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Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[ANN15] Old tofu shop in Tokyo makes presence felt in business district
TOKYO (Japan News/ANN) — Echigoya, a tofu shop, sits quietly between tall buildings close to JR Kanda Station. Every morning, a stream of office workers stops by to drink freshly made soy milk before going to work. The store has been producing tofu for more than 100 years, supporting the local food industry. Founded in the late Meiji era (1868-1912), it was damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, but rebuilt at the same location as a shop with an attached residence. The facade on the second floor is decorated with copperplates to protect the premises from fire. Yoshiaki Ishikawa, 82, is the third-generation owner and grew up in the shop. "When I was a child, there was nothing but a vast field in front of the store," he said, fondly recalling the distant past. The shop, which endured World War II and has stood the test of time, evokes an air of history in the middle of the business district. Ishikawa uses his hands to make various kinds of tofu, using the same techniques as his grandfather. He makes his own hard and silken tofu varieties as well as fried tofu, ganmo fried tofu with vegetables and grilled tofu. Ishikawa continues to use domestic soybeans that are cooked in a pot, a method called kamadaki. Regular customers who visit the shop daily praise it for selling the tastiest tofu they have ever had. Ishikawa is no stranger to taking on new challenges. About 20 years ago, along with a professional Japanese chef, he invented the shop's specialty "bucket tofu." The dish is characterized by the rich and sweet taste of soybeans. Its name comes from the fact that they initially carried it in a bucket. The shop also sells soy milk for 110 yen ($0.75) per cup. Named "morning tonyu (soy milk)," it is very popular and usually sells out early. Customers can also order tofu made of the dadachamame variety of soy beans or with yuzu citron. Ishikawa used to run the shop with his 80-year-old wife Yoko and their second son, the fourth-generation owner. However, the shop's sales fell substantially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The son later left the shop and began work as a company employee to support his family. Now the shop is operated only by Ishikawa and his wife, who are determined to go on as long as they are physically able. It has been about 60 years since Ishikawa succeeded the family business. "I feel the happiest when a customer tells me [our tofu is] delicious," Ishikawa said of his unchanged love for his job. He also rides a three-wheeler moped every day to deliver tofu to local restaurants.
Yomiuri Shimbun
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Old Tofu Shop in Tokyo Makes Presence Felt in Business District; Owner Uses Manufacturing Techniques Passed On by Grandfather
The Yomiuri Shimbun Yoshiaki Ishikawa cuts tofu made using the traditional kamadaki method at Echigoya in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Echigoya, a tofu shop, sits quietly between tall buildings close to JR Kanda Station. Every morning, a stream of office workers stops by to drink freshly made soy milk before going to work. The Yomiuri Shimbun The exterior of Echigoya The store has been producing tofu for more than 100 years, supporting the local food industry. Founded in the late Meiji era (1868-1912), it was damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, but rebuilt at the same location as a shop with an attached residence. The facade on the second floor is decorated with copperplates to protect the premises from fire. Yoshiaki Ishikawa, 82, is the third-generation owner and grew up in the shop. 'When I was a child, there was nothing but a vast field in front of the store,' he said, fondly recalling the distant past. The shop, which endured World War II and has stood the test of time, evokes an air of history in the middle of the business district. Ishikawa uses his hands to make various kinds of tofu, using the same techniques as his grandfather. He makes his own hard and silken tofu varieties as well as fried tofu, ganmo fried tofu with vegetables and grilled tofu. Ishikawa continues to use domestic soybeans that are cooked in a pot, a method called kamadaki. Regular customers who visit the shop daily praise it for selling the tastiest tofu they have ever had. The Yomiuri Shimbun A cup of soy milk available at Echigoya is called 'morning tonyu.' Ishikawa is no stranger to taking on new challenges. About 20 years ago, along with a professional Japanese chef, he invented the shop's specialty 'bucket tofu.' The dish is characterized by the rich and sweet taste of soybeans. Its name comes from the fact that they initially carried it in a bucket. The shop also sells soy milk for ¥110 per cup. Named 'morning tonyu (soy milk),' it is very popular and usually sells out early. Customers can also order tofu made of the dadachamame variety of soy beans or with yuzu citron. The Yomiuri Shimbun Aburaage fried tofu slices are carefully fried by Ishikawa's wife, Yoko. Ishikawa used to run the shop with his 80-year-old wife Yoko and their second son, the fourth-generation owner. However, the shop's sales fell substantially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The son later left the shop and began work as a company employee to support his family. Now the shop is operated only by Ishikawa and his wife, who are determined to go on as long as they are physically able. It has been about 60 years since Ishikawa succeeded the family business. 'I feel the happiest when a customer tells me [our tofu is] delicious,' Ishikawa said of his unchanged love for his job. He also rides a three-wheeler moped every day to deliver tofu to local restaurants. Echigoya The Yomiuri Shimbun Address: 2-1-4 Kanda-Tacho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Access: A four-minute walk from JR Kanda Station and Ginza Line's Kanda Station Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays and national holidays.
The Mainichi
18-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Retro Japan: Housing complex in Tokyo's Ginza stands test of time for over 90 yrs
TOKYO -- A housing complex in the Japanese capital's posh Ginza district has stood as a silent witness to the area's ever-changing landscape for more than 90 years. The Okuno Building (formerly the Ginza apartments) is located in Chuo Ward's Ginza-itchome area, where boutiques and jewelry stores line the streets. Its main building was designed by architect Ryoichi Kawamoto (1880-1977), who also worked on the Kudan Kaikan hall (formerly the Army Hall) in Tokyo. The structure was completed in 1932 as a disaster-resistant reinforced concrete apartment complex during a housing shortage following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. The building was joined by an annex in 1934, connected via an interior hallway. The seventh floor was added around 1960, giving the structure its current form. The vintage manually operated elevator -- a rarity in private residences at the time -- is still in use. The building was once a sought-after luxury residence, with telephone lines installed in each room and a large bath in the basement. The worn tracks in the hallways bear witness to nearly a century of human activity. Today, approximately 70 rooms house galleries, antique shops and more. Room 306, which served as the Suda beauty salon from before World War II to the latter half of the 1980s, has been preserved by volunteers, retaining its round mirrors and red floor. One shop owner commented, "In Ginza with its glitzy image, this is a mysterious place that feels nostalgic." (Japanese original by Kaho Kitayama, Fukuoka Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on Jan. 15, 2023. * * * here.
Metropolis Japan
08-05-2025
- Metropolis Japan
Tokyo Train Guide: Asakusa Line
There is little doubt that Tokyo is one of the world's great urban experiments. The city's aesthetic appeal seems to forever move back and forth through classical building designs and suburban sprawls to revitalization projects and ultra-modern experiments that dazzle as architectural expressions of change. Not bad for a nation famous for tradition. Now, if Tokyo is a great urban project, its rail system is one of the many tools that opened it up for its citizens. Take the Toei Asakusa Line, for example. The first to offer through-services connecting Narita and Haneda airports without requiring a train change, the pink line whisks well over a million passengers daily between Nishi-Magome and Oshiage stations. And sitting along its twenty stations are numerous design wonders that reveal the extraordinary commitment to change that traditional Japan embodies. Photo Credit: Toshihiro Gamo Tokyo's famed modernity extends to recreating its past. Located a short walk from the current Shimbashi Station, the original Old Shimbashi Station was built in 1872, locomoting Japan into the modern world. Designed by the U.S. architect Richard Bridgens, the exact details of his Meiji Period design have since been lost. After having been thumped out of existence by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, a reconstruction had to wait until 2004. It used a 3D technological analysis of photographs and artworks featuring the former Meiji-period station. The result is a memorial merging of Japan's historical and modern tracks. Higashi-Ginza Station is home to the kabuki theater, Kabuki-za. Recognized by UNESCO, Japan's classic theatrical art has its roots in the seventeenth century. The irony is that, though seen as a bastion of tradition, Kabuki-za has undergone constant change in the pursuit of keeping its tradition alive. Reborn several times due to natural and human disasters, the current building design by renowned architect Kengo Kuma is its fifth iteration. Kuma was tasked to work with the then baroque Japanese revivalist style, leading to a building design that combines classic architecture with modern accessibility, a uniquely clear cultural standout amidst its modern neighbors. Never merely a collection of buildings, the historical space of Tokyo (formerly known as Edo) also featured elegantly landscaped gardens, many of which have endured the transformations of the city to this day. Kyu-Shiba Rikyu, easily accessible from Daimon Station, is an extraordinarily beautiful expression of this open design. Created on reclaimed land from Tokyo Bay, the gardens were originally part of the residences of Edo period feudal lords. Opened to the public in 1924, the garden's 4.3 hectares now act as an ornamental retreat for the public. In search of solace, local salarymen and visitors from across the city are drawn to reflect on the seasonal meanings embedded in the garden's hills, ponds and rock design elements. The final stop of the line is Oshiage Station and it is here that Tokyo's ultimate architectural experiment finds its home. The tallest structure in Japan and the third tallest in the world, Tokyo Skytree is an eye-raising 634 meters high of monster engineering. Built as a broadcast tower with restaurants, shopping complexes, a planetarium and an observation deck, Tokyo Skytree's neofuturistic template combines the power of technology with unconventional design. The inspiration behind the tower's shape is said to derive from the curve of a samurai's katana blade as well as Japan's traditional pagoda designs. The result is an awesome display of tradition and future that is exacerbated by its truly massive presence and position within Tokyo's traditional downtown Sumida district. It doesn't take all that much to find change within Japan's long-standing traditions. Its architectural and urban designs have a history of adapting to the times, all while bringing forth that unique sensibility so associated with the country. Through the Toei Asakusa Line, one of the capital's many subway routes, a discovery of Meiji period recreations, Edo era landscape experiences and future-driven design are all part of the appeal. Explore the Toei Asakusa Line using a One-Day Pass (¥700), or with a combined Toei & Metro Two-Day Pass (¥1,200) or Three-Day Pass (¥1,500). Did you like our Tokyo Train Guide to the Asakusa Line? Read our other guides here: Tokyo Train Guide: Shinjuku Line Tokyo Train Guide: Fukutoshin Line
Metropolis Japan
08-05-2025
- Metropolis Japan
A Tradition of Change metropolisjapan.com
There is little doubt that Tokyo is one of the world's great urban experiments. The city's aesthetic appeal seems to forever move back and forth through classical building designs and suburban sprawls to revitalization projects and ultra-modern experiments that dazzle as architectural expressions of change. Not bad for a nation famous for tradition. Now, if Tokyo is a great urban project, its rail system is one of the many tools that opened it up for its citizens. Take the Toei Asakusa subway line, for example. The first to offer through-services connecting Narita and Haneda airports without requiring a train change, the pink line whisks well over a million passengers daily between Nishi-magome and Oshiage stations. And sitting along its twenty stations are numerous design wonders that reveal the extraordinary commitment to change that traditional Japan embodies. Photo Credit: Toshihiro Gamo The Old Shimbashi Station—a classic Meiji period design Tokyo's famed modernity extends to recreating its past. Located a short walk from the current Shimbashi Station, the original Old Shimbashi Station was built in 1872, locomoting Japan into the modern world. Designed by the U.S. architect Richard Bridgens, the exact details of his Meiji Period design have since been lost. After having been thumped out of existence by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, a reconstruction had to wait until 2004. It used a 3D technological analysis of photographs and artworks featuring the former Meiji-period station. The result is a memorial merging of Japan's historical and modern tracks. Kabuki-za Theater—an ever-revitalizing tradition Higashi-Ginza Station is home to the kabuki theater, Kabuki-za. Recognized by UNESCO, Japan's classic theatrical art has its roots in the seventeenth century. The irony is that, though seen as a bastion of tradition, Kabuki-za has undergone constant change in the pursuit of keeping its tradition alive. Reborn several times due to natural and human disasters, the current building design by renowned architect Kengo Kuma is its fifth iteration. Kuma was tasked to work with the then baroque Japanese revivalist style, leading to a building design that combines classic architecture with modern accessibility, a uniquely clear cultural standout amidst its modern neighbors. Kyu-Shiba Rikyu Gardens—reclaimed classical Edo beauty Never merely a collection of buildings, the historical space of Tokyo (formerly known as Edo) also featured elegantly landscaped gardens, many of which have endured the transformations of the city to this day. Kyu-Shiba Rikyu, easily accessible from Daimon Station, is an extraordinarily beautiful expression of this open design. Created on reclaimed land from Tokyo Bay, the gardens were originally part of the residences of Edo period feudal lords. Opened to the public in 1924, the garden's 4.3 hectares now act as an ornamental retreat for the public. In search of solace, local salarymen and visitors from across the city are drawn to reflect on the seasonal meanings embedded in the garden's hills, ponds and rock design elements. Tokyo Skytree—a modern giant reaching for the skies The final stop of the line is Oshiage Station and it is here that Tokyo's ultimate architectural experiment finds its home. The tallest structure in Japan and the third tallest in the world, Tokyo Skytree is an eye-raising 634 meters high of monster engineering. Built as a broadcast tower with restaurants, shopping complexes, a planetarium and an observation deck, Tokyo Skytree's neofuturistic template combines the power of technology with unconventional design. The inspiration behind the tower's shape is said to derive from the curve of a samurai's katana blade as well as Japan's traditional pagoda designs. The result is an awesome display of tradition and future that is exacerbated by its truly massive presence and position within Tokyo's traditional downtown Sumida district. It doesn't take all that much to find change within Japan's long-standing traditions. Its architectural and urban designs have a history of adapting to the times, all while bringing forth that unique sensibility so associated with the country. Through the Toei Asakusa Line, one of the capital's many subway routes, a discovery of Meiji period recreations, Edo era landscape experiences and future-driven design are all part of the appeal. Explore the Toei Asakusa Line using a One-Day Pass (¥700), or with a combined Toei & Metro Two-Day Pass (¥1,200) or Three-Day Pass (¥1,500).
