22/11/2024 Ryuki Yamashiro
Hello. The time I started writing this piece is 5:36 PM on November 22, 2024. I wonder what time it is where you are reading this. Today in Asagaya, the weather was clear and bright. Although winter is approaching, it was almost warm during the day. The air was so crisp that I left the window open, and the breeze was incredibly pleasant.
Now, I’d like to share a bit about the shopping street in Asagaya. If you exit the north side of Asagaya Station, walk through the bus terminal, and continue along a short arcade, you’ll find the “Matsuyama Street Shopping Arcade.” Locally known as “Old Nakasugi Street,” this road stretches for about 700 meters from north to south, lined with unique stores on both sides.
The street is narrow in places, and it might be difficult for cars to pass through, but that’s part of its charm. Without the presence of large chain stores, each shop owner has created a space that reflects their personal sense of style. From quirky little shops and restaurants to clothing stores and bookstores, the variety of businesses shapes the culture of Asagaya. This “diversity born from the absence of big capital” is, I would say, one of the key attractions of the Matsuyama Street Shopping Arcade.
Not far from Matsuyama Street, many writers used to live about 80 years ago. Back then, Asagaya was a peaceful rural town with fields and forests, and the low rent made it an ideal place for struggling writers. They would gather, play shogi (Japanese chess), eat together, and sometimes discuss the future of Japan. There’s even a story that, during the war, some of them escaped the police by sneaking out the back doors of their homes to avoid censorship.
While Asagaya has changed drastically over the years, there is still a certain cultural essence that lingers in the town. If you live here, you might not notice it at first, but I’ve heard that many writers still reside in the area. If you ever happen to see someone walking late at night, muttering to themselves, it might just be a modern-day writer.
Even as times have changed, the culture of Asagaya continues to be passed down, albeit in new forms. With these thoughts in mind, why not take a walk down Matsuyama Street? This charming street, where the old and new collide, is sure to reveal something that will capture your heart.