160306-0039 - Earthquake Reconstruction

Miyoshibashi Bridge (三吉橋) in Tsukiji (築地), Tokyo, ca. 1930 (Showa 5).

The Y-shaped bridge was opened on December 15, 1929 (Showa 4) as part of Tokyo’s huge reconstruction plan after the Great Kanto Earthquake (Kanto Daishinsai) of September 1, 1923 (Taisho 12).

After the disaster, a waterway connecting the Kaede River to the Tsukijigawa River (楓川・築地川連絡運河) was built. The two intersect at Shintomicho, near Ginza and the bridge was built to cross this intersection.

The Tsukijigawa River was drained in 1960 (Showa 35), but the bridge still exists and now crosses important roads.

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

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.