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| Assembly Hall of Tokyo - Old Japanese Postcard |
Notes
The Assembly Hall of Tokyo now appears to be called the National Diet Building (see photo below) and at first I thought it must be something to do with your health (diet) but In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly and in modern day terms relates to the Japanese Parliament. I am working that brain cell today!
It has a United States Navy Jeep in the foreground with U.S.N 94 04633 so it must be after the war between the USA and Japan that ended in 1945.
The car in the background to the left with the yellow woodwork is a Ford Country Squire (first generation) which were built 1950-1951.
The bark on the tree is painted white to prevent cracking and splitting of the tender new bark, which can allow introduction of disease, insects and fungus.
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| Present - The Assembly Hall or National Diet Building in Tokyo, Japan |
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| Nijubashi - Main Entrance to the Imperial Palace - Old Japanese Postcard |
Notes
The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan.
The Imperial Palace hasn't changed much since 1945, (see photo below).
The old Imperial Palace was destroyed in WWII but the main palace and residences were re-built in the 1960's.
Akihito is the name of the present day Emperor and the list of Japanese Emperors dates right back to 660 BC...wow!
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| Nijubashi - Main Entrance to the Imperial Palace - 2005 |
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| Tokyo Station - Old Japanese Postcard |
Today, over 3,000 trains travel to Tokyo Station.
1.12 million passengers use the station daily, with the busiest station being Shinjuku with
3.64 million passengers a day (2007).
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| "Oshiya" ("pushers") - Shinjuku Station, Tokyo in the rush hour,1967 |
The above photo gets me thinking about the photographs Michael Wolf has taken called "Tokyo Compression" who has documented the misery of the morning commute in Tokyo. (see below)
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| Tokyo Compression by Michael Wolf |
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| Ginza Street (Shopping Center of Tokyo) - Old Japanese Postcard |
Ginza is a former swamp that was filled in in the 16th century.
Ginza in Japanese literally means "Silver Mint", which historically is related to the coin mint located in the area in the 1600's and 1700's.
Wako Department Store (the building with the clock) is probably the most exclusive department store.
Density of Tokyo is 5796 /km² and where I live in Yorkshire its 343 /km2 ....wow that is tight!
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| Ginza Street, Tokyo |
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| Asakusa Business Center in Tokyo - Old Japanese Postcard |
Today, Asakusa has around 90 shops and stalls selling Edo-style trinkets and souvenirs.
It is where you can experience one of Tokyo's past decades.
Asakusa is the center of Tokyo's Shitamachi which means "low city".
In the photo you can see the swastika (manji), but in Japan it is a sign of good luck and well being and has no association with the Nazis.
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| The busy street of Asakusa today |
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| Nihonbashi Bridge of Tokyo - Old Japanese Postcard |
Nihonbashi which means "Japan Bridge" is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo.
The bridge used to be built of wood and was reconstructed in stone during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) and was covered by an expressway in the 1960's.
You can cross a partial replica of the original wooden bridge in the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku (see photo below).
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| Replica of Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo-Tokyo Museum |
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| Nihonbashi Bridge today with the expressway overhead |
Well, I have taken myself on a mini internet tour of Tokyo and it makes me want to visit Japan even more now. Best get selling some canvas art!
