RIP Shimokitazawa

More lovely concrete!

It looks like one of my (and other JREFers') favourite places is going to be 'redeveloped' in the traditional Japanese style; ie bulldoze away the life and soul of the place and build a big wide boulevard flanked by characterless concrete boxes.

Details can be found here at Save The (sic) Shimokitazawa

The plan for the road was hatched in 1947. It was put ice, mainly I think because the Odyaku Line was in the way. However, due to some misguided (as it turns out) campaigning from locals, the line is going to be put into a tunnel, making Shimokita an even more pleasant place to shop, eat, play music and generally hang out (for the time being.) But this was a Pyrrhic victory, since in clearing away the railway they unwittingly gave the road planners the chance to vomit their monstrosity on the town.

The winners seem to be the construction companies, the politicians who take back-handers from said companies, and people who've speculated by buying properties in the area with a view to having them compulsorily purchased at inflated prices. The losers are everybody else.

I am very disappointed that Shimokitazawa is going to be nothing more in a few years. I personally enjoyed many nights in the endless numbers of bars and izakayas of Shimo, as well as the lively daytime shopping atmosphere there. The individual shop owners and businesses were extremely interesting and a welcome diversion from the chains and conglomerates of say Shibuya or Shinjuku.

Most of all I remember the people, alot of interesting people from all walks of live congregated in Shimo. They ran Reggae music bars, punk bars, fine dining restaurants, cheap dining restaurants, clothing stores, jewelry stores, vintage goods stores, etc. I'm really happy I had a chance to experience Shimo, as I fear the next time I'm in Tokyo it will be gone.

Favourite places:
1) Irie Dining: 2nd floor near train crossing and Koban, South side

2) Little Reggae/Hippy bar: North side, down the alley next to the drug store across from Nova

3) I forget the name but its on the South side just down the street from McDonalds and the Odakyu entrance.. they have Bingo cards, all drinks and food are 399yen and its in the basement. They play psychadelic/new age music. There's a free cotton candy machine in the entrance

4) The Okonomiyaki place with the small green wooden doorway, South side, near the Nova across the street.

5) Mothers Bar. Funky bar with a 'cave' motif, South side further down the street from the Okonomiyaki place with the green doors.

Actually i could go on..

RIP Shimo

According to The Japan Times: "The beat goes On in Shimokitazawa"

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fg20070928jb.html