Itabashi Ward and Kanazawa City are firmly connected, aren’t they? I found this out on this walk.
A number of measures to prevent flooding of the Shakujii River
石神井川の高い堤防
As I passed through the Otonashi Water Park, I saw a high embankment on my left. It seems to be twice as tall as a person, which means that the water might be 3 meters deep when it floods. It’s scary.
菊池武男の靴
I’ve heard of “Takeo Kikuchi’s shoes” somewhere before. I guess they are shoes for women. It says “by appointment only,” so I guess they take the time to give you a detailed consultation. I’d like to give them to someone special someday.
電波レベル計？
I guess it is a radio wave level meter to measure the height of the water surface. When I turned to the right, I saw “KEIKI” written on the display, so it was made by Tokyo Keiki. The company name used to be TOKIMEC.
Four ducks can be seen below. If you pass underneath them, the water level you are measuring may go up in a flash.
音無もみじ緑地
This is the Otonashi Momiji Green Space. The scenery is soothing. But the original purpose of the space was to avoid flooding, right? I think the reason why everything I see on my walk is related to flood control is because there are so many floods.
谷津大観音
On the other side of the river, the Yatsu Dai Kannon appeared.
The greenish-blue color of the statue reminded me of its history, but it seemed to have been built less than ten years ago.
I wondered what the tulip-like Buddhist implement in his hand was for.
桜並木
There are many cherry blossoms planted along the banks of rivers such as the Shakujii River and the Kanda River.
It will be cherry blossom season in a month or so. I would love to walk along the river and take pictures of the beautiful flowers.
The Relationship between Itabashi Ward and the Kaga-Maeda Family
加賀公園
Not long after passing under the Saikyo Line, I saw a Kaga Park with a nice elevation change, so I decided to stop by.
加賀前田家下屋敷跡の碑
This used to be the site of the Kaga-Maeda family’s Shimoyashiki. Yashiki is a residence in Japanese.
The old Nakasendo highway runs near here. The Naka-yashiki (around Rikugien in Honkomagome 6-chome) and Kamiyashiki (around the University of Tokyo in Hongo) are also located near the old Nakasendo. I guess the theory was to place the residences in order along the highway.
I read that Itabashi Ward and Kanazawa City have concluded a friendship exchange city agreement. This is understandable when you know that there was such a vast suburban residence.
According to the signboard, the Kaga clan used the water flow of the Shakujii River to manufacture cannons at the end of the Edo period. Also, in the Meiji era (1868-1912), they manufactured gunpowder as the Itabashi Gunpowder Manufactory.
弾道検査管の標的跡
I found the remains of a target to test the performance of that ammunition!
Bullets fired with different types and amounts of gunpowder passed through a ballistic test tube, a device that observes velocity and other factors, and were launched at this target.
板橋火薬製造所跡
Climbing up to the top of the target, you can clearly see the former site of the Itabashi Gunpowder Factory, which is now the Noguchi Laboratory.
The earthen pipe on the left is a ballistic test tube with an inner diameter of 686mm. There are also earthen mounds and buildings left in their original form. It is a precious heritage.
Incidentally, the Noguchi Laboratory was founded by Noguchi Shitagau, the founder of Japan Nitrogenous Fertilizer, who is said to be the son of a Kaga clan samurai.
灯篭
Returning to the Shakujiigawa River, I found a lantern that looked familiar.
It has two legs, so it definitely reminds me of the Kotojitoro in Kenrokuen.
However, if they were going to imitate the original lantern, I would have liked them to put one of the legs on a stone or make the base of the leg like a mortise and tenon joint.
【参考】徽軫灯籠（ことじとうろう、2015.05撮影）
For reference, here is the original Kotojitoro.
板橋
I am now in Itabashi. The old Nakasendo road passes over Itabashi.
氷川釣り堀公園
After crossing the Ikebukuro Route 5 of the Metropolitan Expressway, the Hikawa Fishing Pond Park appears.
If you bring your own live bait (paste bait is prohibited), they will lend you a rod.
Among the fish you can catch are tanago. Tanago fishing is also known as daimyo fishing, so next time I come here, I might try fishing as if I were Maeda’s lord.
Walking data
Course: JR Keihin Tohoku Line Oji Station -> Shakujii River -> Tobu Tojo Line Naka Itabashi Station
Distance: 6.4km
Time: 1h46m
コメント