Ikebukuro has a long history and was a farming area during the Edo period. The area was devastated by warfare during the Warring States Period and the early Edo Period, and was later cultivated under the policy of the shogunate. Later, in the mid-Edo period, farmlands and rice paddies were developed and a rural society was formed.
In the Meiji era (1868-1912), Tokyo’s modernization progressed, and Ikebukuro also became increasingly urbanized; the establishment of Ikebukuro Village in 1896 accelerated population and commercial development. In particular, Ikebukuro grew along with the development of the railroad system, and Ikebukuro Station opened in 1903.
In the Showa period (1926-1989), Ikebukuro rapidly developed as a center of commerce and culture. Especially during the period of rapid economic growth after World War II, commercial facilities and office buildings were constructed one after another, establishing Ikebukuro’s status as a central urban area.
Since then, Ikebukuro has continued to strengthen its function as an urban center and has also expanded its role as a center of amusement and entertainment. Today, Ikebukuro is known as a mecca for anime and manga, and is visited by many tourists from Japan and abroad.
The Unknown Cultural Face of Ikebukuro
Although Ikebukuro is most often associated with the commercial facilities and downtown area around the station, historically speaking, there is actually another face to the city. Historically, however, there is another face to Ikebukuro: that of a cultural town expressed through theater and film.
In the 1930s, there were places called Nagasaki Atelier Village and Ikebukuro Montparnasse in the area beyond Yamate Street from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station. Here, painters, sculptors, poets, and others gathered, and more than 100 houses were built around ateliers with skylights. Famous artists lived here, and the coffee shops provided a place for them to socialize.
There are also many theaters and movie theaters, especially since the Performing Arts Academy is located here, and the number of theaters is second only to Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa, and Ginza. There is the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, the Sunshine Theater, Theater Green, and the Ikebukuro Little Theater, and the Ikebukuro Theater Festival is held every September.
There are also more than seven movie theaters, including the Bungeiza, which was named after Tokugawa Musei and Yoshikawa Eiji, making Ikebukuro an enjoyable place for movie lovers.
Furthermore, Ikebukuro is a town with many schools. Rikkyo University, Tokyo College of Music, and Jiyu Gakuen are well known, and the predecessors of Tokyo Gakugei University and Seikei University were also once located in Ikebukuro. Today, the number of vocational schools and preparatory schools has increased, and many students can be seen in the area.
Recently, Otome Road near Sunshine City has been attracting attention. There are many stores selling manga, anime, and women’s coterie magazines, and people come from all over the country to visit these stores. This is another example of Ikebukuro’s cultural appeal.
Ikebukuro is known not only for its commercial facilities and downtown area, but also for its rich culture. We invite you to walk the streets and get a sense of its diverse face.
Ikebukuro’s Challenge for the Future
Toshima City has been working on urban development in an effort to break free from its financial difficulties. However, as these efforts were underway, it came as a great shock to be identified as a city with the potential to disappear. Shinichi Baba, Director of Toshima City’s International Cultural Project Promotion Office, has shown his boldness in confronting this challenge.
Facing the pinch of financial collapse in 1999, Toshima Ward faced a variety of difficulties. However, in order to overcome this difficult situation, the city decided to create a community based on “culture. Local organizations, businesses, and residents of the ward have worked together to promote “safe and secure community development” and “cultural community development. Just as the city was beginning to show signs of financial recovery, it was identified as a city with the potential to disappear.
However, we took this adversity as an opportunity. Teshima City has decided to boldly take on the challenges facing Japan as a whole, such as the declining birthrate, aging society, and shrinking population, and to aim for the status of a model city. We are working to create a sustainable city with the pillars of creating a child- and women-friendly city, addressing the aging of the population, coexisting with the local community, and strengthening Japan’s driving force.
As part of this effort, we aim to become an “International City of Arts and Culture. Toshima City has a diverse culture that has taken root over the ages. Efforts are underway to capitalize on this cultural appeal and rediscover the charm and pride of the city. In addition, “23 community development projects,” including large-scale construction, are being planned, enhancing the ward’s residents’ sense of local change and its reputation as a viable municipality.
In 2019, Toshima Ward’s efforts received a further boost when it was selected as an East Asian Cultural City, a national project. Through exchanges with Xi’an City in China and Incheon Metropolitan City in South Korea, as well as various cultural projects, Toshima Ward’s attractions are being communicated both domestically and internationally.
Ikebukuro is taking a giant step forward into the future by capitalizing on its history and culture. Overcoming difficulties, Toshima City continues to evolve toward becoming a more attractive city.
A vision for the future of Ikebukuro has been drawn!
Toshima City has unveiled a new policy for Ikebukuro’s urban development, with various redevelopment projects and projects planned to create an international art and culture city based on a long-term vision to the year 2035.
Under the proposed policy, four parks, including Minami Ikebukuro Park, which has already been developed, will be designated as centers of art and culture, and the surrounding area will also be improved. In addition, a “core zone” will be established around Ikebukuro and Higashi Ikebukuro Stations to improve pedestrian flow lines and transportation nodal functions.
Particular attention will be paid to the formation of an “east-west urban axis. In order to eliminate the division between the East and West Exits, plans call for the construction of an east-west connecting passageway at ground level, as well as a space connecting ground level and underground.
In addition, redevelopment projects are underway at the former ward office site, the Seibu Railway Ikebukuro Building, and Nishiguchi Park, all of which are scheduled to be completed by 2020 and have helped to create the new look of the Ikebukuro area.
Ikebukuro is a town that will continue to change. It is expected to continue to transmit new culture and attractions, and to build its position as an “international art and culture city” that attracts many people from Japan and abroad. We invite everyone to imagine the Ikebukuro of the future and propose your ideas during the period when we are accepting opinions!
Explore the charm of Otome Road
Otome Road refers to a 200-meter-long street located near Sunshine City. The street is densely packed with stores selling manga and anime goods for women, and is also dotted with reasonably priced coffee shops and general merchandise stores. It is a short walk from Ikebukuro Station, so if you visit, you will be able to feel the atmosphere of a sacred place along the way.
A five-minute walk from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station is the animate Ikebukuro main store, which relocated from Otome Road in 2012. This store offers a wide variety of goods for women and is loved by many fans as the anime store that made Otome Road what it once was. Also located near the west exit is the Ikebukuro POW, a collaboration café with various manga works, which is also very popular.
One of the charms of Otome Road is that you can find goods from your favorite works. Many bookstores sell used books, and you can experience the joy of acquiring valuable manga works and doujinshi for women. In addition, Sunshine City frequently holds events for Otome, allowing visitors to experience the realistic world of the works.
One of the most popular places on Otome Road is the Butler Cafe Swallowtail. Here, female customers are called “Miss” and male customers are called “Master,” and the staff, who are dressed as butlers, offer their hospitality in a cordial and courteous manner. The staff, who are dressed as butlers, are very attentive and hospitable, and the time spent interacting with the butlers is like a dream come true. The attractive food menu is also available, making it an ideal place to eat when you are hungry.
Recently, an increasing number of female visitors from overseas have come to visit Otome Road. Otome Road, where you can immerse yourself in Japanese otaku culture while enjoying shopping and dining, can be described as a hot spot where the cultures of East and West in Ikebukuro merge.
Otome Road is also a place where men can be seen enjoying shopping. By visiting Otome Road with your anime-loving girlfriend or friend, you may find yourself unexpectedly exposed to the charms of Otome Road.
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