Den-en-chōfu explained

is a residential neighborhood located in western Ōta in southern Tokyo, Japan. It is known as one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Tokyo.

History

Den-en-chōfu was built based on the "Garden City" idea originally developed by the British city planner Ebenezer Howard.[1]

Den-en-chōfu was planned as a garden suburb of Tokyo. In the early 1900s, financier Eiichi Shibusawa bought, named, and developed the area by emulating the garden suburbs that were growing in metropolitan areas around the world, particularly those in Greater London.[2] Originally, Den-en-chōfu was developed by the .

Although the area was developing at an adequate pace, it was the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 that guaranteed his success. Central Tokyo was leveled in the earthquake, but Den-en-chōfu was virtually untouched;[3] in the aftermath, there was an exodus of people from the central city to the suburbs.

Modern times

Den-en-chōfu is one of Tokyo's most famous and exclusive neighborhoods, where many business executives and celebrities reside. The residences are very expensive and fairly large by Tokyo standards,[4] and the district is often compared to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.[5] Being 10 km away from the city center, the area is home to several natural parks. Den-en-chōfu has its own regulations for construction, in order to preserve the area's small-town atmosphere.[6]

Den-en-chōfu's success has influenced neighboring areas along Tōkyū railway lines in western Meguro, including the Yakumo, Kakinokizaka, Nakane, Okusawa and Jiyūgaoka neighbourhoods.

Education

Ōta Ward operates the public elementary and junior high schools in Den-en-chōfu.

Most of Den-en-chōfu is zoned to Den-en-chōfu Elementary School (田園調布小学校) and Den-en-chōfu Junior High School (田園調布中学校), while parts of 1-chome are zoned to Chōfu Ōtsuka Elementary School (調布大塚小学校) and Ishikawadai Junior High School (石川台中学校).[7] [8]

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Den-en-chōfu High School.

Residents

Well-known residents of the area include:

References

Notes

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Oshima, p. 140.
  2. Oshima, p. 142-144.
  3. Web site: Spacey . John . Denenchofu: Tokyo's Prestigious Garden Suburb . 21 June 2020 . Japan Talk.
  4. Web site: Denenchofu Area Guide . 21 June 2020 . Real Estate Japan . GPlusMedia Inc..
  5. Book: Sorensen, André . Iconic Planned Communities and the Challenge of Change (The City in the Twenty-First Century) . Watanabe . Shunichi . 23 August 2019 . University of Pennsylvania Press . 978-0812251142 . Chapter 7: Den-en Chōfu . 172.
  6. Oshima . Ken Tadashi . June 1996 . Denenchōfu: Building the Garden City in Japan . Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians . 55 . 2 . 140–151 . 10.2307/991116 . 991116.
  7. Web site: 小学校(住所から調べる). Ota Ward. 2022-10-09.
  8. Web site: 中学校(住所から調べる). Ota Ward. 2022-10-09.