February 2025 issue The river canal of Yokohama, the city seen in the photo-with reader present-

As for the publication contents of "public information Yokohama" February, 2025 issue "Yokohama Aya discovery", please see link.

Kazuki Matsumoto, Researcher, Museum of Yokohama Urban History

　The photo in Image 1 was taken near Nagashima Bridge in Shinkichi Tagawa (currently near the middle of Isezaki-Chojamachi Station and Bandobashi Station). The Shinkichi Tagawa was excavated in 1896 (Meiji 29). In the Meiji era, in Yokohama, where the urban area on the Yoshidashinden side progressed, rivers were maintained and excavated, forming a river canal network along with the large Okagawa River, a natural river. Image 2 extracts the vicinity of Nagashima Bridge from a map called "Revised Yokohama City All Map" published in 1898 (Meiji 31). On the map, you can see Shinkichi Tagawa, Shinfuji Migawa, which connects Shinkichi Tagawa and Ookagawa, and Hinode River, which connects Yoshida River and Nakamurakawa. In addition, from the "Revised Yokohama City Map", it can be seen that the well-maintained river canal functioned as a water transport network. Image 3 extracts the area around the Ooka River from the "Revised Yokohama City Map". Around Yokohama Park, there was a food market for fresh food, and along the river there were wholesalers and wholesalers serving market-oriented products. There was also a steamship route to Yokosuka and Tokyo, and there was a departure / departure point for the regular route to Yokosuka, Sadakimaru Kisen Company in the port town.

　The river canal in Yokohama was severely damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred in 1923 (Daisho 12). Image 4 is a map called "Yokohama Earth Map / Attached Daisho 12 Great Earthquake Fire Area", which describes the status of the damage caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake. As shown in Image 5, the cross mark shows damage to the bridge, and the red line drawn on the seawall shows the collapse and cracks of the seawall, but the bridges and seawalls of the Yoshida River and Shinkichi Tagawa, including the Nagashima Bridge, have been severely damaged by the earthquake. You can see that you have suffered.
　The magnitude of the damage can also be read from the photo. Image 6 shows the Ooka River after the Great Kanto Earthquake. The bridge at the back right of the image is Yoshidabashi Bridge. Even in the Ooka River, which borders the Yoshida River, there were many collapses and cracks of revetments due to the earthquake.

　Since the 1960s, Yokohama City has envisioned a large-scale urban plan ("Six Major Projects"). In the concept, river canals will be subject to development based on the high-speed railway plan (Yokohama Municipal Subway) and the expressway network plan (Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway). Image 8 shows a plan of the Yokohama Municipal Subway route. The blue line shows the river, and the red line shows the planned line of the subway. The subway was constructed in the form of reclaiming part of the Ooka River and the Yoshida River and Shinkichi Tagawa River, and Odori Park was built on the ground. In this construction, the bridges on the Yoshida River and Shinyoshida River, including Nagashima Bridge, have disappeared, but traces of the bridge can be seen on the relief installed at Isezaki-Chojamachi Station [Image 9]. The relief established in 1981 (Showa 56) tells us that the Odori Park, which is still a place for citizens to relax, was once a canal familiar to the citizens.

Period　　　　From Saturday, January 18, 2025 to Sunday, April 13, 2025 (Reiwa 7) ※

※ Closed days: Monday [However, it opens on February 24 and closes on Tuesday, February 25]

Opening hours from 9:30 to 17:00 (ticket sales until 16:30)
Venue　　　　Yokohama City Development Memorial Hall 18 Nihon Odori, Naka-ku, Yokohama City (a short walk from Nihon Odori Avenue Station in Minato Mirai Line)
Please check the viewing fee and other links (outside site).

　If you live in the 4 wards related to the special exhibition, you can view it free of charge by presenting a certificate that shows your place of residence on the following schedule.
　Nishi Ward: February 26, Isogo Ward: March 5, Naka Ward: March 19, Minami Ward: March 26 (both Wednesday)