Edo-Tokyo: History & Culture Edo-Sakariba and Ginza/Asakusa: A comparison of similarities and differences

Instead of an economic or sociologic determination, [Seidensticker] focuses on the effect upon society of the disappearance of this theater building, that cafe, those geisha houses, markets, and other landmarks, and their replacement stores, subways, and so on... Packed with original material and insights, [this book is] invaluable to scholars, students, and Tokyophiles."

-- Kirkus Reviews

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/reviews/SEITOX_R.html

Are Ginza and Asakusa representative at all of Edo sakariba? If so, how? The two are certainly related to one another. Each boasts many "seething" crowds; nightlife and entertainment for would be passers by. Edo sakariba was a romantic and social community, one where people would gather in the streets a hundred years ago to socialize and discuss the goings on. The streets themselves were alive with vendors and entertainers, a welcome site for community members. Public baths and communal gatherings certainly were not uncommon. The community was the center of Edo-sakariba. How has this changed, and how does it compare to Ginza and Asakusa, modern and old?

Ginza and Asakusa, though thriving in the sense that they attract thousands of visitors, and offer entertainment and shopping, are very different from their traditional Edo ancestor. A once grand landscape based on the ideas of vastness an openness is now cluttered with a more cosmopolitan face, one that is characteristically Westernized in nature. Many have in fact regarded the change as "ugly" and unappealing. Of the two, Asakusa is definitely most compatible with its traditional Edo ancestor, even though cosmetically the area has changed over the last fifty years.

In "Low City, High City" Seidensticker discusses the folklore, culture, architecture and entertainment of the great city of Tokyo. Ginza and Asakusa represent to Tokyo places that most vividly capture the "modernization of sakariba" (udel, 2003). Ginza is more often represented as a cosmopolitan, very urban, popular and modern culture. Asakusa however is more often representative of deeper Edo roots and still has many stage shows, movie houses...

Ginza has a very modern look, which some may consider very exotic as related to Japanese culture. Ginza and Asakusa, as depicted in the readings and lectures, compare very similarly to Edo's sakariba. They are alive, exhibiting much activity and attraction for visitors and natives, simply in different manners.
Much of the character of Ginza may be attributed to modernization, which occurred in the mid to late 1800's (Smith). Many people stroll the streets of Ginza shopping and meandering. The Ginza or "Silver Seat" takes its name from the silver mint that the Edo government founded in the 17th century (udel, 2003). The town has often been considered unfortunately somewhat of a "pseudo-westernized" place, very typical of much modernization that occurred in Japan. For natives, the western flare seemed exotic and alluring.

Change is often associated with Westernization in many Asian countries. After the Meiji Restoration in 1865, many western influences and "trinkets" flooded Tokyo (Pocorroba, 2003), even though interest in things Western among the Japanese has "waxed and waned" (Seidensticker). In the readings, the following was pointed out regarding Western influences, "It goes in cycles. Of course, there were times when Western things were officially frowned upon and every attempt made to squelch them...during the 1930's and '40s" (Seidensticker).

Ginza may be associated with Edo's sakariba, but not the sakariba of old. Rather Ginza is a cosmopolitan thriving venue of Western influence and architecture. The cityscape reflects this. Seidensticker comments that such influence has resulted in the loss of beauty, saying, "Edo- in a restrained, monochrome fashion - must have been a rather beautiful town, but not it's very ugly" (Seidensticker).

The Asakusa area had centered on a Sansoji Temple (udel, 2003). By the end of the 19th century many main theaters had been relocated to the area, and many street performers and show houses also became prevalent among the streets of Asakusa. According to one article, "Asakusa Rokku was clearly a successor of the Edo-period sakariba" (udel, 2003). Though similar to Ginza by it's activity, rather than refer to it as cosmopolitan one might say the area is…