Jinbōchō, Tokyo Explained

Kanda-Jinbōchō
Settlement Type:District in Tokyo
Image Alt:Kanda-Jimbocho 2021.jpg
Coordinates:35.6955°N 139.7581°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Japan
Subdivision Type1:Prefecture
Subdivision Type2:Ward
Subdivision Name2: Chiyoda
Subdivision Type3:Area
Subdivision Name3:Kanda
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:3,205
Population As Of:2017

, commonly known as Jinbōchō or Jimbōchō, is a district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, known as Tokyo's center of used-book stores and publishing houses, and as a popular antique and curio shopping area.

The center of Jinbōchō is at the crossing of Yasukuni-dōri and Hakusan-dōri, above Jimbōchō Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line, Toei Mita Line and Toei Shinjuku Line. The prestigious Tokyo Book Binding Club and Literature Preservation Society are located in Jinbōchō, and the area is within walking distance of a number of major universities, including Nihon, Senshu, Meiji, Hosei and Juntendo.

Jinbōchō is officially known (in addresses, etc.) as, and is part of the former ward of Kanda.

History

Jinbōchō is likely named after a member of the, possibly who lived in the area at the end of the 17th century.

During the late nineteenth century when Japan underwent modernization, foreign studies schools opened in the area, such as Bansho Shirabesho (Institute for Research of Foreign Documents) and Tokyo Gaikokugo Gakko (Tokyo School of Foreign Languages) which would later become the University of Tokyo and Hitotsubashi University. Many bookstores opened in the area, and it became established as a book town. In 1913, a large fire destroyed much of the area. In the wake of the fire, a former teacher named Shigeo Iwanami opened a bookstore in Jinbōchō which eventually grew into today's Iwanami Shoten publishing house. In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake caused a fire destroying much of the former Kanda-ku including the Jinbocho library and campus of the University of Tokyo, which was subsequently relocated to Bunkyo-ku. Over time, the area became increasingly popular with university students and intellectuals, and many more small bookstores and cafes opened there.

More recently, the Chiyoda municipal government sponsored a major redevelopment project in Jinbōchō which led to three new high-rise office buildings being completed in 2003, further boosting the local economy. The Jinbōchō Theater was completed in 2007.

Companies

Many companies are located within Jinbōchō, including the headquarters of Tōkyōdō Shoten, a retail book chain, and manga company Shueisha, known for the anthology manga magazine, Shonen Jump.

In popular culture

Education

operates public elementary and junior high schools. Ochanomizu Elementary School (お茶の水小学校) is the zoned elementary school for Kanda-Jinbōchō 1-3 chōme.[4] There is a freedom of choice system for junior high schools in Chiyoda Ward, and so there are no specific junior high school zones.[5]

See also

External links

35.6955°N 139.7581°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 町丁別世帯数および人口(住民基本台帳) . Chiyoda-ku . February 24, 2021 . Japanese . December 6, 2017.
  2. Web site: Amazon.co.jp: 邪神ちゃんドロップキックX : 鈴木愛奈, 大森日雅, 久保田未夢, 小見川千明, 小坂井祐莉絵, 佐々木李子, 飯田里穂, 原奈津子, 荒浪和沙, 寺田御子, 山田麻莉奈, 山下七海, 田中美海, 朝ノ瑠璃, 長谷川玲奈, M・A・O, 遊佐浩二, 筆安一幸, 村上桃子, 佐藤光, 山田卓: Prime Video . Amazon.co.jp . Japanese . 28 August 2022 . episodename.
  3. Web site: 鈴木愛奈 (Aina Suzuki) – 神保町哀歌 (Jinbouchou Aika) Lyrics . Genius Lyrics . Genius Media Group Inc. . 28 August 2022 . jinbouchouaikalyrics.
  4. Web site: 区立小学校の通学区域. Chiyoda Board of Education. 2022-10-08.
  5. Web site: 区立中学校の通学区域と学校選択. Chiyoda Board of Education. 2022-10-08. 千代田区では、[...] .