八重洲町通

About this photo

This photo shows a street in Yaesucho, a district that once existed in Marunouchi, Tokyo. Cars and people pass along a street lined with brick buildings. It appears in Nihon Fukei Fuzoku Shashincho (Photo Album of Japanese Scenery and Customs), published in 1910, where the English caption describes it as a new street looking toward the Imperial Palace.

The name Yaesu comes from Jan Joosten, a Dutchman who was given a residence here by Tokugawa Ieyasu early in the Edo period. In 1872 (Meiji 5), the area was named Yaesucho. Marunouchi was sold to Mitsubishi in 1890, and starting with Mitsubishi Ichigokan (Mitsubishi Building No. 1) in 1894, a district of brick offices grew up along Babasaki-dori street. By the end of the Meiji era it was called "Itcho London," or "one-block London."

In 1929 (Showa 4), Yaesucho became Marunouchi 2-chome. Today's "Yaesu" is the name of the area on the east side of Tokyo Station. Mitsubishi Ichigokan was torn down in 1968 and rebuilt in 2009, and it is now an art museum.

Glossary