Ōtemachi Explained

Ōtemachi
Native Name:	大手町
Native Name Lang:	ja
Settlement Type:	District
Coordinates:	35.6881°N 139.7642°W
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Japan
Subdivision Type1:	City
Subdivision Name1:	Tokyo
Subdivision Type2:	Ward
Subdivision Name2:	Chiyoda
Subdivision Type3:	Area
Subdivision Name3:	Kōjimachi Area
Unit Pref:	Metric
Population As Of:	February 1, 2009
Population Total:	2
Population Density Km2:	auto
Timezone1:	JST
Utc Offset1:	+9
Postal Code:	100-0004
Area Code:	03

is a district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is located north of Tokyo Station and Marunouchi, east of the Imperial Palace, west of Nihonbashi and south of Kanda. It is the location of the former site of the village of Shibazaki, the most ancient part of Tokyo.

Ōtemachi is known as a center of Japanese journalism, housing the main offices of three of the "big five" newspapers as well as being a key financial center and headquarters for large Japanese corporations. It is also the location of the Japan Postal Museum (TeiPark).

The Tokyo Fire Department is headquartered in Ōtemachi.^[1]

History

Ōtemachi derives its name of Ōtemon ("Great Hand Gate") of Edo Castle. During the Edo period, various daimyōs constructed their lavish residences outside the castle, such as the residence of the daimyō Matsudaira Tadamasa. Ōtemachi was completely destroyed during the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657. It was rebuilt, albeit on a smaller, less grand scale. Ōtemachi remained however in the possession of the various daimyō families until the end of the Tokugawa system and the start of the Meiji period in the 1860s. The various daimyō families lost their lots as the area was repossessed by the government, who constructed various governmental offices. Today nothing remains of its residential past, the area is dotted with modern high-rise buildings.

In order to gain revenue, the government decided to sell the area into private hands. The area was completely redeveloped.

Businesses based in Ōtemachi

• Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co.
• Daiwa Securities Group
• Development Bank of Japan^[2]
• Japan Post
• Kyowa Hakko Kirin^[3]
• Marubeni^[4]
• Millea Holdings
• Mitsubishi Estate Co.^[5]
• Mitsui & Co.^[6]
• Mitsui Life Insurance Co.
• Mizuho Financial Group
• Japan Finance Corporation^[7]
• Nihon Keizai Shimbun^[8]
• Nippon Soda^[9]
• Nippon Telegraph and Telephone^[10]
• Nishimura & Asahi
• Sankei Shimbun
• Shin-Etsu Chemical^[11]
• Yomiuri Shimbun^[12]

The Japanese offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, Citibank, Cushman & Wakefield, and Protiviti are also located in Ōtemachi.

Railway and subway stations

• Ōtemachi Station (Chiyoda Line, Hanzōmon Line, Marunouchi Line, Toei Mita Line, Tozai Line)
• Tokyo Station, actually in the neighboring Marunouchi district (Chūō Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Keiyō Line, Marunouchi Line, Shinkansen, Sōbu Line, Yamanote Line, Yokosuka Line)

It is possible to transfer between the two stations via underground passages.

See also

• Taira no Masakado

Notes and References

1. "Website Policy." Tokyo Fire Department. Retrieved on May 16, 2010.
2. "Locations and Directory." Development Bank of Japan. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
3. "Overview." Kyowa Hakko Kirin. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
4. "Company Profile." Marubeni. Retrieved on April 12, 2014. "Head Office 4-2, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8088, Japan"
5. "Corporate Data." Mitsubishi Estate. Retrieved on March 7, 2010.
6. "Corporate Profile." Mitsui & Co. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
7. "Profile." Japan Finance Corporation. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
8. "Company Profile." Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
9. "Corporate Data." Nippon Soda. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
10. "Corporate Data." Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
11. "Company Profile." Shin-Etsu Chemical. Retrieved on January 21, 2015.
12. "組織体制." Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.