160306-0035 - Nihonbashi Bridge

Nihonbashi Bridge in Tokyo, designed by Yorinaka Tsumaki (妻木頼黄, 1859-1916), ca. 1930 (Showa 5).

During the Edo Period (1600-1867), the bridge was the starting point of the famous Tokaido and the other 4 post roads.

The stone bridge with bronze lions and wrought-iron gas lamps replaced the wooden one in 1911 (Meiji 44). Now hidden below an ugly highway, it is one of only two surviving Meiji-era bridges in Tokyo.

From the postcard series The 16 Bridges of Tokyo (東京大十六橋).

Following the Great Kanto Earthquake (Kanto Daishinsai) of September 1, 1923 (Taisho 12), Tokyo celebrated the official completion of its earthquake reconstruction in March 1930. As part of the project, hundreds of bridges were built or reconstructed.

This series appears to have been published to coincide with the celebration.