Comments on: Japan: Debating the fate of Shimokitazawa http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Wed, 30 May 2012 14:55:52 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: a stroll around shimkotazawa : : 下北沢 « mapp : : tokyo http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-2/#comment-1782718 a stroll around shimkotazawa : : 下北沢 « mapp : : tokyo Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:04:30 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1782718 [...] While the area is often chosen by young Tokyoites as one of the preferred places to live, the atmosphere created by the haphazard maze of streets and numerous street level railway crossings around the station is itself at a crossroads, as the inevitable forces of ‘progress’ set about modernizing the station and in the process possibly destroying the neighborhood’s character. An interesting piece on this has been written by Chris Salzberg on Global Voices. [...] [...] While the area is often chosen by young Tokyoites as one of the preferred places to live, the atmosphere created by the haphazard maze of streets and numerous street level railway crossings around the station is itself at a crossroads, as the inevitable forces of ‘progress’ set about modernizing the station and in the process possibly destroying the neighborhood’s character. An interesting piece on this has been written by Chris Salzberg on Global Voices. [...]

]]> By: 5 Tokyo Experiences You Won’t Forget « A Face Made for Radio: Helen McCarthy's Blog http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-2/#comment-1679836 5 Tokyo Experiences You Won’t Forget « A Face Made for Radio: Helen McCarthy's Blog Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:55:22 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1679836 [...] Collecting like it used to be! Shimokitazawa is for those who prefer not to have their collectibles produced in quantity and packed in neat plastic bags or bright boxes. A short hop from Shibuya or Shinjuku by rail, it’s Tokyo’s local collector town, a nice change from Akihabara where it sometimes feels impossible to avoid one’s fellow Westerners.  It’s packed with little shops selling music (on vinyl,) used clothing, Showa era artefacts, old toys and every other fleamarket category. Some items are tagged with eye-watering prices, but you can still find bargains aplenty. The streets are dotted with cafes, bars and live music venues, and it’s a great place to spend a day – or night. Catch it while you can because locals are fighting a road-building scheme which would divide and, they say, destroy the neighbourhood. [...] [...] Collecting like it used to be! Shimokitazawa is for those who prefer not to have their collectibles produced in quantity and packed in neat plastic bags or bright boxes. A short hop from Shibuya or Shinjuku by rail, it’s Tokyo’s local collector town, a nice change from Akihabara where it sometimes feels impossible to avoid one’s fellow Westerners.  It’s packed with little shops selling music (on vinyl,) used clothing, Showa era artefacts, old toys and every other fleamarket category. Some items are tagged with eye-watering prices, but you can still find bargains aplenty. The streets are dotted with cafes, bars and live music venues, and it’s a great place to spend a day – or night. Catch it while you can because locals are fighting a road-building scheme which would divide and, they say, destroy the neighbourhood. [...]

]]> By: kimonobox http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-2/#comment-1599194 kimonobox Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:23:39 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1599194 Really interesting post ... thanks Really interesting post … thanks

]]> By: Jon Allen http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598851 Jon Allen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:40:28 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598851 Thank you very much for taking the time to translate the whole blog entry. I live 10 minutes walk from Shimo and I've been following the progress of the railway construction for the past two years: It's lucky that Matsunaga-san is not against the railway redevelopment as that part is very well advanced and will it make a significant improvement with the removal of eight or nine level crossings and much bigger station. The Odakyu has rebuilt a number of other stations further west on the line and results are fairly bland and un-interesting. While this new station is different and maybe it will look out of place initially, I think it will ehance the appeal of the area. However the plans for the road building show the classic signs of a pork barrel project: wanting money for a shiny new road and bulldoze the messy bits. I hope it does not come to pass . Bigger roads just encourage more traffic so any reduction in congestion will soon disappear. There are some more artists impressions of the station on http://www.shimochika-navi.com/ too. Thank you very much for taking the time to translate the whole blog entry.

I live 10 minutes walk from Shimo and I’ve been following the progress of the railway construction for the past two years: It’s lucky that Matsunaga-san is not against the railway redevelopment as that part is very well advanced and will it make a significant improvement with the removal of eight or nine level crossings and much bigger station.

The Odakyu has rebuilt a number of other stations further west on the line and results are fairly bland and un-interesting. While this new station is different and maybe it will look out of place initially, I think it will ehance the appeal of the area.

However the plans for the road building show the classic signs of a pork barrel project: wanting money for a shiny new road and bulldoze the messy bits.
I hope it does not come to pass . Bigger roads just encourage more traffic so any reduction in congestion will soon disappear.

There are some more artists impressions of the station on
http://www.shimochika-navi.com/ too.

]]> By: Joshua Zimmerman http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598835 Joshua Zimmerman Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:22:45 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598835 Its a shame to see such a historic area being destroyed, but this happens in all major cities. While tokyo has great public transportation it is a growing city, and changes need to be made to modernize and increase the flow of traffic. I know that the same problem has happened in my old city of Milwaukee. Everyone is for a rail system, but no one wants it in their back yard. Thus its been on hold for 20 years while downtown is clogged with ever increasing traffic. Its a shame to see such a historic area being destroyed, but this happens in all major cities. While tokyo has great public transportation it is a growing city, and changes need to be made to modernize and increase the flow of traffic.

I know that the same problem has happened in my old city of Milwaukee. Everyone is for a rail system, but no one wants it in their back yard. Thus its been on hold for 20 years while downtown is clogged with ever increasing traffic.

]]> By: Chris Salzberg http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598805 Chris Salzberg Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:27:17 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598805 @Em Glad you liked the post! It's not a done deal though, these things can make a sudden turn as happened with the central post office at Tokyo station: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090311b3.html I think as you say we're just on the cusp of a change in attitude about neighbourhoods like Shimokitazawa -- all the more reason to stop or at least stall the redevelopment plans. @Preetam That guy who reads manga is Rikimaru Toho, Scilla did an article on him (linked to above): http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/10/10/rikimaru-toho-the-first-manga-narrating-cantastoria/ @Rob @Giacomo I agree this would be a sad "development" if it actually happened. There's a group opposing the redevelopment called Save the Shimokitazawa: http://www.stsk.net/en/ I'm sure they can use all the support they can get! @Em

Glad you liked the post!

It’s not a done deal though, these things can make a sudden turn as happened with the central post office at Tokyo station:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090311b3.html

I think as you say we’re just on the cusp of a change in attitude about neighbourhoods like Shimokitazawa — all the more reason to stop or at least stall the redevelopment plans.

@Preetam

That guy who reads manga is Rikimaru Toho, Scilla did an article on him (linked to above): http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/10/10/rikimaru-toho-the-first-manga-narrating-cantastoria/

@Rob @Giacomo

I agree this would be a sad “development” if it actually happened.

There’s a group opposing the redevelopment called Save the Shimokitazawa:

http://www.stsk.net/en/

I’m sure they can use all the support they can get!

]]> By: giacomo http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598699 giacomo Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:12:04 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598699 Tokyo will be much poorer without shimokitazawa. I hope they will change the plan. Tokyo will be much poorer without shimokitazawa. I hope they will change the plan.

]]> By: In praise of Shimokitazawa - The diary of Jakob Knulp http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598698 In praise of Shimokitazawa - The diary of Jakob Knulp Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:10:41 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598698 [...] read more [...] [...] read more [...]

]]> By: Rob http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598692 Rob Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:52:53 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598692 This is horrible. I can't comprehend what it will be like with this planned redevelopment. In Shimo-Kitazawa I played pachinko for the first time, went on my first date in Japan, and had tons of other fun experiences. The street artists, musicians and oldschool bars and shops in Shimo-Kitazawa just can't be found many other places in Tokyo. The energy and endless holes in the wall to be explored are vastly more valuable than any 'modern,' 'efficient' or 'progressive' chop job dictated by top-down administrative assholes. I sincerely hope the people of Shimo-Kitazawa are successful in resisting this. This is horrible. I can’t comprehend what it will be like with this planned redevelopment.
In Shimo-Kitazawa I played pachinko for the first time, went on my first date in Japan, and had tons of other fun experiences. The street artists, musicians and oldschool bars and shops in Shimo-Kitazawa just can’t be found many other places in Tokyo. The energy and endless holes in the wall to be explored are vastly more valuable than any ‘modern,’ ‘efficient’ or ‘progressive’ chop job dictated by top-down administrative assholes.
I sincerely hope the people of Shimo-Kitazawa are successful in resisting this.

]]> By: Preetam Rai http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598688 Preetam Rai Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:55:48 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598688 I will miss that man who reads the books aloud by the station. I will miss that man who reads the books aloud by the station.

]]> By: Em http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598562 Em Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:23:39 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598562 Lovely post, thank you. It's a shame that what looks inevitable is happening to Shimokitazawa and especially I think in an age when other countries are beginning to nurture and protect these artist havens and historical neighborhoods Japan still hasn't been able to grasp that. Lovely post, thank you. It’s a shame that what looks inevitable is happening to Shimokitazawa and especially I think in an age when other countries are beginning to nurture and protect these artist havens and historical neighborhoods Japan still hasn’t been able to grasp that.

]]> By: JapanSoc http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598461 JapanSoc Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:09:09 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598461 <strong>Shimokitazawa: End of an era?...</strong> Tokyo's neighborhood of Shimokitazawa faces some big changes: redevelopment plans will completely transform the area, running a 26-meter-wide thoroughfare through its center and connecting it directly to Shibuya and the Kan'nana ring road. Work will ... Shimokitazawa: End of an era?…

Tokyo’s neighborhood of Shimokitazawa faces some big changes: redevelopment plans will completely transform the area, running a 26-meter-wide thoroughfare through its center and connecting it directly to Shibuya and the Kan’nana ring road. Work will …

]]> By: RMilner http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/04/japan-debating-the-fate-of-shimokitazawa/comment-page-1/#comment-1598426 RMilner Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:13:55 +0000 http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=102910#comment-1598426 I know the area myself; it's a great place to wander around without the sense of sleaze you get in Kabukicho. Tokyo has plenty of glass, steel and concrete towers. It doesn't need more. It needs to preserve a few areas which are urban (shopping, restaurants, and so on) and built on a human scale. I know the area myself; it’s a great place to wander around without the sense of sleaze you get in Kabukicho.

Tokyo has plenty of glass, steel and concrete towers. It doesn’t need more. It needs to preserve a few areas which are urban (shopping, restaurants, and so on) and built on a human scale.

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