Did you know that Izumicho in Chiyoda, Tokyo, is home to the world’s largest zipper manufacturer? That’s right. We are standing in Izumicho. It is a district with a population of just over 600 people.
Izumicho is officially known as Kanda-Izumicho. This area is located in the northeastern part of Chiyoda Ward. It is a business district that stands out.
Let’s dive into the story of Izumicho. This district borders Taitō to the north and east. Kanda-Sakumachō lies to the south. Kanda-Matsunagachō is to the west. These boundaries define Izumicho.
But Izumicho is more than just lines on a map. It is a hub of industry. The headquarters of YKK Group calls Izumicho home. YKK Group is the world’s largest zipper manufacturer. Think about that for a moment. Every time you zip up your jacket, there is a chance that zipper came from right here in Izumicho.
Toppan Printing also has its headquarters in Izumicho. Toppan Printing is one of the Nikkei 225 companies of Japan. These companies are significant players in Japan’s economy.
Izumicho is a key location for business. It contributes to Tokyo’s economic strength. Tokyo’s economic output was over US$1 trillion in 2020.
Let’s switch gears. The Chiyoda Board of Education oversees the local schools. Izumi Elementary School serves Kanda-Izumicho. The students attend this school. For junior high, students can choose from various schools in Chiyoda Ward.
Now I want to tell you more about Tokyo itself. Tokyo was originally known as Edo. It was mainly a fishing village. In 1603, it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. By the mid-18th century, Edo was one of the world’s largest cities. It had over a million residents.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the capital moved from Kyoto to Edo. Edo was then renamed Tokyo meaning “Eastern Capital”. In 1923, the Great Kantō earthquake greatly damaged Tokyo. The city was later badly damaged by allied bombing raids during World War II.
Beginning in the late 1940s, Tokyo underwent rapid reconstruction. This fueled the Japanese economic miracle. Japan’s economy became the second largest in the world at the time.
Tokyo became the first city in Asia to host the Summer Olympics. It hosted the Olympics in 1964 and then again in 2021. Tokyo is an international hub of research and development. It is also an academic center. The University of Tokyo is the top-ranking university in Japan.
Tokyo’s climate features hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. Typhoons often occur every year.
Consider this. Izumicho might be a small district. But it plays a big role in the global economy. It contributes to Tokyo’s status as a world city.
As we conclude our visit to Izumicho, remember the zippers and printing presses. Remember the history and the statistics. These define this unique corner of Tokyo. Izumicho is a small area making a big impact.