The “Showa-era downtown atmosphere” is disappearing and being redeveloped into skyscrapers… A report on the “last day” of the north exit of Tateishi shopping street, a sacred place for drinkers, to bid farewell.

The shopping street in front of Tateishi Station in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, which still retains the traditional downtown atmosphere of the area, will be demolished one by one starting in September as part of a redevelopment project. On August 31, the “last day of the north exit of the shopping street in front of the station,” we visited the site just before the demolition. We visited the site just before the demolition on August 31, “the last day of the north exit of the shopping street in front of the station.

The site was just prior to the demolition. Thank you for your patronage over the past 35 years. Thank you for your patronage over the past 35 years,” “We are closing because we cannot decide on a store,” and “We have moved. ……

From north to south 100m north to south. Walking along the north exit of the Tateishi Ekidori shopping street, which runs about 100 meters from north to south, one is struck by the sad notice posted at the entrance of the store.

There are no longer any stores in operation and no one is there. Several stores were hurriedly cleaning up their premises in preparation for the start of demolition work. On the east side of the street, “Drinking Alley,” a narrow alleyway with a concentration of izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) and snack bars, was deserted and quiet. Some people walking along the street were taking pictures with their smart phones to record the last moments of the shopping street.

There are five shopping streets adjacent to Kyonarishi Station, including the Tateishi Station Street Shopping Street and the Tateishi Nakamise Shopping Street. Lined with unique stores that have been in business since the Showa period (1926-1989), many people visit the area for sightseeing.

In order to ‘create a lively town and strengthen disaster prevention’, Katsushika Ward has decided to redevelop the area in conjunction with the elevated station construction, and to build a total of three tower condominiums in the North Exit, South Exit West District, and South Exit East District.

The redevelopment will include the construction of “Tateishi”, which spans the station and stretches from north to south. The redevelopment project includes the “Tateishi Station Street Shopping Street” stretching north-south across the station, the “Tateishi Chuo Street Shopping Street” and the “Tateishi Nakamise Kyoseikai” at the south exit of the station, and will start with the north exit. The timing of the demolition of the shopping street at the south exit will be decided from now on,” said a local real estate agent.

Prewar town to be turned into townhouses

The first area to be demolished is the north exit area, where demolition of stores and residences began in September. According to Katsushika Ward, the ground 36 According to Katsushika Ward, a 36-story tower condominium with commercial facilities and a 13-story tower condominium that will house the ward office and a large commercial facility will be constructed. 13 The city plans to construct a 36-story tower condominium with commercial facilities and a 13-story building that will house the ward office and a large commercial facility.

What do residents think of the redevelopment? The proprietress of Tobo, the oldest chicken restaurant at the north entrance of the Ekidori shopping arcade, told us, “We have been in business here since before the war.

We have been in business here since before World War II, and we had regular customers who came from far away as well as locals. We plan to relocate our store nearby and reopen next year, but we haven’t decided on a specific date.

They say that the redevelopment is for disaster prevention, but I think there are measures that can be taken without demolishing the shopping street, such as making sure that each house is careful not to start a fire. It would be nice if a high-rise building were built here to improve the town, but I doubt it will happen. …… I hope so.”

Tateishi. 35 years A woman who has lived in Tateishi for 35 years said with regret, “The shopping street in Tateishi is indispensable for everything from daily shopping to dining.

I love the atmosphere of this town, so I will be sad to see it demolished. I like the atmosphere of this town, so I am sad to see it demolished. After the north exit, the shopping district at the south exit will disappear, and if tall buildings are built one after another, the atmosphere of the town will change drastically.

What does Katsushika Ward think of these voices regretting the demolition of the shopping district? The ward insists.

The current narrow streets and dilapidated buildings create problems in terms of disaster prevention and the living environment, so the aim of the redevelopment project is to promote the advanced use of land while improving these problems. We have not received any requests to keep the shopping district, but we would like to proceed while listening to local residents’ opinions on whether to continue the shopping district after the redevelopment and what kind of urban development should be done,” said Katsushika Ward Urban Development Department.

Another downtown Tokyo charm disappears. The completion of the high-rise building at the north exit is scheduled for 2028 We will never see it again…