Beneath Kototoi Bridge, shadows whisper stories. Here, at the meeting point of Asakusa and Mukojima, Kototoi Bridge stretches across the Sumida River. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s a silent witness to a devastating moment in Tokyo’s history. Kototoi Bridge, originally built in 1928, replaced an old Edo-period ferry crossing. This location, once a gateway between districts, became a tragic bottleneck during World War II. On March 10, 1945, American bombers unleashed a fiery inferno upon Tokyo. Terrified residents of Asakusa, seeking refuge from the flames, surged towards Kototoi Bridge. They believed safety lay on the other side, in Mukojima. But the residents of Mukojima had the same desperate thought. Thousands converged on Kototoi Bridge, creating a human gridlock. The bridge became a trap. Many sought shelter beneath it, only to find a different kind of death. The napalm-laced river ignited, the flames consuming those huddled below. Countless lives were lost that day on and around Kototoi Bridge, victims of fire, water, and suffocating panic. The bridge itself bears the scars of this tragedy. Though the worst damage has been repaired, look closely at the newel stones. Some still carry dark marks, the remnants of burnt fat and blood, a grim reminder of the horrors witnessed here. Pieces of the original balustrades, silent witnesses to the chaos, are now preserved. You can find them in the nearby Sumida Park and the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Kototoi Bridge stands today as a memorial, not only to those lost but also to the resilience of Tokyo.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to