Sunday 22 January 2012

Fire



At the bottom of Asukayama park, along the railway lines near Oji station is a charming little row of little bars that in cherry blossom and hydrangea season double as places selling food to passers by. I've never been to any of the places there, without being seedy they are more like places where salary men stop off on their way between the station and home.
















Yesterday, early morning the whole row was gutted by fire. The row itself was off limits, but from the station it was clear that it had all gone. One person who lived there was badly injured. I haven't heard about other casualties.  Between the Kanto earthquake,  World War II bombings, and just regular accidents,  fire has been very unkind to the historical charm of Tokyo.








6 comments:

Theresa said...

How sad. I love those old dives under the railway lines, a remnant of old Japan, although I'd never be brave enough to actually go to any.

Cecilia said...

It is so sad.
I go to the izakaya under the tracks from time to time, but like you I've never been brave enough to go into a snack.
As much as I found them charming, I feel like a hypocrite for mourning them when I was never a customer...

Rurousha said...

Oh no! I know that little alley! I always go to that park during the cherry blossom and the hydrangea season. This is very sad news.

PS: I don't like to go into these snack bars or even places like Yoshinoya on my own either. It's the realm of men ...

Cecilia said...

I occasionally go to yoshinoya - though gyudon is easy enough to make at home, but never snacks and never tachigui soba etc places. My aversion to tachigui comes more from the high probability of spilling down my shirt...

Rurousha said...

Grin. And if you have long hair and you forgot your scrunchie or any other hair fastener at home, forget about eating any noodle dish! ^^

Bryn said...

Wow, how sad :( It looked like such a cute little place.