GENERAL PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL
General map of the plan that defines the road hierarchy and the areas reserved for the main spaces.
Ishizu Sanjiro, Tagawa Daikichiro, Fukuda Shigeyoshi and Reconstruction Office Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan. 1923
Japanese authorities, headed by the Minister Shinpei Goto, propose this plan to rebuild the city of Tokyo after the devastating Kanto earthquake 1923. Would be implemented only in some minor issues due to strong opposition from the population, Diet preventing expropriation necessary capacity.
The urban proposal would seek to radically transform the medieval streets of the capital of Japan between the Imperial Palace and the bay introducing a system of large avenues, evenly distributed bridges and parks. The aim was to rebuild the imperial city and a metropolis in the European manner by Haussmann in Paris.
The promoters of the plan intended to acquire substantially all of the soil affected by the earthquake to ensure technically and aesthetically complete reconstruction, to reach not only the buildings but also to road networks and associated technical infrastructure, as sanitation. And the influence is clear also Eugene Henard, hygienism French theorist and inventor of road roundabouts.
References:
Article on the reconstruction of the capital of Japan. Caroline Norma, ERAS n.10
Plan Description Goto Minister. Jeffrey E. Hanes
Plan the reorganization of old city area of Edo
Shirokiya, an example of consumer stores that would arise in the new avenues in the area of Nihonbashi.
