pond was dug in the rice paddy (formerly known as Hiyokechi) on the west side of Sensoji Temple, and the excavated soil was used to fill in the pond's banks to create a block (which would later become the sixth block). The pond was called Oike and the Park Pond. In 1884, the park was divided into seven blocks. Block 1 was the area around the main hall of Sensoji Temple, and includes Asakusa Shrine, Nitenmon Gate, Hozomon Gate (rebuilt in April 1964, formerly known as Niomon Gate), the five-story pagoda (rebuilt in 1973 on the opposite side of the approach to the temple from its old location), and Awashima-do Hall. Block 2 was the Nakamise area. District 3 is where Denpoin Temple, the main temple of Sensoji Temple, is located. District 4 is a forested area in the park, including Oike Pond and Hyotan Pond (located to the east of Oike Pond). District 5 is an area commonly known as Okuyama, and Hanayashiki belonged to this area. District 6 was originally lined with sideshow booths, and later became a movie theater district. District 7 was an adjunct to the park in the southeast, but was later excluded from the park. Districts 1 to 6 continued to exist as administrative towns until 1965 (Showa 40), but the land of Asakusa Park was returned to Sensoji Temple in 1947 (Showa 22), and it ceased to be a park.

In 1945 (Showa 20), Sensoji Temple, the Roku-ku movie district and the surrounding area were burned down during the war. However, Sensoji Temple's main hall was rebuilt in 1958, the Kaminarimon Gate was restored in 1960 and the five-story pagoda was completed in 1973. Roku-ku reopened soon after the war and has flourished as a popular entertainment district. There are still movie theaters, strip theaters and entertainment halls, but in recent years, they have lost customers to other establishments, with the closure of Denkikan (1976) and Kokusai Theater (1982) following which redevelopment of Roku-ku is underway.

During this time, from 1890 (Meiji 23) until its collapse in the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), Ryōunkaku was a famous spot in Asakusa. Commonly known as the Asakusa Twelve Stories, it was a facility where people could enjoy a panoramic view. The Sixth District is where Japan's first permanent motion picture cinema, Denkikan, opened, and since then, many films have been screened there, spanning the history of silent films to talkies. In terms of theater, the Sixth District was the setting for the popularity of opera in the Taisho era, revues and light comedies in the early Showa era, followed by light comedy, female swordplay, and striptease, each of which colored the era. Many actors have made their mark on the world after stepping onto the stage of Asakusa, including Shimizu Kin'ichi (Shimikin), Tayari Kizo, Enomoto Ken'ichi (Enoken), Furukawa Roppa, Masuda Keaton, and Banjun Zaburo, to name just a few.

[Ryukichi Komori]

Events

The Setsubun Festival in February, the Kannonjigen Festival in March, the Sanja Matsuri in May, the plant market at Sengen Shrine in June, the ground cherries market in July, the Kiku Kuyo in October, the Tori no Ichi festival at Otori Shrine in November, and the Toshinoichi festival in December are particularly popular. Among these, the Sanja Matsuri boasts the most spectacular performances in the Kanto region, including the ancient Dengaku Mai dance and the grand entrance and exit of three large portable shrines. Sengen Shrine is located north of Senso-ji Temple, and the large-scale plant market held as an early summer festival market determines the price of festival plants in Tokyo. At the ground cherries market, potted ground cherries are sold at stalls covered with bamboo lattice that fill the grounds of Senso-ji Temple. The nighttime scenery is particularly beautiful. The Chrysanthemum Memorial Service is a chrysanthemum replacement ceremony to pray for long life and good health, based on the story of Chrysanthemum Jido, and is a rare event that still retains the ancient style. At the end of the year, the main hall is cleaned of soot, and the principal image is opened to the public once a year. The New Year's Market features a Hagoita market that resembles a reenactment of the Edo Meisho Zue, and is a lively event unmatched in the Kanto region.

[Ryukichi Komori]

“Asakusa Ward Magazine” (1914, Asakusa Ward)” ▽ “Taito Series 1-4” (1962-1968, Taito Ward)” ▽ “Asakusa Kuramae History by Saburo Ishizu (1958, Kuramae History Publishing Association)”

Kototoi Bridge
The Gelber Bridge was built as part of the reconstruction work after the Great Kanto Earthquake. It is characterized by its beautiful straight lines. It was completed in 1928 (Showa 3). Its total length is 236.8m. Taito and Sumida Wards, Tokyo ©Yutaka Sakano ">

Kototoi Bridge

Ground Cherry City
The market is held in commemoration of the 46,000th day, the anniversary of the Asakusa Kannon (Sensoji Temple)'s marriage on July 10th. On the 9th and 10th, the market is crowded with many visitors looking for potted Chinese lanterns at the outdoor stalls. Taito Ward, Tokyo © Sun Point Hideyo Sato ">

Ground Cherry City

Hagoita Market
It is said that the origin of the trade was the sale of oshie hagoita (pictured shuttlecocks) at the New Year's market. The photo shows the Asakusa Hagoita Market, held from December 17th to 19th. Items with themes of Kabuki and those reflecting the current social conditions are lined up in the store. The price is decided through skillful negotiations between the seller and the buyer, and the sale is completed. Sensoji Temple, Taito Ward, Tokyo © Sun Point, Sato Hideyo ">

Hagoita Market

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) and Utagawa Hiroshige (II) "The Thirty-Six Pride of Edo: Asakusa New Year's Market"
A nishiki-e from the Edo period depicting the scenery of the Tonen-ichi (New Year's Market) in Asakusa. It depicts people coming and going to buy decorations and food to welcome the New Year. Owned by the National Diet Library .

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) and Utagawa Hiroshige (Hiroshige II)…

Hiroshige Utagawa, "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Edo, Asakusa City"
1853 (Kaei 6), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Edo and Asakusa"

Asakusa Park
The tower in the background is Ryounkaku. "Tokyo View Photo Edition" (1893 (Meiji 26)) Owned by the National Diet Library .

Asakusa Park

Nakamise in the Meiji Period
Brick-built shops and restaurants lined both sides of the street. "Tokyo-fu Meisho Zue" (1912, Meiji 45) National Diet Library

Nakamise in the Meiji Period

Asakusa 6th Ward
With theaters and cinemas lining the street, it was a bustling entertainment district. "Tokyo Famous Places Photograph Album" (1910, Meiji 43) National Diet Library

Asakusa 6th Ward

Ryounkaku
Also known as the Asakusa Twelve Stories, it is known as the first building in Japan to have an electric elevator. It was completed in 1890 (Meiji 23). It is 52 meters tall. "Tokyo View Photo Edition" (1893 (Meiji 26)) Owned by the National Diet Library ">

Ryounkaku

Yoshiwara in the Meiji Period
Shin-Yoshiwara, Asakusa Ward (present-day Senzoku, Taito Ward, Tokyo). "Traveling Houses, Volume 29: Capital" (1900, Meiji 33), National Diet Library

Yoshiwara in the Meiji Period

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

東京都台東区(たいとうく)内の一地区名。狭義では、浅草寺(せんそうじ)周辺の繁華街、盛り場の呼称。江戸時代から台東区の東部一帯を浅草と総称し、1878年（明治11）区名とされた。旧浅草区は1947年（昭和22）旧下谷(したや)区と合併し、台東区となった。東に隅田川(すみだがわ)が流れ、白鬚橋(しらひげばし)、桜橋、言問橋(ことといばし)、吾妻橋(あづまばし)、駒形橋(こまがたばし)、厩橋(うまやばし)、蔵前橋(くらまえばし)が架かり、墨田区に接する。西は上野に続く。吾妻橋近くの花川戸から蔵前にかけて隅田川沿いに履き物、玩具(がんぐ)、文房具などの問屋が並ぶ。蔵前には蔵前国技館（1985年両国に移転）があった。東武鉄道伊勢崎線(とうぶてつどういせさきせん)、東京地下鉄銀座線（起点）、都営地下鉄浅草線、つくばエクスプレスが通じる。

［小森隆吉］

沿革

浅草寺を中心にして、奈良時代には集落の形成があったといわれ、東京のなかでも、もっとも古い歴史のある土地。記録上は『吾妻鑑(あづまかがみ)』治承(じしょう)5年（1181）の項に、「浅草大工……」とあるのが初めとされている。江戸時代、浅草は市街化され、目覚ましい発展を遂げた。浅草御門（現、浅草橋）から千住宿(せんじゅしゅく)へ、奥州街道が南北に浅草を貫通して発展を促進し、沿道に町が形成された。1620年（元和6）街道南部の隅田河岸に幕府が浅草米蔵を建造。その蔵の前通りには札差(ふださし)商人が店を並べた。北部の浅草日本堤(にほんづつみ)には、1657年（明暦3）日本橋葺屋町(ふきやちょう)東側（現、中央区）にあった遊廓(ゆうかく)吉原が移され、新吉原と称して大いに栄えた。1842年（天保13）から翌1843年にかけて、新吉原近くの浅草猿若町(さるわかちょう)に中村座、市村座、河原崎座（のち森田座、守田座）の江戸三座が移転し、芝居街を形成した。地域の中央に浅草寺があり、その周辺は門前町としてにぎわった。江戸の浅草はこのような発展を遂げるとともに、町人の町、寺院街という特徴をもち、位置的には江戸の下町に属した。町人の町であったことは下町人情、下町情緒、下町気質といった独特の伝統を生んだ。

［小森隆吉］

繁華街

浅草寺周辺は、いま東京都内屈指の盛り場である。元禄(げんろく)時代（1688～1704）ごろから盛り場であったといわれ、享保(きょうほう)年間（1716～1736）以降は、盛り場として定着した。浅草寺境内には水茶屋が小屋掛けし、名物の楊枝屋(ようじや)が所狭しと並んでいた。浅草寺本堂西側と裏手は、俗に「奥山(おくやま)」とよばれ、軽業(かるわざ)や奇術、異形の人、珍獣の展覧などの見せ物興行が行われ、辻講釈(つじこうしゃく)の志道軒、品玉(しなだま)の東芥子之助(あずまけしのすけ)、独楽回(こままわし)の松井源水、居合(いあい)の長井兵助らの大道芸人が諸芸を演じ、矢場もあった。

　浅草寺境内は、1871年（明治4）明治政府に公収、1873年太政官布告(だじょうかんふこく)に基づいて公園地に指定された。公園は一般に浅草公園とよばれた。1883年浅草寺西側の水田（旧火除地(ひよけち)）を掘って池とし、掘り出した土で池畔を埋立てて街区（後の六区にあたる）をつくった。池は大池、公園の池という。1884年公園地は一区から七区に分けられた。一区は浅草寺本堂周囲で、浅草神社(あさくさじんじゃ)、二天門、宝蔵門（1964年4月再建。旧称仁王門）、五重塔（1973年旧位置と参道を隔てた反対側に再建）、淡島堂(あわしまどう)などのある所。二区は仲見世(なかみせ)の地。三区は浅草寺本坊の伝法院(でんぽういん)がある所。四区は公園中の林泉地で、大池、ひょうたん池（大池の東隣にあった）があった。五区は俗に奥山とよばれた所で、花屋敷がここに属した。六区は初め見世物小屋が並び、のち映画館街となる。七区は公園南東部の公園付属地で、のち公園地から除外。行政町名上、一区から六区までは1965年（昭和40）まで存続したが、浅草公園地は1947年（昭和22）浅草寺に返還され、公園ではなくなった。

　1945年（昭和20）浅草寺、六区の映画街をはじめ一帯は戦災で焼失した。しかし浅草寺は1958年本堂再建、1960年雷門(かみなりもん)の復原、1973年五重塔の竣工(しゅんこう)をみた。六区も戦後まもなく再開され、大衆娯楽の街として栄えてきた。現在も映画館、ストリップ劇場、演芸場などがあるが、近年客足をほかに奪われ、電気館の閉館（1976）、国際劇場の閉鎖（1982）などが続いたため、六区の再開発が進められている。

　この間、1890年（明治23）から関東大震災（1923）で崩壊するまで、凌雲閣(りょううんかく)は浅草の名所であった。俗に浅草十二階とよばれ、眺望を楽しむ施設であった。六区は日本最初の活動写真常設館「電気館」の開館した所であり、以来、幾多の映画が上映された。それは無声映画からトーキーの歴史であった。演劇面での六区は、大正のオペラ、昭和初年のレビュー、軽喜劇、ついで軽演劇、女剣劇、ストリップが流行、それぞれの時代を彩った。浅草の舞台を踏んで世に出た俳優は数多く、清水金一（シミキン）、田谷力三(たやりきぞう)、榎本健一(えのもとけんいち)（エノケン）、古川緑波(ふるかわろっぱ)、益田喜頓(ますだキートン)、伴淳三郎(ばんじゅんざぶろう)ら枚挙にいとまがない。

［小森隆吉］

行事

2月の節分会(せつぶんえ)、3月の観音示現会、5月の三社祭(さんじゃまつり)、6月の浅間神社(せんげんじんじゃ)の植木市、7月のほおずき市、10月の菊供養、11月の鷲神社(おおとりじんじゃ)の酉の市(とりのいち)、12月の歳の市(としのいち)はとくに多くの人出がある。なかでも三社祭に行われる古風を残す田楽舞(でんがくまい)と、大神輿(おおみこし)3基の宮出し・宮入りの豪華さは、関東一を誇っている。浅間神社は浅草寺北方にあって、初夏の縁日市として開かれる大規模な植木市によって、東京都内の縁日植木の値が定まる。ほおずき市は浅草寺の境内いっぱいに、よしず張りの売店が並んで、鉢植えホオズキが売られる。夜の風景がことさらみごとである。菊供養は、菊慈童の故事にちなむ、延命息災祈願の菊替(きくかえ)仏事で、古式をいまに残す行事としては珍しい。暮れには本堂の煤(すす)払いがあって、年に1回の本尊の開扉(かいひ)が行われる。歳の市は『江戸名所図会(えどめいしょずえ)』の再現をみるような羽子板市がたち、関東には類のないにぎわいを呈する。

［小森隆吉］

『『浅草区誌』（1914・浅草区）』▽『『台東叢書1～4』（1962～1968・台東区）』▽『石津三郎著『浅草蔵前史』（1958・蔵前史刊行会）』