Sumida, Tokyo

Sumida (墨田区, Sumida-ku, "Field of Ink") is a special ward located in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. The English translation of its Japanese self-designation is Sumida City.

As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 257,300 and a population density of 18,690 persons per km². The total area is 13.77 km².

Geography

Sumida is in the northeastern part of the mainland portion of Tokyo. The Sumida and Arakawa are the major rivers, and form parts of its boundaries. Its neighbors are all special wards: Adachi to the north; Arakawa to the northwest; Katsushika to the east; Edogawa to the southeast; Taitō to the west; Chūō to the southwest; and Kōtō to the south.

Landmarks

• Tokyo Skytree: A digital terrestrial television broadcasting tower used by NHK and other broadcasters. It is the tallest freestanding tower in the world and the tallest man-made structure in Japan.
• Ryōgoku Kokugikan (National Sumo Stadium)
• Edo-Tokyo Museum
• Asahi Breweries Headquarters: The Asahi Beer Hall with the Asahi flame created by French designer Philippe Starck in 1989, is one of Tokyo's most recognizable modern structures.
• Eko-in: Buddhist temple
• Honjo Matsuzaka-cho Park: the residence of Kira Yoshinaka stood on this site. The Forty-seven Ronin took his life during the Genroku era.
• Hokusai-dori (street), with a series of prints by famed Japanese artist Hokusai who was born in the Kamezawa area of Sumida.
• Sumida Triphony Hall, concert hall
• Tobu Museum
• Tokyo Irei-do (Tokyo Memorial Hall): a memorial to those unidentified people who died in the Great Kantō earthquake, the Bombing of Tokyo in World War II and other catastrophes; by Itō Chūta
• Yokoamicho Park, in the Yokoami district

View of Sumida River from Ryogoku Bridge

Ryogoku Sumo Arena

Places

• In the north (the former Mukojima Ward): Sumida, Tsutsumi-dori, Higashi Sumida, Yahiro, Higashi Mukojima, Tachibana, Bunka, Kyojima, Oshiage
• In the center (former Honjo Ward): Azuma-bashi, Higashi Komagata, Honjo, Narihira, Yokokawa
• In the south (former Honjo Ward): Yokoami, Ryogoku, Chitose, Ishiwara, Kamezawa, Midori, Tatekawa, Kikukawa, Taihei, Kinshi, Koto-bashi

History

The ward was founded on March 15, 1947. It was previously the (ordinary) wards Honjo and Mukojima. Mukojima, formed in 1932, contained the former town of Sumida, which along with the river gave the ward its name.

Companies

• Asahi Breweries has its headquarters in Azuma-bashi.
• Japan Tobacco has a plant in Yokokawa.
• Keisei Electric Railway has its headquarters in Oshiage.
• Lion Corporation, the detergent and toiletries giant, has its home office in Honjo.
• Tobu Railway has its headquarters in Oshiage.

Politics

As of 2005, the mayor is Noboru Yamazaki. The council consists of 34 members.

Transport

Further information: Transport in Greater Tokyo

Rail lines

• JR East Sōbu Main Line: Kinshichō, Ryōgoku Stations
• Tobu Railway
  • Tōbu Isesaki Line: Oshiage, Tokyo Skytree, Hikifune, Higashi-Mukōjima, Kanegafuchi Stations
  • Tōbu Kameido Line: Higashi-Azuma, Omurai, Hikifune Stations
• Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Oshiage Line: Oshiage, Keisei Hikifune, Yahiro Stations
• Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line: Kinshichō, Oshiage Stations
• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
  • Toei Asakusa Line: Honjō Azuma-bashi, Oshiage Stations
  • Toei Shinjuku Line: Kikukawa Station
  • Toei Ōedo Line: Ryōgoku Station

Railway stations

• Higashi-Azuma Station
• Higashi-Mukōjima Station
• Hikifune Station
• Honjo-Azumabashi Station
• Kanegafuchi Station
• Kinshichō Station
• Kikukawa Station
• Tokyo Skytree Station
• Omurai Station
• Oshiage Station
• Ryōgoku Station
• Yahiro Station

Highways

• Shuto Expressway
  • C2 Central Loop
  • No.6 Mukōjima Route
  • No.7 Komatsugawa Route
• National highways
  • Route 6
  • Route 14

Famous people

Historical

• Ryūnosuke Akutagawa lived in Mukojima
• Enomoto Takeaki lived in Mukojima
• Katsushika Hokusai was born in Kamezawa
• Katsu Kaishū was born in Kamezawa
• Kōda Rohan lived in Mukōjima
• Matsuo Bashō lived in Honjō
• Mori Ōgai lived in Mukōjima
• Nezumi Kozō (Jirokichi): A memorial is located at Eko-in

Modern

• Haruka Igawa: actress, model
• Chosuke Ikariya: actor, comedian (The Drifters)
• Nana Kinomi: actress
• Masakazu Morita, voice actor
• Masao Oba: former WBA flyweight champion
• Sadaharu Oh: baseball player and manager
• Kazuhito Tadano: Major League Baseball player
• Suihō Tagawa: manga artist
• Hisanori Takahashi: baseball player
• Yoshihiro Takayama: pro wrestler
• Chisa Yokoyama: voice actor

Education

Public elementary and middle schools are operated by Sumida.

Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.

• Honjo High School
• Mukojima Commercial High School
• Mukojima Technical High School
• Ryogoku High School
• Sumidagawa High School
• Tachibana High School

In addition the metropolitan school district also operates a metropolitan junior high school:

• Ryogoku Junior High School

International schools:

• Tokyo Korean 5th Elementary and Middle School (東京朝鮮第五初中級学校) - North Korean school

International relations

Sumida maintains sister-city relationships with Seodaemun-gu in Seoul, South Korea, and with Shijingshan District in Beijing, China.

Works set in Sumida

• Chushingura, the fictional account of the events surrounding the revenge of the Forty-seven Ronin
• Bokuto Kitan, the novel by Nagai Kafu
• You're Under Arrest

External links

• Sumida, Tokyo travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Sumida City official website Template:Ja icon
• Sumida City official website Template:En icon