Do you see the Sumida River flowing beneath us? It carries stories of Tokyo’s past. We’re standing on the Kototoi Bridge. Kototoi Bridge connects Asakusa with the Mukojima district. It is more than just a way to cross the river. The Kototoi Bridge is a cantilever bridge.
Completed in 1928, the Kototoi Bridge stands where the Takeya-no-Watashi ferry crossing once operated during the Edo period. The Sumida River did not always have so many bridges. Back in the mid 1940s, the Kototoi Bridge was very important. It was a vital intersection for those crossing into Tokyo. The Kototoi Bridge linked two nearby temples. These temples were the Mimeguri-Jinja and the Matsuchiyama-shoden.
But the Kototoi Bridge holds a tragic memory. During World War II, Tokyo was attacked. On March 10, 1945, United States bombers dropped napalm on the city. Fires raged through Asakusa. People fled to the Kototoi Bridge. They thought they would be safe on the other side of the Sumida River. Residents of Mukojima had the same idea. Thousands became trapped on the Kototoi Bridge. They could not move. Some sought shelter under the Kototoi Bridge. But the river itself caught fire. People drowned. Others suffocated or burned to death. The Tokyo Air Raid remains the worst bombing in the pacific war.
The monument at the head of the Kototoi Bridge is a small reminder of what happened on that summer night in Tokyo. The bridge was heavily damaged. The Kototoi Bridge was remodeled to support heavier traffic after the war.
If you look closely, you might see dark spots on the newel stones of the Kototoi Bridge. These are said to be stains from the burnt fat and blood of the victims. These stains offer a subtle reminder of the horrors of war.
Parts of the original balustrades were saved. You can find them in Sumida Park and the Edo-Tokyo Museum. The Kototoi Bridge is a constant reminder of the tragedy. The Kototoi Bridge is also one of the busiest commercial bridges still in use. The Kototoi Bridge is located where the famous Cherry Blossoms bloom in the spring time.
Standing here on the Kototoi Bridge, we remember the past. We also look forward to the future. The Kototoi Bridge connects not just places but also memories. The Kototoi Bridge links us to the stories of those who came before us.