Visit SUGINAMI Fast-Facts Guidebook Suginami City Migratory birds at Zenpukuji Park Upper Reservoir ○Rivers at the ward Suginami City is located on the flat Musashino plateau. In the north, there is the Myoushouji River, in the central part is the Zenpukuji River, and the Kanda River flows from the west to the east in the south. Their main source of water is spring water in the ward and neighboring Mitaka City. The gentle rivers flow throughthrough Tokyo and eventually join the Sumida River and continue to Tokyo Bay. Children playing in the river near Shinomiya (1950) Suginami City Overview Pocket Edition“Visit Foreword Suginami”introduces Suginami’s history and the eff orts of the people who gathered and built villages on a luscious, green plateau in Musashino. People came together and by living closely with water and in a beautiful natural environment, communities and culture were born which has led to the creation of a Treasuring wonderful residential city. our rich green environment ○Disappearing farmland There are 3 rivers flowing in the ward The role as a farming village that began in the Edo Era has that have nurtured many lives since ancient gradually changed as the number of migrants from the city has increased due to changes in society and events such as times. The fl ow of the water, which could the Great Kanto Earthquake and war. The rapid increase of be called the source of life, created the the population has led to a reduction of farmland in the ward. wind as well as a luscious, green plateau. After the war, changes in industry as well as the burden of the inheritance tax also contributed to this reduction. Farmland continues to decrease. Farmers and agricultural land that comprised 430 houses, 100 ha. in 1985 has ○Life beside the river decreased to less than half, 146 houses, 44.7 ha. in 2016. Many village remains ○Passing precious farmland have been found near 古墳時代の遺跡分布Distribution of ruins during the Kofun Era to future generations 集落が発見されている遺跡 the rivers currently 1 本村原遺跡 2 本陣山遺跡 Among Tokyo’s 23 wards, farmland only remains in the flowing through the 3 方南町峰遺跡群 （ 方南峰・方南・ 4 向山遺跡 10 wards of Katsushika, Edogawa, Adachi, Setagaya, Ota, ward. Stone tools have 5 済美台遺跡 6 上原遺跡 Meguro, Nakano, Nerima, Itabashi and Suginami. Agricultural also been excavated 7 高千穂大学大宮遺跡 8 松ノ木遺跡 9 成宗白幡遺跡 land supplies vegetables and flowers and serves as an from these ruins, 11 10 尾崎熊野神社遺跡 12 10 1 11 矢倉台遺跡 evacuation area. It also off ers 12 矢倉台南遺跡 indicating that people 2 9 13 日性寺遺跡B地点 8 4 beautiful seasonal scenery. 14 13 14 高井戸東遺跡 have been living here 5 6 3 7 Once these lands are lost, from ancient times in 0 1 km they are difficult to regain. the pre-earthenware era. S:1/15,000 Therefore, Suginami City together with neighboring Setagaya City hold an “Agrifesta”to highlight the 1 importance of urban farmland. 2 Agrifesta being held ○The fl ow of the river that fosters life The ３rivers and their basins in the ward foster both people and many wild creatures. In particular, the Zenpukuji River and its water source Restored ruins of a pine tree house Zenpukuji Park. Along the river, the Zenpukuji River ○Utilizing the Greenland and Wada Hori water supply Park form a green belt that is the habitat for many During the Edo Era, the birds, insects, and aquatic Kanda River was called animals. “Kanda aqueduct”and Zenpukuji Park Aqueduct in autumn was used as a water supply system for the ○Fostering an aquatic environment city until 1901. The for kingfi shers Tama River aqueduct that drew water from the Suginami City and the Zenpukuji Tama River into Edo also River project have partnered to nourished the lives of create“a waterside where aquatic people in the south part birds live,”aspiring to regenerate of the ward. and create an aquatic environment that enables diverse animals and plants to inhabit, grow and breed Kingfi sher at Wada Hori Park alongside the citizens. Every year, we organize a survey and Tama River Water Supply symposium featuring aquatic near the Mihodo Bridge (1959) birds, in which elementary school students participate. ○Supporting the lives of the people in Edo “Kugayama Firefly Festival” led by the shops in the Kugayama It is said that the population of Tokyo in the mid-Edo period district has been held since 1996 reached 1 million. In order to support the lives of these to restore the environment where people, the Tokugawa shogunate developed new rice fi elds fi refl ies can live, which has been in the ward and established rural villages responsible for lost with residential development. supplying vegetables, etc. Kugayama Firefl y Festival (Kanda River Venue) With the improved railway system in the Meiji Gathering Era, as well as survivors of the Great Kanto at a new residential environment Earthquake and the war moving into the Ward, housing developed rapidly. Also, the number of shops increased, greatly supporting people’s livelihood. , ○Japan s fi rst animation museum ○Improving Railway The Suginami The Kobu Railway (current Animation Museum Chuo Line) connecting opened in March, 2005 Shinjuku and Tachikawa promoting the Ward’s opened in 1889, and unique position as a Ogikubo Station opened leadingt area in the in 1891. The opening animation industry. The of three more stations, museum welcomes Koenji, Asagaya and Nishi many visitors and Ogikubo, in July, 1922, Nishi Ogikubo Station when it opened introduces the history promoted the development (1922) of animation in Japan of the area. Private railway lines also advanced during the and the procedure of Suginami Animation Museum Taisho Era. animation production, and other exhibitions. ○The Great Kanto Earthquake ○Promoting multilingualization A huge earthquake of magnitude 7.9 occurred on There were 906 5000 September 1, 1923. As fires broke out one building after foreign visitors to the 4500 3845 another was destroyed. It was a catastrophe, with more than Suginami Animation 4000 140,000 people dead or missing. Museum during 3000 Yokufukai in Takaido 2011. The number 2211 2253 opened to support the increased by 5 times 2000 Annual visitors elderly people who to 4,500 people in 906 1000 had become homeless. 2015. With the Tokyo With donations from Olympic Games and 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 the Imperial Family, the the Paralympic Games Ministry of Interior and approaching in 2020, Changes in the number of foreign visitors at the Suginami Animation Museum 3 the Ministry of Social the number of foreign 4 Affairs a foundation tourists is expected to increase. was established. After Therefore, we are promoting multilingualization of exhibitions Yokufukai headquarters World War II, it became and guidance in (English, Chinese, Korean, etc.) so that a new home for elderly foreign visitors can both enjoy and deepen their understanding people. Today, it serves as a social welfare corporation of Japanese animation. off ering nursing care and dementia support, and has become , an important facility for the elderly. ○The town s symbol ○Pursuing a safe life “Gundam monument” In March 2008, a statue of As the war intensifi ed and aerial attacks destroyed many “Mobile Suit Gundam”was homes the ward population increased as people sought placed in front of the Seibu a safe place to live. There were many intellectuals and Shinjuku Line Kami-Igusa writers among the new Station. The area has many residents, including anime production companies Masuji Ibuse, Mizuho including the company of Aoyagi, Akatsuki Gundam. Created at the Kanbayashi. Life in request of the local shops, Asagaya and in the it has become a beloved Ogikubo area, as well as ⓒSOTSU Sunrise symbol. the interactions among the writers including ○The fi rst broadcast of the Ultraman Series Osamu Dazai, is also mentioned in literary The“birthplace of Ultraman” Map of Literature Village works. Prior to the fi rst episode of“Ultraman”, a PR event,“ Ultraman Eve Battle Festival Ultraman’s Birth”, was recorded on July ○Shifting to a town of anime 9th 1966 at the Suginami Public Hall and broadcast on from a town of writers July 10. There is a plaque commemorating the“birthplace of Ultraman”. In the late Meiji Era, inspired by foreign animation, Japan started producing animation. The first film was about 2 minutes long and was screened at a theater. With the spread of TV, many new works were created. Currently there are 622 animation production companies in Japan, of which 138 firms, more than 20%, are in Suginami City. (Source: The Association of Japanese Animations“Animation Industry Report 2016”). Suginami has the most animation companies Suginami Public Hall in Japan which have released countless beloved anime. commemoration plate ©Tsuburaya Productions We wish to create an environment in which people can live happily even in old age and when Supporting medical care and nursing care are required, we the lives of the elderly support each other in the community. We are partnering with local governments, in addition to improving public facilities within the ward. ○Partnering with local governments According to a national census in 2015, the population of ○Focusing on the year 2025 Japan was 127 million, a decrease of 947,000 from 5 years About 8 million people were born in 1947 ‒ 1949, which is ago which is the first decrease since the census began. 20 to 30% more than other generations. These people, called On the other hand, the population of the metropolitan area the baby-boomer generation, will be over 75 years old in 2025. continues to increase, and over 10% of the total population Also, one in four people in Japan will be over 75 or older.