1. Tokyo Rebuilt 117 Burned Elementary Schools, and 52 Got Small Parks Next to Them
The Tokyo City government rebuilt 117 burned elementary schools as three-story reinforced concrete buildings strong against both earthquakes and fire. Construction progressed from 1924 to 1930 [6]. Among these, 52 schools had a "Great Kanto Earthquake Reconstruction Small Park" attached to them. These parks served as play areas for children in daily life but also had a role as disaster prevention bases [6]. Note that 117 is the number of burned schools. Read this as "rebuilding burned elementary schools." The school and park were part of a larger effort to remake the entire city. Where did this big plan begin?
2. Goto Shinpei Saw a Chance to Rebuild Tokyo, but His Plan Was Shrunk
After the Great Kanto Earthquake, the Imperial Capital Reconstruction Agency was established as an agency directly under the prime minister, with Goto Shinpei as its president. Later, the Reconstruction Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs took over the projects [3]. According to Cabinet Office materials, Goto saw the earthquake as a perfect opportunity for urban renovation and proposed a reconstruction plan of about 3 billion yen [1]. How much was the plan reduced? Cabinet Office materials explain that the initial draft became 1.3 billion yen over 5 years, was reduced to 700 million yen after discussions with the Ministry of Finance, and about 100 million yen was cut further [1]. On the other hand, a lecture material from the Japan Meteorological Agency states the Reconstruction Agency’s late October draft was 1.5 billion yen, Finance Minister Inoue Junnosuke’s November draft was 700 million yen, it temporarily dropped to 470 million yen, and the executed amount was on the scale of 700 million yen [2]. Because the starting draft differs (3 billion vs. 1.5 billion), the numbers do not match. Read this as "a large plan was significantly reduced." Nevertheless, the projects proceeded. What changed in the city with the reduced budget?
3. Land Readjustment Reshaped More Than 80% of the Burned Land
In Tokyo, land readjustment was carried out on over 80% of the burned area, dividing about 9.2 million tsubo into 65 districts. About 200,000 buildings were relocated, and the narrow townscapes since the Edo period were replaced with orderly roads and parks [1]. Converting 9.2 million tsubo to square kilometers gives about 30 square kilometers (calculated as 1 tsubo ≈ 3.3 square meters). The 200,000 buildings are not the number of burned buildings, but the number relocated during land readjustment. The projects included not just roads, but also underground infrastructure. The work included land readjustment, development of main roads and bridges, undergrounding of water pipes, gas pipes, power lines, and telephone lines, river and canal improvements, park development, and subsidies for fire prevention. These continued for 6 years, until 1930 (Showa 5) [3]. What did the new roads created by land readjustment look like?
4. Showa-dori Avenue Is 44 Meters Wide, and 22 Main Roads Were Named in a Newspaper Contest
Showa-dori Avenue is the first main road created in the reconstruction. It is 44 meters wide and continues for about 8 kilometers from Shimbashi towards Ueno. It was completed in 1928 (Showa 3) [4]. The starting point varies by source, so it is described here as "from Shimbashi towards Ueno." 44 meters is more than 6 times the width of a common 2-lane road (about 7 meters wide) (44 ÷ 7 ≈ 6.3). In the reconstruction plan, over 170 routes including main and auxiliary lines were planned. The names of 22 main lines were decided by a prize contest in the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun newspaper [4]. However, this source does not clarify if the name Showa-dori was decided by this contest. When roads meet rivers, bridges are needed. What bridges were built over the Sumida River in the reconstruction?
5. Two Sumida River Bridges, Eitai and Kiyosu, Took Their Design Ideas from German Bridges
Nine permanent bridges were built over the Sumida River in the reconstruction projects: Kototoi, Azuma, Komagata, Umaya, Kuramae, Ryogoku, Kiyosu, Eitai, and Aioi, listed from upstream to downstream. Aioi Bridge was rebuilt in 1998 (Heisei 10), so 8 remain today [5]. However, sources differ on whether Azuma, Umaya, and Ryogoku bridges were new constructions or repairs, so it cannot be said that "all 9 were new bridges." Eitai Bridge is said to be modeled on the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River in Germany. Completion is listed as December 1925 in some sources and 1926 in others, so it is noted as "around 1925-26." Kiyosu Bridge is said to be modeled on the Hindenburg Bridge (a large suspension bridge) in Cologne, Germany, and was called the "flower of earthquake reconstruction." It is a suspension bridge hung by chains connecting steel plates [5]. "Model" means the source of design inspiration, not the same shape. According to Chuo Ward’s materials, 425 earthquake reconstruction bridges had been built by the early Showa period, with 103 in the former Nihonbashi and Kyobashi wards alone. They are described as earthquake-resistant, fire-resistant, and having distinctive designs that blend with the natural scenery [3]. Note that 425 is the total up to the early Showa period, not necessarily all of them were built by the Reconstruction Bureau. With roads and bridges in place, what about the schools?
6. Reconstruction Elementary Schools Had the Latest Equipment of the Time
Reconstruction elementary schools were reinforced concrete structures with thick columns and beams, equipped with flush toilets and gas facilities, making them among the latest school buildings of the time [7]. The exteriors featured curved walls, arched ceilings, round columns, and balconies, and many of them were influenced by German Expressionism [7]. Like the Sumida River bridges, German architectural trends were adopted here. The Meika Elementary School in Bunkyo Ward covered in this source is strictly distinguished as a "Rebuilt School" rather than a "Reconstruction School." Read its features as an example of elementary school architecture in general during the reconstruction period. Besides schools, new parks and housing were emerging throughout the city.
7. A Different Organization Built the Large Parks and New Housing
As reconstruction parks, Sumida Park (52,700 tsubo), Hamacho Park (11,000 tsubo), and Kinshi Park (17,000 tsubo) were developed [1]. Sumida Park is about 170,000 square meters. Hamacho Park is about 36,000 square meters, and Kinshi Park is about 56,000 square meters (calculated as 1 tsubo ≈ 3.3 square meters). The Dojunkai Association was established in 1924, the year after the earthquake, by the Ministry of Home Affairs using relief funds. From 1926 to 1934, they built about 2,800 reinforced concrete apartment units in 16 locations, including Nakanogo, Daikanyama, and Aoyama. The Dojunkai Association tested new forms of living by building apartments with meeting rooms, courtyards, and flush toilets [8]. However, Dojunkai was a separate organization from the Reconstruction Bureau. It is introduced here as a movement of the same era.
8. How to Find Reconstruction Schools and Bridges Near You
Using a Japanese map app or atlas, try counting the bridges over the Sumida River from upstream. They are Kototoi, Azuma, Komagata, Umaya, Kuramae, Ryogoku, Kiyosu, and Eitai [5]. Among these, Aioi Bridge was rebuilt in 1998. Sources differ on whether Azuma, Umaya, and Ryogoku bridges were new or repaired as part of the reconstruction. If you have the chance to visit Tokyo's lower town, look for a small park next to an elementary school. Comparing Kiyosu Bridge and Eitai Bridge is another idea. Both are said to have taken design ideas from German bridges, so you can see how the two differ side by side. Be careful of cars when walking on the road. If you want to read the materials, the Cabinet Office article "100 Years Since the Great Kanto Earthquake" [1] and the Chuo Ward page on reconstruction bridge drawings [3] are available in Japanese.