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Tokyo - COMMONERS’ CAPITAL 1: City of Townspeople

Season 5, Ep. 1
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In this walk, we’re exploring the flatlands northeast of the Palace, where much of the real work of the city has always been done. In this episode, we span the gamut, from banking citadels and corporate towers to popular culture and fertility deities.


We start at Nihonbashi, “Japan’s bridge,” originally the heart of downtown and of Tokyo’s canal network. The notice boards and the fish market have disappeared, but the construction continues. Staying south of the river, soon enough we’re in Japan’s Wall Street, though the traders no longer work the floors. But crossing over, we pass into a different world, of small wards, each originally dedicated to a particular trade or craft. It doesn’t take us too long to make our way back to the main drag, where Mitsukoshi and Mitsui still ply their respective trades. But as we move north into Kanda (the “deity’s fields”), so the buildings get shorter and the story changes again. The next river has been replaced, as a way to get around, by rail lines. But it’s still possible to duck into a small, quiet shrine, before making our way across it into the neon chaos of Akihabara, with its anime, idols, and maid cafes. The walk ends back near the station, where the local authority is making space for yet more office towers.


You can follow the walk on this map: bit.ly/3Iybabn 

And you can find the full transcript here: bit.ly/3pSzUEG 


See a sneak peek on TikTok: tiktok.com/@walkhistoricity and Instagram: instagram.com/WALKHISTORICITY


WRITER AND PRESENTER: Angus Lockyer

PRODUCER: Jelena Sofronijevic


This series was supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. Find out more at: gbsf.org.uk

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