160306-0038 - Shin-Ohashi Bridge

Shin-Ohashi Bridge (新大橋) over the Sumidagawa River in Tokyo, ca. 1930 (Showa 5).

The first Shin-Ohashi (New Great Bridge) was built in 1673 and rebuilt many times. It became world famous because of the ukiyoe woodblock print by Japanese artist Hiroshige, ‘Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi bridge and Atake’.

The last wooden Shin-Ohashi was also one of the last wooden bridges in Tokyo to be torn down.

A modern steel span, shown in this postcard, replaced it in 1911 (Meiji 44). In 1974 (Showa 49), this was also torn down. Part of that bridge is now displayed at Meiji Village in Nagoya.

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.