Abstract

Ueno houses numerous national cultural and educational institutions, yet is adjacent to the bustling Ameyoko market, red-light districts, and a Korean community. It is said that no other city in the world has such a unique blend.
Why was a statue of Saigō Takamori, supposedly a traitor, erected on Ueno Hill? Why are some ninety gay snack bars clustered together in Ueno? Why do illegal adult entertainment establishments proliferate right in front of the police station? Why did the pachinko wholesaler district, “Pachinko Village”, emerge in Ueno? All these mysteries are deeply intertwined with the unique history and geographical context of the Ueno district.

Author’s Information

Born in Tokorozawa City in Japan on 4 April 1956. Graduated from Waseda University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics. His life's work is chronicling the grand history of ordinary people through both contemplation and practice. A ten-minute walk from his family home lies the Sayama Hills and Hakokuyama, which inspired the setting for My Neighbour Totoro. Currently