Tokyo: A Spatial Anthropology

by Hidenobu Jinnai, Kimiko Nishimura (Translator)

Tokyo: destroyed by the earthquake of 1923 and again by the firebombing of World War II. Does anything remain of the old city?

The internationally known Japanese architectural historian Jinnai Hidenobu set out on foot to rediscover the city of Tokyo. Armed with old maps, he wandered through back alleys and lanes, trying to experience the city's space as it had been lived by earlier residents. He found that, despite an almost completely new cityscape, present-day inhabitants divide Tokyo's space in much the same way that their ancestors did two hundred years before.

Jinnai's holistic perspective is enhanced by his detailing of how natural, topographical features were incorporated into the layout of the city. A variety of visual documents (maps from the Tokugawa and Meiji periods, building floorplans, woodblock prints, photographs) supplement his observations. While an important work for architects and historians, this unusual book will also attract armchair travelers and anyone interested in the symbolic uses of space.

(A translation of Tokyo no kûkan jinruigaku .)

Genres: Japan, Architecture, Urbanism, Anthropology, Nonfiction, Japanese Literature, Urban Studies

248 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 1995

Reviews

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the pictures, but I certainly can't say I read it, except for something that jumped out at me. I would have liked to remember more about my trip to see how things have changed in the city in the 40 years since the book was first published in Japanese.

Mi piacevano le foto, ma non posso dire di averlo letto, a parte qualcosa che mi saltava all'occhio. Certamente mi sarebbe piaciuto ricordare di piú del mio viaggio per vedere come sono cambiate le cose nella cittá nei 40 anni trascorsi dalla prima pubblicazione del libro in lingua originale.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and useful book to read for people who are interested in urban history and Tokyo. The author's main thesis is that Edo and early Meiji-era Tokyo is very similar to Venice, with essentially all city activity and development oriented to the numerous canals of eastern Tokyo (Shitamachi). This all changed with the arrival of trains and, instead of city life centering at the mouth of bridges (especially Nihonbashi), the center moved to the stations.

Analysis is done via 'spatial anthropology.' Mostly looking at the subjects framed in art and identifying where notable architecture, roads, and residential areas manifested. Many of the roads were put in to frame vistas of Mt. Fuji or Tokyo Bay rather than notable buildings or towers within the city, like many European cities. As this was published in the 90s, it ends with a lament for the loss of these vistas and care for the canals, though I think some planners are going back to this now?

He restates the thesis and comparisons to Venice a bit too often, without too much support or comparisons to other cities or projects. As someone living in Yokohama, I'm sure it had some sort of influence on modern urban planning, right? Tokyo's neighbor isn't mentioned once.

He does state his bias, since he did graduate work there and visited often, though the conclusion of each section was basically restating the introduction again and again. Still, worth reading and I'll definitely be looking at exploring more of the canals of Tokyo.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! It feels like you are traveling through time in Edo, now Tokyo, and exploring the places you see everyday through a completely new historical perspective. The book is at times very detailed and mentions specific buildings and crossroads that symbolize major historical developments, yet gives a general overview of how Tokyo became the city it is nowadays (or was in the 80s, since this book is rather old). The comparisons to Western cities and their development during the 19th and 20th Century illustrate very well what makes Tokyo such a unique city worldwide.

[Vacho]

Moi estimulante a verdade. Danme ganas de facer algo similar para Ourense, aínda que penso os dous primeiros capítulos son o que utilizaría. Neles centrase na análise xeral da constitución da cidade é como esta se foi dividindo e habitando, sen embargo, quizais debido a extensión que requeriría ou a maior variabilidade coa chegada da época moderna, obvia esa mesma análise. Dende ese momento, pasa a analizar algunha das grandes curiosidades (como apareceron os parques pequenos que vertebran a cidade, os usos das pontes e a creación das prazas ao estilo occidental pero que acaban por ter outros usos...) deixando de lado o interesante que tivera a primeira parte. Aínda así é un libro chulo de ler, sobre todo se tedes o Maps ao lado para ir buscando os lugares que vai citando.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thesis read of the year complete in less than 24 hours lol 😁😁😁 (I am very stressed)

[Arend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointment--it came highly recommended.

The urban history parts are interesting and varied. Especially the fourth chapter shines. I understand and agree with many of his points about urban planning in Tokyo.

But anthropology this is not. Powered by breathless exceptionalism and casual essentialism, while at the same time setting up a dialectic between Western (mostly European, whatever that means) and Japanese culture, it sparked more often irritation than inspiration. No critical insight into the evolution and function of public spaces in "Europe"; no reference to regional models of urban planning (China, anyone?) or historical events (American occupation, perhaps?); no grounding of city growth in human activity (economic, social, legal, and so on).

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A n interesting exploration into how and why Tokyo developed the way it has. Though it was written in the 90s, Jinnai's insights are readily applicable today. I wish I had more time to explore the city on foot and do just that.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am as sentimental as this author is--thankfully his analysis is sharp as crystal.

[Yas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Read parts of the chapters to write my thesis. I plan to go back to it in the future and complete reading the whole book. There is so much to be learned about Japanese architecture and city planning, its transformation, and its future. A engrossing and delightful read :D

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book if you are interested in the history of Edo/Tokyo.