Whispers of history rustle through the leaves near \u5e02\u5185\u6700\u521d\u30ce\u7add\u6728. This marks the spot of Tokyo’s first modern street trees. It is a subtle yet significant landmark.
\u5e02\u5185\u6700\u521d\u30ce\u7add\u6728 stands as a tribute to Tokyo’s early urban greening efforts. In 1874, Tokyo embarked on a mission. The mission was to modernize its streets with greenery. This initiative began on Ginza Street. Cherry and eucommia trees were planted.
Not all trees thrived. By 1884, the original trees were replaced. Cedar and Japanese Judas trees took their place. But the real story lies here at \u5e02\u5185\u6700\u521d\u30ce\u7add\u6728.
The city first planted foreign species here. This marked a pivotal moment in Tokyo’s urban development. The stone monument commemorates this event. The monument is near the present-day Otemon Tower Eneos Building. It marks the location of these first trees.
So, what kind of trees were they? These weren’t native varieties. They were black locust trees. Sen Tsuda, a scholar, brought these seeds back from Vienna. Tsuda attended the Vienna World Exposition in 1873. He sought guidance from Daniel Hiebl, a Dutch agricultural scholar. Hiebl advised on the latest tree species for street planting. Tsuda returned with black locust and Tree of heaven seeds.
The trees first grew along the Hacchoman shore. This is today’s Uchisaiwaicho. They also grew along the Sumida River at the tip of the Eitai River. This marked the start of Tokyo’s journey towards becoming a greener city.
Interestingly, Tokyo wasn’t officially a city then. The name Tokyo City was only established in 1889. So, it was technically the first street trees in the prefecture.
Today, the street trees here are Japanese Judas trees. These replaced the original black locust trees. Yet, the stone marker remains. It is a quiet reminder of Tokyo’s first step. It was a step toward integrating nature into the urban environment.
The black locust has a special connection to a famous song. “Acacia no Ame ga Yamu Toki” is a hit from 1960. Its producer imagined the view from the Nagoya TV Tower. Acacia trees do not grow naturally in Japan. The song most likely refers to these early black locust trees.
Take a moment to appreciate \u5e02\u5185\u6700\u521d\u30ce\u7add\u6728. Think about the visionaries who planted the seeds of change. They transformed Tokyo’s landscape. From these humble beginnings grew a city. It now recognizes the value of urban greenery.