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''This article is about the geographical area called Yamanote. For the [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East) commuter line, see [[Yamanote Line]].'' |
[[Image:TokyoSpecialWardsMap.svg|thumb|300px|Tokyo's 23 Wards (-ku)]]''This article is about the geographical area called Yamanote. For the [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East) commuter line, see [[Yamanote Line]].'' |
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The traditional name for the affluent, upper-class areas of [[Tokyo]] west of the Imperial Palace, especially [[Bunkyo, Tokyo|Bunkyō-ku]]-ku and [[Shinjuku]]-ku.<ref>[[Kōjien]] Japanese dictionary</ref><ref>[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%E3%81%AE%E6%89%8B 山の手], Japanese Wikipedia</ref>. The name, which in Japanese means ''an elevated ground or plateau''<ref>[[Kōjien]] Japanese dictionary</ref> is due to the fact that it lies on the slopes of the [[Musashino Plateau]], which is a relief that, from inner Honshu goes down towards the sea, so that even [[Edo Castle]] and the [[Imperial Palace]] rest on it<ref>[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E8%94%B5%E9%87%8E%E5%8F%B0%E5%9C%B0 武蔵野台地], Japanese Wikipedia</ref>. Both the the [[Yamanote Line]] and [[Yamate Dori]] (or [[Kampachi]]) take their name from the region, |
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The traditional name for the area of [[Tokyo]] around [[Ginza]] and Nihonbashi.<br /> |
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[[Tokyo]] used to be culturally and economically divided in two parts: the plebeian {{nihongo|Shitamachi|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 下町 (したまち) |Shita machi}}, literally ''low town'' or ''low city'', and the aristocratic {{nihongo|[[Yamanote]]|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 山の手 (やまのて) |Yama no te}}. Although neither of the two was an official name, both stuck and are still in some use. |
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[[Tokyo]] used to be physically, culturally and economically divided in two parts: the plebeian {{nihongo|Shitamachi|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 下町 (したまち) |Shita machi}}, literally ''low town'' or ''low city'' located next to the [Sumida River]], and the aristocratic {{nihongo|[[Yamanote]]|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 山の手 (やまのて) |Yama no te}} located on the hills of the Musashino Plateau.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Low-City-High-Earthquake-1867-1923/dp/0674539397 Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923]</ref> Although neither of the two was ever an official name, both stuck and are still in some use. Both words are used with the same meaning in other parts of the country too. The term Yamanote is also used for example, Hokkaido, Oita and Osaka<ref>[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%E3%81%AE%E6%89%8B 山の手], Japanese Wikipedia</ref>. The term Yamanote has a connotation of classiness, whereas Shitamachi has one of liveliness and human warmth<ref>[[Kōjien]] Japanese dictionary</ref>. |
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The historical Shitamachi was the part of Tokyo east of the [[Sumida River]] (around [[Taitō, Tokyo|Taitō]]-ku), the Yamanote the part west of the Imperial Palace ([[Ginza]] and [[Nihonbashi]]), right under the Shitamachi. <br /> |
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==The Yamanote Today== |
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Because the terms are centuries-old, their meaning and the physical areas they define have changed several times. In an interview with magazine Metropolis, noted translator and Shitamachi scholar [[Edward Seidensticker]] declared that in his opinion nowadays the dividing line between today's equivalents of Shitamachi and Yamanote goes from Ginza to [[Shinjuku]], and he prefers to call the two areas north and south because the old names are not longer appropriate. He claims that a century ago Shitamachi's [[Ginza]] and [[Nihonbashi]] were the center of Tokyo insofar as shopping and entertainment were concerned. Today, those centers are in [[Shinjuku]], [[Ikebukuro]], [[Shibuya]] and [[Shinagawa]].<ref>[http://www.metropolis.co.jp/tokyofeaturestoriesarchive349/300/tokyofeaturestoriesinc.htm Tokyo Feature Story: Edward Seidensticker], Metropolis Magazine</ref>.<br /> |
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The term Yamanote (the variant {{nihongo|[[Yamate]]|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 山手 (やまて) |Yamate}} is also in use) has several different and partly coincident meanings. |
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The authoritative [[Kōjien]] has two definitions for the term. The first |
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# The location closer to the mountains. |
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# An elevated ground or plateau. In the case of Tokyo, the whole region around Bunkyo-ku and Shinjuku-ku. |
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In the case of Tokyo, the eastern side of the [[Musashino Plateau]] is called Yamanote, and the [[Yamanote Line]] and Yamate Dori (or Kampachi) are named after it. The area's approximate location can be understood from the fact that initially the Yamanote Line used to go from Shinagawa to Yoyogi and Tabata. |
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Although most people are not aware of the fact, the Plateau extends very close to the sea, and [[Edo Castle]] and the [[Imperial Palace]] lie within the Musashino Plateau. |
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<references/> |
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The name came to be used mostly by extension to indicate the urban areas crossed by the Yamanote Line and Yamate Dori, and expressions like「山の手のお嬢さん, 「山の手のお屋敷]]. |
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It is for this reason that is used to be juxtaposed to [[Shitamachi]]. |
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See also [[東京市街の変遷]] |
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The term Yamanote is also used for example, Hokkaido, Oita and Osaka |
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* [http://www.amazon.com/Low-City-High-Earthquake-1867-1923/dp/0674539397 Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923] |
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* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E8%94%B5%E9%87%8E%E5%8F%B0%E5%9C%B0 武蔵野台地], Japanese Wikipedia |
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[[ja:山の手]] |
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* [[Kōjien]] Japanese dictionary |
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Latest revision as of 20:30, 22 September 2008
This article is about the geographical area called Yamanote. For the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) commuter line, see Yamanote Line.
The traditional name for the affluent, upper-class areas of Tokyo west of the Imperial Palace, especially Bunkyō-ku-ku and Shinjuku-ku.[1][2]. The name, which in Japanese means an elevated ground or plateau[3] is due to the fact that it lies on the slopes of the Musashino Plateau, which is a relief that, from inner Honshu goes down towards the sea, so that even Edo Castle and the Imperial Palace rest on it[4]. Both the the Yamanote Line and Yamate Dori (or Kampachi) take their name from the region, which they cross[5].
History of the term Yamanote
[edit]Tokyo used to be physically, culturally and economically divided in two parts: the plebeian Shitamachi (Japanese: 下町 (したまち), Shita machi), literally low town or low city located next to the [Sumida River]], and the aristocratic Yamanote (Japanese: 山の手 (やまのて), Yama no te) located on the hills of the Musashino Plateau.[6] Although neither of the two was ever an official name, both stuck and are still in some use. Both words are used with the same meaning in other parts of the country too. The term Yamanote is also used for example, Hokkaido, Oita and Osaka[7]. The term Yamanote has a connotation of classiness, whereas Shitamachi has one of liveliness and human warmth[8].
The Yamanote Today
[edit]Because the terms are centuries-old, their meaning and the physical areas they define have changed several times. In an interview with magazine Metropolis, noted translator and Shitamachi scholar Edward Seidensticker declared that in his opinion nowadays the dividing line between today's equivalents of Shitamachi and Yamanote goes from Ginza to Shinjuku, and he prefers to call the two areas north and south because the old names are not longer appropriate. He claims that a century ago Shitamachi's Ginza and Nihonbashi were the center of Tokyo insofar as shopping and entertainment were concerned. Today, those centers are in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya and Shinagawa.[9].
References
[edit]- ^ Kōjien Japanese dictionary
- ^ 山の手, Japanese Wikipedia
- ^ Kōjien Japanese dictionary
- ^ 武蔵野台地, Japanese Wikipedia
- ^ 山の手, Japanese Wikipedia
- ^ Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923
- ^ 山の手, Japanese Wikipedia
- ^ Kōjien Japanese dictionary
- ^ Tokyo Feature Story: Edward Seidensticker, Metropolis Magazine