Whispers of a hidden stream. That’s the Midori River for you. A seemingly unremarkable storm drain today it’s a far cry from its storied past. The Midori River or Meguro River as it’s also known begins where the Kitazawa and Karasuyama Rivers meet. This is in Setagaya. Most of the river flows underground. A small decorative creek is visible. This area is called the Meguro River Green Path. Wildlife thrives here. Its population is closely monitored.
The Meguro River continues its journey. It passes through Setagaya Meguro and Shinagawa. Eventually it empties into Tokyo Bay at Tennozu in Shinagawa. Much of the river’s modern course follows the path of the old Shinagawa River. Yet the name Shinagawa River hasn’t been used for centuries. Local stories abound trying to explain the name. One popular tale is that it refers to a river used for transporting goods. Whether this is true remains a mystery.
The Meguro and Shinagawa Rivers are essentially the same. Pre-modern maps show variations in names. Local areas used local names. The Meguro clan lived near the river in the Meguro Hamlet. Their residence is now the site of Meguro Junior High School. However its past glory is long gone. Before the modern era there was no official naming system. The river was known as the Shinagawa River in Shinagawa and the Meguro River in Meguro.
Interestingly the river in Shimo-Meguro was called Koritori-gawa. This refers to purification rituals before temple visits. People would jump into the river to cleanse themselves spiritually. This practice even continued during WWII. The river was filled with corpses. A gruesome superstition exists linking cherry blossoms to human blood. This dark history is still talked about by some of Meguro’s oldest residents.
Despite its grim past the Midori River’s modern course features many cherry trees. Naka-Meguro is now a popular spot for hanami cherry blossom viewing. Food stalls and restaurants line the river. This once undesirable area has become highly sought-after. A major cleanup and revitalization project changed everything. The cherry blossoms were planted then. The Midori River’s journey is one of transformation. From a polluted storm drain to a beautiful cherry blossom haven. The Midori River’s story is a testament to the resilience and beauty of nature and the city that surrounds it.