Utagawa Hiroshige – One Hundred Famous Views of Edo – 9 – Spring – Yatsukoji Street within Sujikai 歌川広重-名所江戸百景-9-春-筋違内八ツ小路
(Yatsukoji in the Sujikai)
Current Address: Near Kanda-Sudacho 1-chome, Chiyoda Ward
Latitude and Longitude: Latitude 35.6952, Longitude 139.7706
Published: November 1857 Age: 61
Description
<1> Introduction
“Yatsukoji Street within Sujikai” depicts a key transportation hub in Edo.
It is a valuable work for understanding the bustle and urban structure of the city at the time.
Among the many illustrations in this series depicting natural landscapes and temples and shrines, this work is unique for its close-up of the “city of Edo itself.”
<2> What are Sujikaibashi Bridge and Yatsukoji?
Sujikaibashi Bridge was a bridge located in what is now Chiyoda Ward, between Kanda-Izumicho and Akihabara.
It was built over the outer moat.
It is called Sujigai because it is where the road from Nihonbashi intersects with the roads leading from Hongo and Shitaya to Kanda.
It was a key transportation hub in Edo, and many people and goods passed through.
It was given this name because eight roads radiated out from the foot of the bridge.
Yatsukoji is where more than ten roads converged, including the Ou Kaido, Nikko Kaido, Nakasendo, Tokaido, and Koshu Kaido, and “yatsu” means many.
If we compare it to a modern city, it was like a roundabout, a lively place filled with people and carts.
Edo was one of the world’s largest cities, with a population of over one million.
Yatsukoji inside Sujigai was the transportation hub that supported its core.
It was such an important location for merchants and travelers that it would be impossible to talk about Edo without passing through here.
This Hirokoji street was built by the shogunate as a firebreak at the northern gate of Edo Castle’s outer wall, where the Kanda-mitsuke gate once stood.
<3> Highlights of the Painting
Overlooking the streets that radiate in eight directions, it creates an impressive image of the “Crossroads of Edo.”
This bold composition stands out even among ukiyo-e.
The streets are lined with merchant houses, and there is a constant stream of people coming and going.
Small figures of passing merchants, porters carrying luggage, and townspeople out shopping convey the bustle of the city.
The depiction of Edo and Mount Fuji together connects the city’s prosperity with the symbolism of nature.
Being able to see Mount Fuji even from everyday street corners was a major attraction of the Edo landscape.
The combination of radial streets and tiny people creates a sense of scale and three-dimensionality for the city. As a result, the viewer’s gaze is naturally drawn into the distance, creating a sense of realism that makes one feel as if they are actually standing on the street.
The Kanda River flows beyond the moat lined with willow trees.
After crossing Shoheibashi Bridge, the path continues to Kanda Myojin Shrine in the upper right.
The building on the left at the edge of the plaza is a samurai residence.
To the right of that is a small guardhouse, and in the lower right is a hanging teahouse.
The procession at the lower left is a daimyo’s wife and her entourage, riding in palanquins covered in scarlet felt.
The building on the left center is the residence of Amano Yagoemon.
The forest in the upper right is Kanda Myojin Shrine. The building in the center is a guardhouse.
<4> Yatsukoji for the common people of Edo
Places where goods and people gather also attract information and trends.
For the common people of Edo, Yatsukoji was not just a passageway, but also a place for encounters and exchange.
Close to economic centers such as Nihonbashi and Kanda, it was a road that people would always pass through while shopping or doing business.
For this reason, the bustle of Yatsukoji symbolized the prosperity of Edo itself.
Hiroshige’s perspective was innovative, as he chose to focus on everyday intersections like this one, rather than simply famous places like Mount Fuji and cherry blossom trees.
Another reason for his popularity is that the subject matter was one that ordinary people could relate to and say, “I know this place!”
<5> The modern-day Sujigaibashi and Yatsukoji ruins
This area corresponds to the area around present-day Akihabara Station. Redevelopment has changed the appearance of the original streets, but remnants of their existence can still be seen in places like Sujigaibashi Intersection and Manseibashi Bridge.
The spirit of Yatsukoji, a transportation hub in Edo, lives on in modern-day Akihabara Station and Chuo-dori Street.
Its location as a hub of railways and roads is a characteristic that has continued from the Edo period to the present day.
Strolling from Akihabara to Kanda and Nihonbashi with an ukiyo-e in hand, you can truly experience the town’s transition from Edo to the present day.
The heavy traffic volume near Manseibashi Bridge is particularly reminiscent of Edo’s Yatsukoji.
<6> Tourist Guide
1. Stroll Around Akihabara
Enjoy walking along the site of Edo’s Yatsukoji and comparing it with modern-day traffic.
2. Explore the History of the Manseibashi Area
Trace place names and historical sites associated with the former Sujigaibashi Bridge.
3. Comparison with Ukiyo-e
Compare Hiroshige’s “Sujigai-nai Yatsukoji” with an actual map to experience the layout of Edo’s streets.
4. The History of Transportation from Edo to Tokyo
Discover the continued role of this transportation hub, from Edo’s Yatsukoji to modern-day Akihabara Station.
