The Present study deals with a district near Ikegami R.R. Station located in the southern part of Tokyo.Notwithstanding there had been no shop near the R.R. Station at the time that it was built, a shopping center is growing there nowadays in a concentric circle with the platform-wicket of the Station as its central point. It is becoming the heart of the district as a newlyrising shopping center. This fact had best be considered with reference to Ikegaimi Monzencho Street, former center of the district.(1.) Monzencho (front of a gate) Street of Honmonji Temple of Ikegami. Ikegami Honmonji Temple, an important temple of the Nichiren sect, is crowded by people on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of Nichiren. On both sides of the road to the temple, many street-stalls are opened selling drums which are noted products of the place. Besides in areas not devastated by air raids stone-dealers' shops, florists' shops, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops are seen carrying on business as before. Although this Monzencho still retains certain aspects of a suburban-town in the latter part of the Meiji period, it can also be recognized that it is transforming into a street on both sides of which are sold only the necessaries of life.(2.) Circumferential shopping thoroughfares and the pivotal shopping centers. In Ikegami and the areas surrounding it the following four life (shopping)-spheres can be observed:a. The pivotal shopping center in front of the R.R. Station (where the necessaries of life are sold).b. The circumferential shopping thoroughfares (where the necessaries of minimum life are sold).c. The shopping thoroughfares within the 2km. circle (where expensive articles are sold).d. The shopping center in the heart of the town (where the most expensive articles are sold).Monzencho previously mentioned now has but the standing of a shopping thoroughfare where the necessaries of minimum life are sold. It is a street having advanced only one step from the time of general dealers. On the other hand, there appeared in front of the R.R. Station a new shopping center depriving Monzencho of the topmost position and becoming a new pivot of the district's life-spheres.(3.) Conclusion. The fact that Monzencho of Ikegami Honmonji Temple that had been pivotal in Ikegami and its surrounding areas from the Yedo epoch to the latter part of the Meiji period is now transforming into a less important shopping street where the necessaries of the newlyrising shopping center that has grown in front of Ikegami R.R. Station. Such a phenomenon will be observed, more or less frequently, in other districts too.
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Open Access
Jan 1, 1969
Tomoyoshi Tanji 
