It has been about a month since the last article was updated. In November, we visited at the Edo Tokyo Museum and had a great time there. (First article is here.)
Today we will introduce you one of the most cultural Shitamachi towns called “Ryogoku”. Needless to point out, Ryogoku is very famous for its sumo related attractions, such as the Ryogoku Kokugikan, many sumo stables and chanko (sumo wrestler stew) restaurants. (More information is here.)
In a cold winter day, one of our staffs went to Ryogoku to find more about the town. There are not only sumo related places, but also hotter places which you must see in Ryogoku.
① Ryogoku Fire Works Museum
First, we recommend you “the Ryogoku Fire Works Museum”. It takes just 5 minutes’ walk from the south side of Ryogoku station. In the museum, Mr. Suzuki who has HANABI KANSHOSHI (a professional observer for fireworks) tells about a historical relationship between the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival and Ryogoku. (More about the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is here.)
The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival can be tracked back to 1733. The reason for its origin was that Tokugawa Yoshimune decided to mourn observances for the dead who suffered from the economic crisis in 1732. He used gunpowder which was used for killing people as fireworks for the peaceful entertainment performance. At first, the fireworks were just a piece of observances, but it was continued each year and became the Ryogoku Kawabiraki Fireworks Festival.
(In 1978, the name of festival changed to Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival.)
Also, Mr. Suzuki told that one of the most highlights is those launching site. Because of fireworks are launched on a small boat, the launching site is very narrow, so they can’t help launching small balls repeatedly. You can enjoy the varieties of directions. We thank Mr. Suzuki for telling us a very interesting story.
① Sumo Museum
(Entrance to Ryogoku Kokugikan.)
Second, the Sumo Museum is as rare and small as the Ryogoku Fire Works Museum. It is in Ryogoku Kokugikan and located in the north side of Ryogoku station. The Sumo museum was based on the materials gathered by Sakai Tadamasa and created to protect historical heritage of Sumo which is the Japanese national sports.
(The museum has a wide range of materials of Sumo. )
(Keshomawashi.)
(Harumafuji is performing his 1st yokozuna ring-entering ceremony in September 28, 2012.)
For example, 3700 sumo Nishiki-e (multi-colored woodlock prints), 500 sumo dolls, Banzuke (official ranking list), and Keshomawashi (a silk belt with a heavily embroidered large apron with thick tassels worn by upper ranked wrestlers).
Some are made in the past, and others are created lately. These items are displayed in different themes of exhibitions divided in six times a year. The hottest materials are successive Yokozuna’s pictures (highest rank in sumo) on the wall. An English pamphlet called “GRAND SUMO RYOGOKU KOKUGIKAN HANDBOOK” is also available in the museum.
In the left side of the Ryogoku Kokugikan, you can buy some original sumo gifts in Sumo Shop.
A shop assistant said Sumo wrestler figurines were most popular. Wearing Hakuho mask and you will be Yokozuna Hakuho!
③ Old Yasuda Garden
If you feel tired, we will recommend you a Meiji Period-style garden called Old Yasuda Garden. Usually, you may listen to birds singing and feel the warms of the sun.
But, the day of this interview, it was too cold and rainy to take a walk in the garden. We are convinced that you will enjoy the garden when weather is good.
All of those three places are within ten minutes walking distance. Surprisingly, they are all free. After the interview, I had a question why Ryogoku has such interesting places. The answer is that Ryogoku was once a city like present Shinjyuku in the Edo era. People enjoyed eating foods, seeing sumo and fireworks as daily entertainments.
Taking the Tokyo Mizube Line, you can go to the opposite side of Sumida River where is near Asakusa. Next article will be started from the Tokyo Mizube Line Ryogoku station.
Thank you for reading our blog. We will continue to introduce three more hot places in Downtown Tokyo. Next upload will be in January 2014. Please keep checking this blog!
References
・”Ryogoku Area.” Ryogoku Area. Japan National Tourism Organization, n.d. Web. 25 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/tokyo/ryogoku.html>.
・”Sumida River Fireworks Festival.” Sumida River Fireworks Festival. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Dec. 2013.
<http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html>.