Marunouchi
Marunouchi (丸の内) is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat. It is a center of Japan's financial industry, as the country's three largest banks are headquartered there.
History
In 1590, before Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo Castle, the area now known as Marunouchi was an inlet of Edo Bay and had the name Hibiya. With the expansion of the castle, this inlet was filled, beginning in 1592.
A new outer moat was constructed, and the earlier moat became the inner moat. The area took the name Okuruwauchi ("within the enclosure").
Daimyo, particularly shinpan and fudai, constructed their mansions here, and with 24 such estates, the area also became known as daimyō kōji ("daimyo alley"). The offices of the North and South Magistrates, and that of the Finance Magistrate, were also here.
Following the Meiji Restoration, Marunouchi came under control of the national government, which erected barracks and parade grounds for the army.
Those moved in 1890, and Iwasaki Yanosuke, brother of the founder (and later the second leader) of Mitsubishi, purchased the land for 1.5 million yen. As the company developed the land, it came to be known as Mitsubishi-ga-hara (the "Mitsubishi Fields").
Much of the land remains under the control of Mitsubishi Estate, and the headquarters of many companies in the Mitsubishi Group are in Marunouchi.
The government of Tokyo constructed its headquarters on the site of the former Kōchi han in 1894. They moved it to the present Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku in 1991, and the new Tokyo International Forum and Toyota Tsusho Corporation now stands on the site. Nearly a quarter of Japan's GDP is generated in this area.
Tokyo Station opened in 1914, and the Marunouchi Building in 1923.
Places in Marunouchi
- Marunouchi Oazo
- Marunouchi Building
- Shin-Marunouchi Building
- Tokyo Central Post Office (closed)
- Tokyo International Forum
- Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo
- Tokyo Station, the city's main intercity rail terminal
Companies based in Marunouchi
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
Calbee has its headquarters in the Marunouchi Trust Tower Main.[1] Konica Minolta has its headquarters in the Marunouchi Center Building in Marunouchi.[2]
Marunouchi also houses the Japan offices of Aeroméxico (Pacific Century Place Marunouchi),[4] Citigroup, Nikko Cordial, Nikko Citigroup, Banca Commerciale Italiana, Rabobank, JPMorgan Chase, Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank of India, Bayerische Landes Bank, Bloomberg, BT Asia Securities, First National Bank of Boston, KPMG, Latham & Watkins, Mellon Bank, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Morrison & Foerster, Overseas Union Bank, Philadelphia National Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ropes & Gray, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Royal Insurance, Standard Chartered Bank, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Bain & Company.[citation needed]
Japan Airlines used to have its headquarters in the Tokyo Building in Marunouchi.[5]
Rail and subway stations
- Nijūbashimae Station (Chiyoda Line)
- Otemachi Station (Chiyoda Line, Hanzomon Line, Marunouchi Line, Toei Mita Line, Tozai Line)
- Tokyo Station (Chūō Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Keiyo Line, Marunouchi Line, Shinkansen, Sōbu Line, Yamanote Line, Yokosuka Line)
References
- ^ "Corporate Information." Calbee. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Company Overview." Konica Minolta. Retrieved on May 12, 2009.
- ^ "About The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd." The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.
- ^ "com03.jpg." Aeroméxico. Retrieved on October 13, 2010.
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 88." Retrieved on June 17, 2009.
