築地
Tsukijiつきじ
constructed land
- 築tsuki — to build / construct
- 地ji — land / ground
The name openly admits it: this land was built, not born. Monks and fishermen filled in the sea here in the 1650s — and the world's most famous fish market later stood on it.
After the Great Meireki Fire of 1657 destroyed a major temple, the shogunate granted it a patch of open sea as a replacement site. Fishermen-parishioners from Tsukudajima — skilled land-builders — filled in the water, and the temple was rebuilt on it by 1679. The name says exactly what happened: constructed land. The famous fish market stood on ground that was ocean 370 years ago.
Modern proof
Tsukiji Hongwanji still stands — its 1934 main hall is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The temple is the reason this land was built.
sourceEdo-period reclaimed land on the right bank of the Sumida river mouth.
Sources
- 築地本願寺公式「築地本願寺について」[primary]
- 築地場外市場公式「歴史」(佃島門徒による埋立)[local_org]
- 中央区観光協会 (地名由来)[local_org]