Isn’t it remarkable how a name can carry echoes of the past? That’s certainly true here in Katata. Katata is a place with a story etched into its very existence.
Let’s explore Kamata’s vibrant history. Kamata is a commercial district in southern Tokyo. It is known for its small factories and workshops. Imagine this area before the 20th century. It was all farmland then. People grew rice, wheat, and vegetables. It’s hard to picture that now.
But there are still vestiges of Kamata’s rural past. This road beneath our feet was once the Tokaido highway. It was a major transportation route established in the 17th century. This area was called Plum Tree Village. Japanese plum trees grew everywhere. Farmers made preserved plums and plum paste. They sold them to travelers on the Tokaido road. Kamata’s plums became a regional specialty. The plum blossoms also drew tourists.
There’s a park nearby that offers a glimpse into that era. It is a garden of Japanese plum trees. Even now, the blossoms bloom each year. They signal the coming of spring. People appreciated the trees’ beauty. Kamata transformed into a tourist destination.
Kamata also became a center of flower cultivation. In 1903, an expansive iris garden opened. Visitors enjoyed some 300 flower varieties. The garden became another attraction. Residents wanted more people to visit the iris garden. So they requested a train station.
Kamata Station opened in 1904. At first, it was quiet. But gradually, the local population increased. Businesses opened. Rice paddies were replaced by factories. Then, a movie studio opened. This paved the way for Kamata’s future.
Between 1920 and 1936, the Shochiku Kamata Studio was located here. It was a very large movie studio for its time. Today, there’s a high-rise building and civic hall. But some traces of the old studio remain.
There are four stones that were once part of a bridge. The bridge was named Shochikubashi after the movie studio. Big name directors and movie stars would cross that bridge. Kamata was chosen for the studio because it offered plenty of space. There were rivers, the ocean, temples, and residential areas. This allowed for a variety of scenes.
The movie studio had a total area of about 30000 square meters. More than 700 people worked there. Over 16 years, they produced 1200 films. Japan’s first film to fully employ sound was produced at this studio. Many of the country’s greatest actors and filmmakers worked here.
Ozu Yasujiro, best known for “Tokyo Story,” got his start here. One of Ozu’s masterpieces was filmed near the train yard. It featured scenes of children playing in an empty lot. Kamata continued to industrialize. The opening of munitions factories resulted in noise. The studio moved because the area was no longer ideal for filming.
Today, Kamata stands as a testament to its multifaceted past. It’s a place where plum blossoms once drew travelers. It is a place where movie stars once walked. Now it’s a bustling district with factories and bars. It has a working-class spirit. Kamata continues to evolve while honoring its roots.