130th anniversaryof Tama’s transfer to Tokyoth anni ersar o Tama strans er to To oommemorati e lo o

History of theMunicipalities
of Tamacerpt romo eisho e hi asa i F sai i ll strations o Famo s lace inollection o National iet i rar
ooperation an an hinsha

130th anniversaryof Tama’s transfer to Tokyo

History of theMunicipalities
of Tamao F sai i Temple

Toonicipalities ocal Go ernment esearch o ncil

ntro

ction

ontents

This fiscal year (2023) marks the 130th anniversary of the transfer of the Tama region from
Kanagawa Prefecture to the administrative control of Tokyo Prefecture (now Tokyo Metropolis).
To celebrate this milestone, we have revised and reissued Tama Shichoson no Ayumi (History of the3

oo in aconears

Municipalities of Tama), a pamphlet we published to mark the 120th anniversary.
We have maintained the goal we had for the 120th-anniversary pamphlet, namely to provide
easy-to-read and informative content, but have also included new characters, illustrations, andmanga to make the material even more appealing.
We have also retained the focus on administrative developments and infrastructure related todaily life, including residential areas, which have changed over the course of 130 years. Howeaver,Ayumi-chan

have added two new chapters: “Response to Unprecedented Disasters,” which discusses the
COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges experienced over the past decade, and “Festivals of Culture

27

and Sports,” which covers events such as the Tokyo 2020 Games that garnered a lot of attention
for the Tama region.
when contemplating the history and future of the municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) of the

15
17
19
21
23
25

given that new events have unfolded since the publication of the 120th-anniversary version, we

We hope that as many people as possible will enjoy the pamphlet and refer to it as a helpful guide

5
7
9
11
13

29

YamatoSakuraTama region.

31
33

35
hapter From Kanagawa Prefecture to Tokyo
Prefecture
Division of Tama District and Major Mergers of Meiji 37
39
East-West or North-South?
41
Issue of Transfer to Tokyo Prefecture
hapter Tokyo’s Expansion and the Tama Region 43
45
Proliferation of Second Homes, Recreational Areas,
47
and Cemeteries
Electricity Installation and Academic Cities
Beginning of Urban Planning and Tokyo Green Space Plan 49
51
hapter Campaign for Inclusion in Tokyo
53
Metropolis and Independent Prefecture Concepts
Campaign for Inclusion in Tokyo and “Greater Tokyo City”
55
Various Independent Prefecture Concepts
Establishment of Tokyo Metropolis and Municipalities 57
59
of Tama63
hapter Hollowing Out and Postwar
65
Reconstruction of Tama
Opening of Tachikawa Airfield and Expansionof Military Facilities
Industry and Administration in the Early Showa Era
U.S. Military Bases and Tama

hapter High-Growth Period and Changes in Administration of
Tama
Great Showa Mergers and Tama
Greenbelt Opposition Dispute and Construction of Tama New Town
The “Three Tamas Gap” and Their Elimination
hapter Response to Unprecedented Disasters
Great Kanto Earthquake and Damage to the Tama Region
Great East Japan Earthquake and Assistance for Affected
Municipalities
Response to COVID-19
hapter Festivals of Culture and Sports
Project to Commemorate the Centennial of Tama’s Transfer toTokyo: TAMA Life 21
Sports Festival Tokyo 2013
Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games
Final chapter Where Tama Goes Now
i lio raphshitama hoto ontest Winners

Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council

th anni ersar oTama s trans er to Too

130 years of Tama history
Kusabana Village

Nagaoka Village

Sugao Village

Hakonegasaki Village

Sedooka/Harakomiya

Ishihata Village Split
Ishihata Village

Hirai Village

Mitsugi Village

Nariki Village

Kori Village

Yokota Village

Osoki Village

Ome Town

Mita
Village

Ogouch Village

Yoshino Village

KomiyaVillage
Hinohara Village

Nakato Village

Kasumi Village

Chofu
VillageOguno Village

KiyoseVillage
Nishitama
Village

Higashimurayama
Village

Kumagawa
MasukoItsukaichi
Higashiakiru Village
Village
Town
Nishiakiru Village
Mitsusato
Village
Village
TokuraKasumi
Village
Village

Kawaguchi Village

Ongata Village

KomiyaVillage
Motohachioji
Village

Hachioji Town

Kodaira Village

Sunagawa Village

Kokubunji
Village

Hinojuku

Asakawa
Village

Tanaka Village
Jokawara Village
Tanaka Village

Yui Village
Yokoyama
VillageTama’s transfer to Tokyo

Academic city plan after theGreat Kanto Earthquake

Establishment of militaryfacilities and factories

Arrival of first residents of Tama New Town

After the earthquake, there was anincrease in people relocating from thecentral Tokyo to the suburbs. Hakone
Land Corporation developed academic
cities such as Kunitachi, Kodaira, andOizumi. In 1926 (Taisho 15), Kunitachi
Station opened, and a station squareand main street were constructed,
establishing Kunitachi as a university
town equipped with water supply andsewerage facilities.

In 1922 (Taisho 11), with the openingof Tachikawa Airfield in Tachikawa
Village, military facilities and factories
supplying the military began to be constructed. In contrast to Hachioji, which
was then called “Soto” and known as a“textile town,” Tachikawa earned thenickname “Gunto” (military city) in reflection of its association with the military. This replaced its previous moniker,“Kuto,” which meant “air city.”

To address the housing shortage
resulting from population growth, alarge-scale residential development
plan, the Tama New Town concept,
was formulated. When the first residents moved in, the Keio Sagamihara
Line and Odakyu Tama Line were notyet in operation, making buses the onlymeans of commuting to central Tokyo.

1893

Tanashi
Town

1926

1937

Nishifu
Village

Fuchu
Eki

Yugi Village

Inagi
Village

Tsurukawa
Village

Jindai Village

ChitoseVillageOkutama Town

Ogami Village

Tsuiji Village

Ogami Village Split

Tsuiji Village Split
Nakagami Village
Miyazawa Village

Later, the Tama Toshi Monorail wasconstructed, with the section between
Tachikawa-Kita and Kamikitadai
opening in 1998 (Heisei 10), followedby the section between Tama Center
and Tachikawa-Kita in 2000 (Heisei
12). The improvement in north-southtransportation convenience has increased interactions among people andstrengthened connections in the region.

KiyoseCity

MizuhoTown

KinutaVillage

HinodeTown

Hinohara
Village

Shimizu Village

Akiruno City

Hamura
City

Fussa
City

Akishima
City

Sayama Village
Hachioji City

Narahashi Village

Musashi Higashi
murayama yamato
City
City
Tachikawa
City

Higashi Higashi
murayama kurume
City
City
Kodaira City

Kokubunji
City

Kunitachi
City

Hino City
Tama
City

Kurashiki Village
Imokubo Village

Fukujima Village

Expansion of public transport network in southernand northern directions

Ome City

Komae
Village

Takagi Village
MachidaVillage2000

In 2023 (Reiwa 5)

Tama
Village
Chofu
Town

Tama Village

Tadao Village

HaijimaVillage

1971

Mitaka Village

Sakai Village

Gochi Village

1

Source: Suwa-minami Park Bus Stop at Rush Hour from Tama
New Town Kaihatsu no Kiseki (Trajectory of Tama New Town
Development), Collection of Keio Corporation

Musashino Village

Yabo
Village

Kuwata Village

Source: Tachikawa Airfield as Seen from the Air to the South
from Shashinshu Tachikawa (Photobook Tachikawa)
Tachikawa City Board of Education

Koganei
Village

Tachikawa
Village

Nanao Village

Jokawara Village Split

1893 (Meiji 26)

KurumeVillage

Fussa
Village

Meiji
Village

Source: Map and Bird’s Eye View of Kunitachi University Town,
Collection of Kunitachi Local Museum

On February 18, 1893 (Meiji 26),
a government proposal regarding
boundary changes between Tokyo
Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture
was submitted, and on April 1 of thesame year, three Tama districts weretransferred from Kanagawa Prefecture
to Tokyo Prefecture. This occurred justone month after submission of the bill.
Protection of Tokyo’s water resources
was given as one of the reasons for thetransfer.

Tonogaya Village
Kishi Village

Hikawa Village

Source: 26th Year of Meiji, Documents Received from the Three
Tama Districts, Collection of Tokyo Metropolitan Archives

Minami
Village

Nishitokyo
City

Koganei
City

Fuchu
City
Inagi
City

MusashinoCity
Mitaka City
Chofu
City
Komae
City

MachidaCity

Nikkobashi Bridge,
Fussa City
Taken in 1903 (Meiji 36)

Kunitachi Station,
Kunitachi City
Taken in 1926 (Taisho 15)

Hitachi Aircraft Tachikawa Factory,
Higashiyamato City
Taken in around 1939 (Showa 14)

Daida Danchi (housing complex),
Kiyose City
Taken in 1972 (Showa 47)

2

JR Hachioji Station,
Hachioji City
Taken in 2021 (Reiwa 3)

hapter

From ana awa re ect reto To o re ect ren wa whate er owant to now a o t
the histor o Tamast as mer o as it tr e that Tama
se to e in ana awa
re ect reo what is it thatwante to now

Is Tama a popular place?
araester a m ran pa tol methat ears a o Tama was inana awa re ect re

Wow

i ht

ne er new thatt Tama s in To
etropolis now

o

h
eall
m s re there was somethin
a o t that somewherearo n here

ein split p then p t
ac to ether a ain
eelli e m hea s spinnin

ep the a ministration oTama ept chan ine theree thereThe ootal e
Who are om3

istor o theth nni ersar
name smi channicipalities o Taman then inei i
the whole Tama re ion
was trans erre to
To oTama ot passe aro n
a lott
ess thatalso means it s a
pop lar place

op lar
st li e meater i roa s wereilt anrailwa s connectin the ario s
areas were constr cte so Tamae elope reall rapi l4hapteri ision o Tama

istrict an

From ana awa re ect re to To

Meiji Restoration and Tama DistrictFire

ap o the one aro n the o ohama settlement in whichei iollection oo ohama rchi es o

istor

After the opening of Japan at the end of the Tokugawa
era, foreigners were obligated to live in designated settlements, with travel-permitted areas surrounding them. In
the case of the Yokohama settlement, this zone extendedo re ect re

as far as the right-bank of the Tama River, and included
places such as Haramachida, Hachioji, and Hino.

Tama District split between
Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures
In 1871 (Meiji 4), domains were abolished in favor of prefectures, meaning that there were now just two kindsof administrative division: urban and rural prefectures. Initially, it was decided that Tama District would belong
to Tokyo Prefecture and Iruma Prefecture. However, because the travel-permitted zone for foreigners was under
the jurisdiction of Kanagawa Prefecture, a request was made to leave that region inside Kanagawa Prefecture.
The request was accepted, and Tokyo Prefecture and Iruma Prefecture were ordered to hand Tama District overto Kanagawa Prefecture. Kanagawa Prefecture officials only wanted the travel-permitted zone, but ultimately
the whole of Tama District was absorbed into Kanagawa Prefecture.
This move provoked opposition from villagers in the eastern part of Tama District, which was adjacent toTokyo. Their villages had historically enjoyed strong geographic and economic ties with Edo (as Tokyo had been
known), and they claimed being part of Kanagawa Prefecture would be disadvantageous to them. The government was sympathetic to the villagers’ plea, and in August 1872 (Meiji 5), Nakano Village and 31 other villages
were transferred to Tokyo Prefecture (these villages now form Nakano Ward and Suginami Ward). Tama District
was thus split between Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures (Figure 2).
Kanagawa Prefecture in the period of
the three Tama districts
around 1878-1893 (Meiji 11-26)
Nishitama
Districtreistorical

han es in theris iction o Tama istrict

From hamlets and villages to towns
and villages - major mergers of Meiji(Figure 3) 1891 (Meiji 24) color map ofKanagawa Prefecture, Collection of National
Archives of Japano what haeenhamlets anilla es were consoli ate into si
towns anilla esTokyo and Kanagawa prefectures after thetransfer of Tama to Tokyo
1893 (Meiji 26) onwards

Higashitama
District

rom the Tama To oaterials e ore the Trans er o Tama to To o

In 1878 (Meiji 11), with the enactment of the Act on the Organization of Districts, Wards, Towns, and Villages,
what had traditionally been districts became administrative divisions, with district offices established and district administrators appointed. Furthermore, districts covering large areas were split up. As a result, the part ofTama District that was in Kanagawa Prefecture was separated into Kitatama (North Tama), Minamitama (SouthTama), and Nishitama (West Tama) districts, while the part that was in Tokyo Prefecture became Higashitama(East Tama) District. And a district office was established in each of these districts. Later, In 1896 (Meiji 29),
Higashitama District was merged with Minamitoshima District, with the new district named Toyotama.

Kitashitama
District
Minamitama
DistrictFi

ei i

In the Tama District during the late Edo period, there were nearly 400 hamlets and villages (according to the
Old Tax and Territory Records). These were dispersed across directly-controlled territories, hatamoto lands,
temple/shrine lands, and daimyo-controlled enclaves. Many villages had multiple lords, who controlled them under a system known as “aikyu.” Control of these villages with several masters would soon be unified as the Meiji
leaders looked to establish a centralized system of government. Later, following the introduction of systems suchas the household registration district system, numbering system, large-ward/small-ward system, single village
head system, a system of towns and villages was established in 1889 (Meiji 22). As part of this, villages weremerged to create modern local government entities, where the town or village had legal personality. Each district
administrator proposed a merger plan, and the final plans were determined following discussions with relevant
parties in the regions concerned. These reforms are known as the “major mergers of Meiji,” and the three Tama
districts were divided into six towns and 85 villages (Figure 3).

orei ners were permitte to tra el
cerpt aro ner ers oEstablishment of district office

Tokyo Metropolis.In the first year of Meiji (1868), the new government reorganized as prefectures the territories under the direct control the Tokugawa shogunate as well as lands controlled by lords who remained loyal to
the Tokugawa cause (known as “hatamoto”). Other domains were left intact, so there were three types of administrative division at that time: urban prefectures, rural prefectures, and domains. Tama District, which had mainlycomprised directly-controlled territories and hatamoto lands, was divided into Shinagawa Prefecture, Nirayama
Prefecture, and Kanagawa Prefecture, as well as enclaves of former daimyo-controlled lands (Hikone Domain,
Maebashi Domain, Iwatsuki Domain, Ryugasaki Domain, and Nishibata Domain). Shinagawa Prefecture included
villages that were under the control of the Kanto commissioner’s office or in hatamoto fiefs, while Nirayama Prefecture contained villages under the control of the Nirayama commissioner’s office. Kanagawa Prefecture, meanwhile, included the zone within 40 km of the Yokohama foreign settlement in which foreigners were permitted totravel (Figure 1).

Kanagawa Prefecture in the period oflarge wards and small wards
around 1874-1875 (Meiji 7-8)

5

a or

o aira itan enshi hir o Tenentral i rarrohi ition ataloeo6hapterast West or North o th

From ana awa re ect re to To

istor o pre railwa Tama esta lishment
an stren thenin o the east west a is

The Tama region had been the source of the limestone
for the white walls of Edo Castle, and to facilitate thetransportation of this limestone, a road called the Ome
Kaido was constructed. As new fields were created in theTama region, the volume of agricultural products being
shipped to Edo increased, so during the Edo period, theTama region was equipped with a transportation networkthat included such routes as the Koshu Kaido, Itsukaichi
Kaido, and Ome Kaido, forming an east-west axis. From
1870 to 1872 (Meiji 3-5), east-west transport was further
improved with establishment of a shipping business using
the Tamagawa Aqueduct (Photo 1).

(Photo 1) Model of Tamagawa Aqueduct boat (from the TamaTokyo Ikan Zenshi Shiryo-Ten Zuroku (Exhibition Catalogue ofHistorical Materials Before the Transfer of Tama to Tokyo),
Kodaira City Central Library)o re ect re

sta lishment o sil roa
o north so th a isemer ence

The transportation system centered around the east-west direction underwent a significant transformation
with the opening of the port of Yokohama to foreign trade during the late Edo period. Following the signing of
the Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1859 (Ansei 6), large quantities of raw silk began to be exported from
Yokohama. The Kanagawa Ohkan road from Hachioji to Yokohama became the “silk road” used to transport it to
the port. Raw silk from Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures also traveled along the silk road, which led to recognition of the importance of north-south transportation connecting the Tama region and Yokohama.

ast west or north so th
After the Meiji restoration, calls for the construction of railways became louder in the Tama region. In 1886
(Meiji 19), before the transfer of Tama to Tokyo, applications were made for the construction of the Kobu Railway (currently JR Chuo Line) connecting Tokyo and Hachioji and the Musashi Railway connecting Hachioji and
Kawasaki. The Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture stressed the benefits of transporting raw silk directly from
Hachioji to Yokohama without bypassing Tokyo. However, based on the fundamental policy outlined by Ministerof Home Affairs Aritomo Yamagata, which stressed “making the capital the central point for connection with various prominent districts,” and given that goods from Ome, Tokorozawa, and Hanno were already being shipped
via Tokyo, the priority was given to the east-west direction. As a result, a license for the Kobu Railway was granted, and it commenced operations in 1889 (Meiji 22) (Photo 2).
(Photo 2)
Woodblock print from the time of the
opening of the Kobu Railway(Collection of Tamashin Culture
Foundation)pansion orailwa networ

The development of the railway network in the Tamaregion can be divided into the following five phases (Figure
1):
hase
ei i
Taking advantage of the first private railway boom, theKobu Railway opened, and during the subsequent second
private railway boom, the Ome Railway and Kawagoe Railway also went into operation.
hase
ei i
TaishoThis period saw the development of railways within Tokyo City, and the simultaneous construction of suburban
railway lines along the highways extending into the outskirts. Lines such as the Keio Electric Railway, Tokyo Gravel Railway, Tama Railway, and Musashino Railway cameinto operation during this phase.
hase
Taishohowa
The development of suburban residential areas, alongwith the need for large-scale gravel transport for the reconstruction and redevelopment of Tokyo and Yokohama
after the Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II, led tothe introduction of high-speed, electrified transportation
during this period. Links between cities and suburbs were
strengthened, and the tourism industry developed along
the railway lines.
hase
howa
eisei
With the rapid increase in population, there was a progression towards larger and longer trains and multiple
tracks on the same railway line. The areas along the Ome
Line, Itsukaichi Line, and Nambu Line, which played a crucial role in transporting gravel and limestone, also saw urbanization, and the importance of these lines as commuter
railways grew. Sightseeing passengers also increased in
number, and the circular Musashino Line opened.
hase
eisei
onwar sFrom the latter half of the fourth phase, land prices
and construction costs soared, making it increasingly
difficult to construct new railway lines. The constructionof new lines by Keio and Odakyu to the Tama New Town
was based on a method whereby the Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation built the railway, and therailway companies then gradually repaid the principal andinterest. The north-south Tama Toshi Monorail was also
constructed to serve as a new transport system for Tokyo
Metropolis.

KawagoeOme

大宮

AkabaneUeno

Tachikawa
Hachioji

Kokubunji

Shinjuku

Iidamachi
Hakozaki

Shinagawa

05

10Km

Phase 1: 1895 (Meiji 28)

Hanno
Tokorozawa

Musashisakai
Hachioji

Fuchu
Tsunehisa

Ikebukuro

Kichijoji

Mizonokuchi
05

10Km

Phase 2: 1920 (Taisho 9)
AganoMusashi-Iwai
Musashi-Itsukaichi

Haijima

Tama-Goryomae
Asakawa

Koremasa
Hashimoto05

Haramachida

10Km

Phase 3: 1940 (Showa 15)

OkutamaHachioji

05

10Km

Phase 4: 1955 (Showa 30)

Kamikitadai

Takao

Hashimoto

7

１〜第４図共通）
凡例
Key （第(Commonto Phase 1 - 5)
Non-electric
非電化鉄道 railways
Low-speed
低速電車 electric railways
High-speed
electric railways
高速電車
電化はされているが運転間隔の長い区間
Electrified,but long gaps between trains*Tokyomunicipal 、
railways,freightlines, and Shinkansen are not shown.
※東京市営軌道
貨物線 、
新幹線は省略

05

Tama
Center

10Km

Phase 5: 2000 (Heisei 12) onwards(Figure 1) Establishment of public transport
network centered on Tokyo(added by Eiichi Aoki [1976])8

hapterss e o Trans er to To o re ect re

From ana awa re ect re to To

Timeline o trans er to Toopporters o the trans er
However, some people were in favor of the transfer. With the opening of the Kobu Railway in 1889 (Meiji 22),
people affiliated with the Kitatama District Justice Faction and the National Association campaigned for transfer
to Tokyo Prefecture, citing geographical convenience and economic advantages. In the following year, five towns
and villages in the eastern part of Kitatama District proposed a merger with Higashitama District, which was inTokyo Prefecture. This idea triggered a dispute concerning the relocation of the district office, and with only theoriginal five towns/villages behind it, the proposal failed to come to fruition. Those sorts of people were in favorof a transfer to Tokyo Prefecture, and repeatedly petitioned and lobbied for support for the bill (Figure 1).

On February 18, 1893 (Meiji 26), a government proposal regarding
boundary changes between Tokyo Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture
was submitted to the House of Representatives (the bill called for thetransfer of the three Tama districts to Tokyo Prefecture). Reasons cited
for the transfer included the need for conservation and protection of water
sources for a project to improve Tokyo City’s water supply, tighter control
of deforestation, and the fact that originally, the three Tama districts had
formed a single district that also encompassed Higashitama District, andthus had common interests. The bill passed both houses on the final dayof the fourth session on February 28, and it was promulgated as Act No.
12 on March 4. Then, on April 1, the three Tama districts were transferredfrom Kanagawa Prefecture to Tokyo Prefecture. This whole process frombill submission to actual transfer took only one month (Photo 1).

it ation a ter trans er to To

Ostensibly, the reason for the transfer was the project to improve Tokyo City’s water supply, but the Three
Tamas Liberal Party, which was active in campaigning for civil rights, was expelled from the Kanagawa Prefecture assembly, a move that was viewed as an attempt to weaken the party. This can be seen as the underlying
reason for the transfer.
Following the transfer, however, the Three Tamas Liberal Party was able to increase its presence in the Tokyo
Prefecture assembly, while the Kitatama District Justice Faction, which had supported the transfer, only had a
few seats. Also after the transfer, there was a short-lived campaign for the return of Tama to Kanagawa Prefecture.

(Photo 1) Official document recording the transfer(Collection of Tokyo Metropolitan Archives)

pponents o the trans er(Figure 1) Pro- and anti-transfer towns and villageso re ect re

The submission of the bill came suddenly, and caused immense shock to the people of the three Tama districts. A political party called the Three Tamas Liberal Party, which attracted a great deal of support in Minamitama and Nishitama districts, embarked on a vigorous opposition campaign, arguing that the local taxes in Tokyo
Prefecture would be unbearable and that Kanagawa Prefecture’s fiscal situation would be adversely impacted.
A significant number of Kanagawa Prefecture assembly members expressed opposition to the transfer, and themayors, vice-mayors, and village heads of all towns and villages in Minamitama and Nishitama districts, alongwith five villages in Kitatama district, lobbied against the transfer to both houses of the Diet. Furthermore, themayors and vice-mayors resigned from their positions, leading to the temporary closure of town and village offices and rudderless administration of the municipalities (Figure 1).

(from the Tama Tokyo Ikan Zenshi Shiryo-Ten Zuroku (Exhibition Catalogue ofHistorical Materials Before the Transfer of Tama to Tokyo), Kodaira City Central Library)

Nishitama District

Hikawa Village
Kori Village

Ome Kaido

OgouchiVillage

Nariki Village

Tama River

Mita
Village

The Minamitama Liberal Party’s Masataka Ishizaka and the Kitatama District
Justice Faction’s Taizo Yoshino were thesame age, having both been born in 1841
(Tenpo 12). Both individuals were prominent figures in the Tama region’s civilrights movement, serving as members of
the Kanagawa Prefecture assembly andas regular members of the Liberal Party.
From the late 1880s, however, their views
diverged, and they clashed over the transfer issue. Their daughters, Mina Ishizaka
and Riu Yoshino, were of different ages,
but both studied at Kyoritsu Girls’ Schoolin Yokohama.

9

Oguno
Village

Masataka Ishizaka(from Ishizaka Masataka to
Sono Jidai (Masataka Ishizaka
and the Time in Which He
Lived))

Chofu
Village

KiyoseVillage

Nishitama
Village

Sugao
Village (U)NakatoVillage (U)Meiji Village(U)

Kawaguchi
Village

Ongata Village
Nishiakiru
Village
Higashiakiru
Village

Kasumi
Village

Koshu Kaido

Yokoyama
Village

Ogami
Village (U)KomiyaVillage

Kokubunji
Village

Tachikawa
Village

Koganei
Village

Yabo
Village

Hino
Town

TanashiTown
Musashino
Village
MitakaVillage

Fuchu
Town

Kuwata Village

Hachioji
Town

Higashikurume
Village

Kodaira Village

Sunagawa
Village

Motohachioji
Village

Asakawa
Village

Higashimurayama
Village

Takagi
Village(U)

Fussa
Village (U)MasukoVillage
TokuraVillage

Itsukaichi
Town

Hakonegasaki
Village (U)Kasumi
Village

Ome Town

YoshinoVillage

Hinohara Village

COLUMN

Kitatama District

Osoki Village

Itsukaichi
Town (U)KomiyaVillage

Masataka Ishizaka
and Taizo YoshinooTamaVillage

Nanao Village

Jindai Village
Chofu Town

Yui Village

Yugi Village

Tama
Village

Inagi Village

KinutaVillage

Sakai Village

Minamitama District

Tadao
Village

ChitoseVillage

Komae
Village

Tsurukawa
Village

Nishifu
Village

MachidaVillageTowns and villages signatory to statements opposing transfer
Taizo Yoshino(from Tama no Minken to
Yoshino Taizo (Taizo Yoshino
and Civil Rights in Tama), published by Mitaka City Board of
Education)

Minami
VillageTowns and villages submitting petitions to transfer
Towns and villages with representatives who were in agreement withthe transfer(U) = Village unions

10Chapter 2

Tokyo’s Expansion and theTama Region

m sement par s li e eio a
Tama Tech omi rilan an To ommerlan were constr cte

eah

Living in Tama, learning in Tama, and playing in Tamat s a new wee
it s time ormi chansoian That was st a l c
et s mo e on to the secon
estionThe contestant who correctly answers
some super-hard questions about Tama
will win a fabulous trip to Hawaii!
(paid for by Ayumi-chan)ere sestioness

In 1926 (Taisho 15), which sta-

This week we have these two contestants!

tion was surrounded by numerous
schools, turning the area into an
academic city?

What what

Give me the name of the station!

Now orestionWith the opening of one railway

a

e

ita a

o airaino

line after another from the Meiji to

h s this aame showShowa eras, what increased in theTama region?

chools ca emies
ni ersities t s otta eachio ihomethin that
increase in Tamall i e o a hint t s whereitots ashi ni ersit islocateMachida!

sn t itots ashini ersit in nitachi

m a trainso can t
a or to et this onewron
mm

Tra el to par s toepartment stores

Wrong!

m sement par s Nah it can te thatailwa s mean tra el ri ht

Wow

i ht answer a ain

Nooo misse it
This h rts

ham sement par s

That s correct

1112hapterroli eration o

econ

omes

To

sashino an secon homesos

Cliff lines

Hitotsubashi
Daigaku Station
Line
ako
Tam

Kokubunji Station
JR Chuo Line

(Figure 1) Main second homes in Kokubunji City
(late Taisho era)(from Furusato Kokubunji no Ayumi (History of
Our Home Kokubunji))

Name of second home

Address of ownerYear acquired

1

Fujinosuke Takeo’s second home

Nishiki-cho, Kanda Ward

1919

2

Sadae Eguchi’s second home 1)

Akagishita-machi, Ushigome Ward

1915

3

Keijiro Amano’s second home

Nishitorigoe-cho, Asakusa Ward

1914

4

Shigezo Imamura’s second home 2)

Minamikayaba-cho, Nihonbashi Ward

1918

5

Buzaemon Watanabe’s second home

Sakuradakubo-cho, Shiba Ward

1914

6

Kiyosaku Toyohara’s second home

Matsuzumi-cho, Kanda Ward

1912

1) Now Tonogayato Garden
2) Now Hitachi Central Research Laboratory

COLUMN

Construction of Lake
Tama and Lake
Okutama13

emeteries

ncrease in recreational acilities

ine
ara L
ogaw
Shim

pansion an the Tama e ion

With the establishment of suburban railways
and the strengthening of connections between
central Tokyo and the Tama region, the characterof the Tama region, which had been predominantly rural, underwent significant changes. One wasthe construction of numerous second homes inMusashino, from which the beautiful scenery ofthat area could be enjoyed (Figure 1). Along the
Kokubunji Cliffline, in particular, which is known
to locals as the “Hake,” landscape gardening thattakes advantage of the difference in elevation
between the upper Hake and lower Hake has been
actively embraced as a unique charm of this area.

ecreational reas an

Excessive population density in central Tokyo led to a serious
water shortage. Therefore, with the aim of securing a water source,
attention focused on the waters of the Tama River Consequently,
Lake Tama (Murayama Reservoir, completed in 1927 (Showa 2))
and Lake Okutama (Ogouchi Dam, completed in 1957 (Showa 32))
were constructed. The Tamagawa Aqueduct had served as an indispensable water source for the residents of Edo in ancient times,
and today, too, the Tama region continues to play a crucial role as asource of water for the residents of Tokyo.

At the same time, railway operators and other companies began to develop the areas along the railway lines. For example, along the Keio Electric Railway, Keiokaku wasconstructed in 1927 (Showa 2). It featured Roman baths with marble finishing, various
entertainment facilities, a theater, and a merry-go-round. In the year after it opened, it
attracted over 160,000 visitors. In addition to the construction of the Tama Imperial Mausoleum and Tama
Seiseki Memorial Hall, efforts were made to attract visitors in every season, with emphasis on the cherry blossoms in Inadazutsumi in spring and Tamagawa pears inautumn (Figure 2). This approach to development along
railway lines was distinctive in that, unlike in the case of
the Kobu Railway (now JR Chuo Line) which took advantage of the famous Koganei cherry blossoms to draw visitors from the early modern period, it involved the strategic creation of new tourism resources. Before WorldWar II, there were attractions such as Rakurakuen, an
amusement park directly operated by Ome Electric Railway (now JR Ome Line), and Murayama Reservoir, on
the Tamako Railway (now Seibu Tamako Line). After thewar, a boom in the construction of theme parks occurred
during the high-economic growth and bubble periods.
However, as tastes related to recreation diversified,many of these parks closed down (Table 1).
(Table 1) Main theme parks in the Tama region

Name

Year opened

Year closed

Tama Tech

1961

2009

Yomiuriland

1964

Tokyo Summerland

1967

Tokyo Sesame Place

1990

Sanrio Puroland

1990

Wan Nyan World

2001

2009

Tokyo Mutsugoro Animal Kingdom

2004

2007

2006

(Figure 2) Recreational facilities along the Keio Electric
Railway around 1940 (Showa 15)

Final restin places
The changes in the Tama region always reflected the changes in central Tokyo. The overcrowding in the centerof the capital pushed facilities like parks and universities, which required extensive space, and facilities like cemeteries and hospitals, whose presence in the urban core was frowned upon, to the outskirts. During the Meiji era,
there were a total of five municipal cemeteries in Tokyo, including Aoyama Cemetery. However, due to urbanization and population growth, a shortage of cemetery space emerged. As a result, in 1919 (Taisho 8), a plan called
the Tokyo City Cemetery and Facility Design Plan was drafted. It proposed the creation of expansive park cemeteries in the eastern, western, and northern outskirts of Tokyo. Based on this plan, Tama Cemetery opened in
1923 (Taisho 12), and this was followed by the opening of Kodaira Cemetery in 1948 (Showa 23). Furthermore,
to secure additional burial grounds, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established Hachioji Cemetery in 1971
(Showa 46). Additionally, numerous private cemeteries have been constructed in hilly areas.

14hapter

lectricit

nstallation an

ca emic ities

To

lectricit comes to towns

e elopment o aca emic cities

ospansion an the Tama e ion

In the Tama region, electric lights came on for the first time in 1896 (Meiji 29) when the Hachioji ElectricLight Company utilized a waterwheel installed in Asakawa Village to generate power. This marked the beginningof electric lighting in Hachioji Town, Asakawa Village, and Komiya Village (now all part of Hachioji City). Thisdevelopment was relatively early compared to other parts of Japan. In the early Taisho era, there was a surge inthe establishment of electric utility companies, and various small and medium-sized electricity providers, suchas Akigawa Hydropower, Naruki Hydropower, Hikawa Electric Power, Machida Electric Light, and Murayama
Electric Light, emerged. Subsequently, Nishitama District was provided with electricity by Teikoku Electric Light,
Minamitama District by Tokyo Electric Light, and Kitatama District by Keio Electric Railway, and almost all of
the Tama region had been electrified by the end of the Taisho era (Figure 1).
During this time, the practice of selling surplus electricity generated from large-scale hydroelectric power plants to other companies, known as “power interchange,” became widespread. The electricity generation
business requires power plants and transmission facilities. However, with power interchange, businesses could
operate without having their own power generation facilities, allowing for extensive electrification, even in rural
areas.
Hikawa Electric Power
Tamagawa Hydropower
Keio Electric Tramway
Akigawa Hydropower
Hachioji Electric Light
Tokyo Electric Light
Aiko
Fuji
→
(SeibuTeikokuElectric Power Hydropower
Electric
Electric
Power)Light
Notes
Murayama Electric Light→ = Moving into Tama from other supply regions→ (Yamaguchi( ) = Not established after approval
Electric Light)→Naguri Hydropower< > = Only planned
MachidaNariki Hydropower<< >> = Home production
Electric
Light
Soubu Electric Power
Nippon Electric Power・Tamagawa Josui Electric Power's plans were
<Tachikawa Village-operated Electric Power>
taken over by Tamagawa Hydropower, although<<Morita
Silk
Reeling>><<Eijiro
SaitoʼsHouse>>
management did change.
(Kori(Ogouchi・Some omissions, including changes of nameElectric Light)
Electric Power) <Nippara Electric Power>

After the Great Kanto Earthquake, there was an increase in people relocating from the central Tokyo to thesuburbs. And it was railway companies and land companies that developed these suburban residential areas. Hakone Land Corporation developed academic cities such as Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Oizumi. Yasujiro Tsutsumi of
Hakone Land Corporation entered into a contract with Zensaku Sano, the president of Tokyo University of Commerce (now Hitotsubashi University). They devised a plan to relocate the university, which had suffered devastating damage in the Great Kanto Earthquake, and would go on to turn Kunitachi into a university town (Figure 2).
In 1926 (Taisho 15), Kunitachi Station opened. A station square and a 24-ken wide (approximately 44 meters) main street (Daigakudori) were constructed, and city blocks equipped with water and sewerage facilities
were established. Later, the Tokyo Conservatory of Music (now Kunitachi College of Music), Kunitachi Gakuen
Elementary School, and Tokyo University of Commerce were relocated or newly established there, cementing
Kunitachi’s place as an academic city.
(Figure 2)
Advertisement for plots
sold by Hakone Land
Corporation(Collection of Kunitachi
Local Museum)<Tamagawa Josui Electric Power>

1900
Meiji 33

1920
Taisho 91910
Meiji 43

1930
Showa 5

KantoPowerDistribution

1940
Showa 15

(Figure 1) Establishment and integration of electric utility companies in the Tama region (from Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama), Issue 100)

strial se o electric power

191

15

a 1)

for each fiscal year)

3 (T
aish

et electric li hts(created from the Denki Jigyo Yoran (Electric Utility Industry Handbook)howachio i was the rst

The Keio Electric Railway Company
was both a railway operator and an electricity supplier. Taking advantage of power interchange from the Tokyo ElectricLight, the initial plan was for the wholeof the Kitatama District to be suppliedwith electricity. However, as electricity
usage became increasingly widespread,in around 1930 (Showa 5) the company’s
revenue from the electricity business began to exceed its revenue from its main
business (Figure 3).

(Figure 3) Revenue structure of the Keio Electric Railway Company

6 (S

o

place in the Tama re ion to

COLUMN

Other income
Power income

Lighting income
Railway income

192

For the numerous sericulture households in the Tama region, the advent of electric lighting improved efficiency in the dimly lit attic rooms they used to cultivate silkworms. Furthermore, using electricity as a power source
helped reduce the workload in activities such as threshing, milling, lifting, and drying. In the industrial sector,
electric lights enabled night operations, and electrification progressed in the distinctive industries of the Tamaregion, such as tea, lumber, and textile production. Electricity also saw application in heavy industries, being
used in cement extraction and transportation, as well as in processes like electrolysis and electroplating.

o 2)

n

16

hapter

e innin or an lannin an

To

Tama s rst cit o ernment an r anplannine elopment o achio iospansion an the Tama e ion

The first place in the Tama region to earn city status was Hachioji, which became a city in 1917 (Taisho 6).
This was because the mechanization of the textile industry had led to the concentration of textile factories inurban areas. Hachioji City, which had evolved from a commercial city to an industrial/commercial city, came up
with the “Greater Hachioji” concept to facilitate urban development and the securing new of industrial land, andsought the application of the City Planning Act for this purpose. In 1927 (Showa 2), the City Planning Act wasapplied via Imperial Ordinance No. 35. Subsequently, a “Hachioji Urban Planning Zone,” which included partsof each of the surrounding five towns and villages, was established. At that time, the City Planning Act was designed to predict and determine the expansion of urban areas around cities, and this is why “Hachioji” began toexpand from this point (Figure 1).

(Figure 1)
Map of areas designated for urban
planning in Hachioji
1932 (Showa 7)(from Tama Tetsudo to Machizukuri
no Ayumi (History of Railways andToo Green pace lan
Too Green pace lan an TamaIn 1932 (Showa 7), the Tokyo Green Space Planning Council was established with the aim of expanding green spaces for the health and recreationof Tokyo residents. The council designated “scenic
areas” as zones for future development as naturalparks (Figure 3). Furthermore, in an effort to curb
the expansion of urban areas of the huge city, the“Tokyo Green Space Plan” was devised to surroundTokyo with green spaces. Amidst the intensificationof wartime measures, this plan evolved as a meansof creating “greenery for air defense,” and in 1940(Showa 15), as part of Tokyo Prefecture’s “2,600th
Anniversary Celebration Project” five major green
spaces were established. Two were in the Tamaregion: the Koganei and Jindai green spaces. Nowadays, they are respectively known as Koganei Park
(Photo 1) and Jindai Botanical Gardens.

Urban Development in Tama))(Figure 3) Tokyo Green Space Plan area and “scenic areas”(from Tokyo Toshi Keikaku Gaiyo (Overview of Tokyo Metropolis Urban
Planning))(Photo 1) Former “Kokaden” Palace(Visitor Center of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air
Architectural Museum)pansion or an plannin

The Visitor Center of the Edo-Tokyo
Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park is the “Kokaden” Palace, which
was moved here from the Imperial Palace
Outer Garden, where it was originallyerected for the celebrations of the 2,600th
anniversary of the imperial dynasty.

In 1933 (Showa 8), the City Planning Act was revised, allowing the application of the act to be extended totowns and villages. Against the backdrop of urbanization in the Tama region (see page 29), moves to seek theapplication of the act expanded in various areas. As a result, from 1939 (Showa 14) onwards, the City Planning
Act was applied to Musashino, Chofu, Fuchu, Tachikawa, Higashimurayama, Machida, and Ome, and eventually
the entire Kitatama region was covered by the Act (Figure 2). However, also around this time, there was a growing emphasis on preserving green spaces and restraining excessive urbanization, and land use zoning in the Tamaregion was designed to limit industrial and residential development.
Ome City Plan
Dec. 1939 (Showa 14)

Tachikawa
City Plan
Dec. 1939(Showa 14)

Higashimurayama
City Plan
Dec. 1942 (Showa 17)
Musashino
City Plan
Jan. 1939(Showa 14)
Chofu City
Plan
Dec. 1939(Showa 14)
Fuchu City Plan
Dec. 1939 (Showa 14)

Hachioji City Plan
Mar. 1929 (Showa 4) (Expanded
area as of Mar. 1941 (Showa 16))

17

Machida City Plan
Mar. 1939 (Showa 14)(Figure 2) Tama Urban Planning Zone before World War II

City
Town
Village

City Planning Act
The aim was to achieve orPrederly expansion of urban
revision areas on the assumptionthat vast metropolises
would be established.

The aim was to curb thecreation of vast metropPostrevision olises through more scattered population distribution.
Green areas were emphasized.

COLUMN

Arrival of the Hino
five companies andHachioji/Tachikawa

From 1934 (Showa 9) onwards, companies were encouraged
to build factories in Hino, and those that answered the call cameto be known as the “Hino five companies.” Aiming for industrial
urbanization, Hachioji and Tachikawa vied with each other to get
Hino included in the extensive urban planning zones they wereseeking to establish. Ultimately, Tachikawa prevailed. The Ministryof Home Affairs wanted to develop Tachikawa, so Hino became
part of the Tachikawa Urban Planning Zone.

18

hapter

ampai n or ncl sion in To o etropolis
an n epen ent re ect re oncepts
You really don’t need it?
Well
can t eci ean iro Were oin the same pre ica
ment as Tama

What s themattera ra

n amal amation
an in epen ence mo ements also emer e
within Tama itsel

ess ll o withthis onell pass on thisoo this timeo Tama wasnall part o
To o etropolis

an iro ha a totime o it too

an iro with themest e en tho h
it s in To o Tama
isn t ma e p o
war s nstea it s acollection o cities
towns an illa esht st li e an iro
Tama was once on theer e o ein sh nne
as an o tcast

o e hit pon
somethin interestin
When To o etropoliscame into ein there were
isc ssions a o t whether
it sho l e t rne into acollection o war sm choosin therecommen eoo s this times To o re ect re ot i er there
were two mo ements one aimin to
p ra e To o rom a pre ect re toa metropolis to ma e its o ernancestron er an another see in to spino Tama rom To o

19

n
howa
nce the war e anoices callin or theenlar ement o To o
rew lo er lea in to thecreation o To o etropolis
which incl e Tamat was interestint thinll lea e it o t o the recom
men ations this timeh This is The
ent res oan iro o Tama
tol o a o t it
e ore

Wh
t

When i To o re ect reecome To o etropolise Whato o thino re oinan iro loo s li e he s oin toeep ettin passe aro n

20hapter

ampai n or ncl sion in Tooampai n or ncl sion in To

What wo l the war s o the new metropolis e
Until the birth of Tokyo Metropolis in 1943 (Showa 18), Tokyo was administered under a system similar to
those of present-day Osaka and Kyoto, with Tokyo City existing within Tokyo Prefecture. People had argued theneed for a metropolitan system that combined the prefecture and the city into one since the Meiji era, and significant steps were taken towards the realization of such a system during the Taisho period. This was driven by
the rapid urbanization of Tokyo, which led to increasingly vocal opposition to the inefficiency of the two-tiered
administrative structure. Simultaneously, the concentration of people in Tokyo resulted in rising populations in
the five districts bordering Tokyo City (Ebara, Toyotama, Kitatoshima, Minamiadachi, Minamikatsushika). This
raised questions about which areas should be part of the new metropolis.

Greater Tooetropolis an

In 1923 (Taisho 12), a bill to establish an “imperial capital” was submitted to the Imperial Diet. This bill aimed
to define the extent of the metropolis as encompassing the Tokyo City area plus the five adjacent districts. The
three Tama districts would be excluded, and be incorporated into Kanagawa Prefecture. People in the Tama region vehemently opposed this idea. The Tama region had the historical background of being merged into Tokyo
Prefecture in 1893 (Meiji 26) despite strong opposition, on the grounds that it would facilitate the managementof water resources for Tokyo Prefecture. After the incorporation of their region into Tokyo Prefecture, Tama region officials worked to develop the region while strengthening its ties with Tokyo.

a nch o campai n or incl sion in To

Greater To o it

As the metropolitan system was taking time to materialize, Tokyo City officials decided to expand the borders of the city ahead of the establishment of the metropolis. This led to the establishment in 1932 (Showa 7)of “Greater Tokyo City,” which included the neighboring five districts (Figure 1). In the Tama region, there was
opposition, with campaigners arguing that it was aimed at excluding Tama from Tokyo, yet in reality the movesucceeded in subduing the campaign. It is said that there was an implicit understanding between the Ministry ofHome Affairs and the Tokyo Prefecture and City governments that, after the expansion of the city limits, the establishment of a metropolitan system, which would include Tama, would be pursued.
To otama

Nishitama

istrict

itatoshima

istrict
inamia achi

itatama
istrict
inamitama
istrict

inami ats shi a
istrict(Figure 2) Tokyo Urban Planning Zone and Chitose and Kinuta villages(from Tokyo 23-ku no Oitachi (Tokyo’s 23 Special Wards Guidebook),
Special Ward Council Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

istrict

istrict(Figure 1) Three Tama districts and Greater Tokyo Cityara

istrict
aito

To

o it

o it
war s
war s

o

n epen ent re ect re oncepts

A movement that initially began as opposition to absorption by Kanagawa Prefecture later evolved into a
campaign advocating for inclusion in Tokyo. In 1925 (Taisho 14), efforts were made to unify the movement, culminating in the establishment of an association for the incorporation into Tokyo of the three Tama districts andHachioji City. This organization was a comprehensive regional group that included Diet members from the Tamaregion, prefectural assembly members, and mayors of various municipalities. In response to the campaign on theTokyo City side for the exclusion of Tama from the new metropolis, the association tenaciously and repeatedly
lobbied the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Diet, and various political party headquarters (Photo 1). The
inclusion of the Tama region in Tokyo can be attributed to the success of this movement.

(Photo 2) Tokyo City Mayor
Hidejiro Nagata(from Tokyo Shiiki Kakuchoshi(History of the Tokyo City
Expansion))

ote rom To o ita or i e iro Na ata
hoto
The cit has also come to reali e that it can
not treat the three Tamas li htl
thin thewo l calm own i i en the name To o an
esi nate as a special one
wo l li e tolimit the area o the metropolis to the area o
the new citt wo l li e o to n some
wa to ma e a stments in that re ar(Photo 1) Campaigners for inclusion in Tokyo marching near the
Imperial Palace(from Tokyo to Santama (Tokyoand the Three Tamas))

COLUMN

Kishichi Akimoto, first chairmanof the Association for Incorpora(from Tama no Hitobito (The
People of Tama))o itTama an the esta lishment o

roposal or an imperial capital that wo le cl e the Tama re iontion into Tokyo

21

an

Incorporationof Chitose andKinuta villages
into Setagaya
Ward

These days, Setagaya Ward contains areas called Chitosedai and Kinuta. The broader areas around them were once the villages of Chitose andKinuta in Kitatama District (Figure 2). The Tokyo Urban Planning Zone wasdefined as the area within a radius of 10 miles from Tokyo Station. This
included two villages, which led to a stronger desire in these villages forincorporation into the city, and after the expansion of the city boundaries,
the citizens of the villages banded together to campaign for absorption. As
a result, the two villages were added to Setagaya Ward in 1936 (Showa 11).

22

hapterario s n epen ent re ect reampai n or ncl sion in To

roposal or asashi re ect rewith achio i as the pre ect ral capital

oncept o mer er with ana awa re ect reistricts an esta lishment o a new pre ect re

The Tama region sought inclusion in the Tokyo Metropolis, pushing for this through persistent efforts. However, there were also movements advocating for the creation of an independent prefecture. The idea of creatinga Musashi Prefecture was one of those, and it gained prominence around the time of “imperial capital” proposal
in 1923 (Taisho 12). The Musashi Prefecture concept aimed to establish a single prefecture comprising the three
districts of Tama and the five districts surrounding Tokyo City. The plan involved creating a cooperative between
Tokyo and the proposed prefecture as a means of obtaining financial assistance from the capital (Figure 1). The
idea of a Musashi Prefecture had actually originated in the Meiji era, when it was put forward by the governmentof the time. The proposal called for the prefectural office to be located in Shinjuku. However, the new Musashi
Prefecture proposal advocated in the Tama region demanded that the prefectural office be sited in Hachioji City.
Placing the prefectural office in Hachioji City, which had recently acquired city status, and aiming for the development of the entire Tama region can be viewed as an ambitious plan.
(Figure 1) Musashi Prefecture concept

Three Tama districts

Five districts
surrounding Tokyo

Cooperative between Tokyo and prefecture
Supply of water etc.

o
etropolis ann epen ent re ect re oncepts
23

Tokyo
Metropolis

MusashiPrefecture

Tokyo City

Financial assistanceroposal or a Tama re ect rewith Tachi awa as the pre ect ral capital
The Tama Prefecture concept, which involved creating a single prefecture for the Tama region alone, waspresented by the Temporary Metropolitan System Research Committee, a body put together after the “imperial
capital” proposal was abandoned (Figure 2). As with the Musashi Prefecture plan, a cooperative between Tokyoand the proposed prefecture would be set up, with the prefecture receiving financial aid from the capital. However, the exclusion of the five districts bordering Tokyo City reflected the prevailing view that these five districts
should be part of Tokyo Metropolis. In the Tama region, there was opposition, with campaigners arguing thateven with financial assistance, the Tama region alone would lack the means to survive as an independent prefecture. Nevertheless, by around 1925 (Taisho 14), calls for a Tama Prefecture were emanating from Kitatama. This
Tama Prefecture proposal involved the prefectural office being located in Tachikawa. Tachikawa had developed
rapidly, with the opening of Tachikawa Airfield in 1922 (Taisho 11) and the transition to town status the following year. It is likely that the people of Tachikawa wanted to stand up to Hachioji and develop the Tama region
with their town at the center.
(Figure 2) Tama Prefecture concept

oncepts
In around 1930 (Showa 5), the idea of creating a “Yokohama Metropolis” started to circulate in Yokohama
City, which led to concerns about how the districts of Kanagawa Prefecture would be treated. Yokohama City
Mayor Chuichi Ariyoshi responded with a proposal to create a new prefecture for the Tama region and the districts of Kanagawa, with the prefectural office to be situated in Hachioji. The suggestion gained support frommayors of municipalities in the Minamitama District, centered around Hachioji City. In 1930 (Showa 5), a street
plan for Hachioji City was decided on, and moves to rezone urban areas got underway. Against the backdrop of
this comprehensive urban planning, Hachioji officials once again contemplated making their city a prefectural
capital to spur regional development. This development can be seen as a response to Tachikawa, which was infavor of the Tama Prefecture concept and was aiming for regional development by landing the prefectural office.

Nishitama s lon stan in calls to e incorporate
into the metropolis
Unlike Minamitama and Kitatama,
which sought to create an independent
prefecture from Tokyo Metropolis andpursue regional development through theattraction of the prefectural office, Nishitama consistently demanded inclusion in
the Tokyo Metropolis. The slim possibilityof securing the prefectural office and its
direct interest in Tokyo City’s water supply are believed to have been the reasonsfor Nishitama’s stance. Kishichi Akimoto,the first chairman of the Association for
Incorporation into Tokyo, hailed from
Kitatama. However, the second chairman,
Ihee Senuma (Photo 1), and the third
chairman, Kojiro Iwanami (Photo 2),
came from Nishitama.

(Photo 1)
Ihee Senuma, second chairman of
the Association for Incorporation
into Tokyo(from Tama no Hitobito (The People of Tama))(Photo 2)
Kojiro Iwanami, third chairman of
the Association for Incorporation
into Tokyo(from Tokyo to Santama (Tokyo andthe Three Tamas))

COLUMNThe “three Tamas” identity
After the transfer of the three Tamas from Kanagawa Prefecture to Tokyo Prefecture in 1893
(Meiji 26), various organizations often worked together with the five districts surrounding Tokyo
City (or six districts until the merger of Higashitama District and Minamitoshima District into Toyotama
District in 1896 (Meiji 29)), establishing an informal grouping comprising a total of eight districts.
As a result, a sense of collective identity as the “three Tamas” weakened. However, the emergenceof the Tokyo Metropolis issue sparked a rekindling of this shared identity. As campaigns progressed,
a “three Tamas spirit” came to be emphasized, and in 1924 (Taisho 13), people from Tama who held
posts in Tokyo Prefecture or Tokyo City formed the “Three Tamas Hometown Friends Association.”
After the city limits had been expanded, Tama-born members of the Tokyo Prefecture Assembly
also organized, setting up the “Tama Group” and taking action independently.

24haptersta lishment o Tooetropolis

ampai n or ncl sion in To

attle o er war assem lies etween
To o it assem l an Tamaoetropolis an(Figure 1) Relationships between the three Tamas, ward assemblies, and city assemblyn epen ent re ect re oncepts

1935 (Showa 10)
onwards

Association for Incorporation into Tokyo

Tokyo Metropolis Promotion Federation

Three Tamas

New city ward assemblies / original city
ward assemblies

1938 (Showa 13)
onwards

Tokyo City assemblyTokyo Metropolis Promotion Federation
Tokyo City assembly
Three Tamas

New/original city ward assemblies

Tokyo Metropolis Promotion Federation
Three Tamas

sta lishment o To

Ward assembliesoIn the Tama region, discussions are taking place
within the metropolis inclusion movement on whether
to seek inclusion while maintaining their municipal
governments or to demand ward status. Apparently,
many Tokyo Prefecture assembly members advocatedfor the ward system, while municipal mayors tended
to argue for the continuation of their cities, towns,
and villages. The prefectural assembly members
believe that the municipalities would find it easier
to obtain budget funding from the Metropolitan assembly if they were on par with the wards, while themunicipal mayors thought that they would lose theirautonomy by becoming wards. It was finally decided
to request the maintenance of municipality status forthe time being. And the Tama region was ultimately
incorporated into Tokyo Metropolis as a collection of
cities, towns, and villages.

ocal oo ernments

Home Affairs Minister
Yamazaki’s view on thegovernance of Tama

The key aspect of the recent establishmentof Tokyo Metropolis is the abolition of Tokyo
City, and the issue of the three Tamas andother locales is secondary. However, I believethat switching to the ward system will bebeneficial if the three Tama regions undergo
significant development in the future, and thenature of them changes in terms of population or transportation.
(Summary of questions and answers concerning metropolitan government during the 81stDiet session)ce a o e m nicipalities

Districts, which had been overseeing towns and villages, were abolished in 1926 (Taisho 15), and towns andvillages came under the direct supervision of the prefecture. However, there was strong opposition to this, as
residents objected to losing the central institution for the politics, economy, and culture of their region. As the
Sino-Japanese War began and the need for a stronger system of mobilization increased, demands grew for theestablishment of “intermediate institutions.” This led to the introduction of “local offices” in 1942 (Showa 17).
Unlike district offices, these local offices were not merely auxiliary institutions for the prefectural governor; they
actually had various decision-making powers and wielded authority over the towns and villages. A year after theirestablishment, Tokyo Metropolis came into being. However, the local office continued to serve as guiding institution for the cities, towns, and villages Tama. This arrangement persisted even after the post-war transition of themetropolis into a “local public entity” (Figure 2).
(Figure 2) Evolution of the administrative system for Tokyo

Autonomy Protection Federation

Ward assemblies

nicipalities o Tama
nicipal o ernment or war

Calls to make Tokyo a metropolis, which had grown louder since the Taisho era, were still failing to bear fruit.
The moves stalled because not only was there the issue of the extent of the proposed metropolis, but there werealso clashes over whether the metropolitan commissioner should be appointed by the government or electedby the people. Following the enlargement of Tokyo City, the government drafted a bill for the establishment ofTokyo Metropolis, whereby the metropolitan commissioner would be government appointed and the Tama region would be included. This proposal was submitted to the Diet in 1933 (Showa 8). As the bill recognized ward
autonomy in exchange for government selection of the metropolitan commissioner, the ward assemblies in boththe new and original parts of the city, which were seeking greater autonomy, formed the “Tokyo Metropolis Promotion Federation,” and began coordinating their efforts with Tama as they worked to get the bill passed.
Then, in 1935 (Showa 10), Tama and the ward assemblies joined forces, establishing a fresh incarnation of
the Tokyo Metropolis Promotion Federation. However, in 1938 (Showa 13), when the Ministry of Home Affairs
announced its draft outline of the system of government for Tokyo Metropolis, which would see the commissioner appointed by the government, the metropolis covering the area of the prefecture, and the rejection of autonomy for the metropolitan government and wards within the metropolis, the Tokyo City assembly, which advocatedfor the election of the commissioner, formed the “Autonomy Protection Federation” to get the draft outline
scrapped. It also actively urged each ward assembly to join the federation. This resulted in a division of opinions
among the ward assemblies on whether to prioritize cooperation with the three Tamas to bring about revisions
to the outline or to join the federation to get it ditched altogether. Ultimately, the Tokyo Metropolis Promotion
Federation disintegrated (Figure 1).

1933 (Showa 8)
onwards

anTokyo City assembly

etropolis

Once the Pacific War began, efforts were made to establish a metropolitan government as a means of making the capital more resilient to enemy attacks. Then, in the middle of the war in July 1943 (Showa 18), Tokyo
Metropolis was established. The metropolitan government was organized as follows: The area covered by the
metropolis was the area covered by the former prefecture including the Tama region, the metropolitan commissioner was government appointed, and ward autonomy was denied.

1889 (Meiji 22) onwards

1926 (Taisho 15) onwards

1942 (Showa 17) onwards

1943 (Showa 18) onwards

Tokyo Prefecture

Tokyo Prefecture

Tokyo Prefecture

Tokyo Metropolis

Tokyo City

Districts

Tokyo City

Wards

Towns andvillages

Wards

Cities,towns, andvillages

Tokyo City

Local
office

Wards

Towns
and
villages

CitiesLocal
office

Wards

CitiesTowns
andvillages* Hachioji and Tachikawa became cities in 1917 (Taisho 6) and 1940 (Showa 15), respectively.
* Districts had district assemblies between 1899 (Meiji 32) and 1923 (Taisho 12).

25

26

hapterollowint an
ostwareconstr ction o Tamat areas aro n militar acilities
wo l ecome enem tar ets
an li es anacilities were lost

Now orestionFollowin apan s e eat
the three air iel s in Tamaecame merican ases
These three air el s incle Tachi awa ir iel anho
ir elt what was
the thir one

Impact of war
What what

o want the name othe air el

ere we o a ain
mi chanWere there e en air
el s in Tamai
Nooo a ena is ininawa
on t tt in when m a o t
to answer
Wait oes it start witho o

Fi hter ets anspre aircra tta e o an lan at the asehet s o No wa
onna lose this timemere s
estionhe s here a ain

mm s it relates
to war m essin
it s somethin li e
airplanes or weap
ons

orrectt s still in se to a as ater Worl War
apan s main in str went rom ein
te tiles to what
That s correcth a enaase

That s ito ota ir ase

ir

ase

The ase is s rro n e
a encean o nee a passport or otherorm oto et inWith the constr ction o Tachi awa
ir el as well as militar actories
alon the h o anme lines
aircra t ecame a ma or in str

hear there was a
ase in Tachi awa
ter the secon ro n amato an a ra
are tie with one win an one loss eachWith war ra in acrossthe lo e apan also
oc se on ee in p
its militar

27

Ne t time will e the nal ro n
Which o them will win the a lo s trip toawaii pai ormi28

hapterpenin o Tachi awa ir el anpenin o Tachi awa ir elollowint an

In 1922 (Taisho 11), Tachikawa Airfield (Photo 1) opened in Tachikawa Village. During World War I, aircraft
started to be used in battle, and after that war, the Imperial Japanese Army also began to strengthen its air
power. Tachikawa Airfield was built to serve as a key base for defense of the Imperial Capital, Tokyo. The 5th Air
Battalion, which had been stationed in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture the year before, relocated to Tachikawa
and was upgraded to the 5th Air Regiment in 1925 (Taisho 14). Tachikawa Airfield was also used as a civilian
airport, and in 1929 (Showa 4), scheduled flights between Tachikawa and Osaka began operating, with the journey taking just three hours. In 1933 (Showa 8), civilian aircraft were relocated to Tokyo Airfield (now Haneda
Airport), making Tachikawa an exclusively military airfield. In contrast to Hachioji, which was then called “Soto”
and known as a textile town,” Tachikawa earned the nickname “Kuto.”

pansion oilitar Facilities

sta lishment o militar

acilities anactories

With the establishment of Tachikawa Airfield, military facilities related to aviation research, development, andmanufacturing, such as the Army Aviation Technology Research Institute and the Army Air Force Arsenal, wereconstructed in the surrounding area. At the same time, numerous military factories such as those of Tachikawa
Aircraft, Hitachi Aircraft, and Showa Aircraft Industry, which produced military planes, established a presence inthe region. Furthermore, many companies and organizations either built new facilities or relocated existing ones
into the area. Some examples are Nakajima Aircraft, Yokogawa Electric, and Japan Radio in Musashino/Mitaka;
Chofu Airfield in Chofu; the Army Technology Research Institute in Koganei; the Army Accounting School in
Kodaira; and the Army Fuel Factory (Photo 2) and Tokyo Shibaura Electric in Fuchu. The area along the Chuo
Line extending to the Ome Line, which is situated on the Musashino Plateau, gradually developed into a belt of
military-related facilities (Figure 1).

ostwar econstr ction o Tama

(Photo 2) Army Fuel Factory(from Ano Hi no Fuchu (That Day in Fuchu),
Fuchu City Photobook)

The Army Fuel Factory in Fuchu wasconstructed in 1940 (Showa 15) andconducted research on alternative technologies for aviation fuel. The photographshows the site in 1946 (Showa 21).

Tama Army Air Base

(Photo 1) Tachikawa Airfield as Seen from the Air to the South (Showa era) (from Shashinshu Tachikawa (Photobook Tachikawa))

Tachi awa ecomes a cit
In the year after the opening of Tachikawa Airfield,1923 (Taisho 12), the village of Tachikawa became a town.
At that time, the Tama region contained one city, Hachioji, and seven towns (Fuchu, Chofu, Tanashi, Hino,
Machida, Ome, and Itsukaichi). They developed around inns along Edo period highways. In contrast, Tachikawa’s
elevation to city status owed a lot to its hosting of military facilities. Tachikawa Village, which had a populationof 4,633 at the time of the first national census in 1920 (Taisho 9), experienced a rapid increase in population to33,849 by 1940 (an increase of 731%), which can be attributed to the establishment of military-related facilities
and its strategic importance as a transportation hub. And in the following year, the town of Tachikawa became acity. Just 17 years after it had gained town status, Tachikawa became Tama’s second city after Hachioji.

Eastern Citizens’ Labor Training Facility

Army Air Inspection Dept.

Army Weapons Supply
Depot, Kodaira Branch

Nakajima Aero-Metal

Sanatorium for Disabled Military Nakajima Aircraft, Musashi Plant

Hitachi Aircraft
Howa Heavy Industries
Tachikawa Aircraft,
Army Air Development School
Yokogawa Corporation
Sunagawa Branch Factory Tachikawa Motor Factory
Army Accounting School
Tachikawa Army Material
AircraftArmy Technology Research InstituteHeadquarters
Tachikawa Army Air BaseJapan Radio
Railway Research InArmy Aviation Technology Research InstituteNakajima Aircraft, Mitaka
stitute Branch Office
Mitaka Aviation
TachikawaResearch Institute
Military
Hospital
Shoda Aircraft
Hitachi Central Research Laboratory
Showa Aircraft Industry
Teikoku Seiki Mfg., Aviation Research InstituteKoganei Plant
Army Air Force Arsenal Tokyo 2nd Army
Ministry of Railways Transport
Mutual Aid Hospital
Research InstituteArmy Fuel Factory
Sagami Naval Arsenal, Minamitama BranchTokyo Shibaura Denki, Fuchu Factory
International
Tokyo Chofu Airfield
Telecommunications
Hino Juki Industrial
Toyo Tokei
Research Institute
The Japan SteelTokyo Juki Industrial
Works, Musashi Plant
Tokyo Army Children’s School Konishiroku Photo Industry, Hino Factory
Fuji Electric, Toyota Factory

Army Pyrotechnics Arsenal,
Tama Gunpowder Plant

Mitaka Aircraft Kobiki Factory
Nakajima Aircraft Asakawa Underground Plant(Figure 1) Important military facilities and factories (from Tama Hyakunen no Ayumi (Centennial History of Tama))2930

haptern

str anministration in the

From te tiles to aircra t man act reollowint an
ostwar econstr ction o Tamathehowa Financial

risis

seric lt re an te tiles which were themain instries went into

ecline interms o their share o the local econom

le ation oilla es to towns in the earlhowa raministration n er the wartime re ime

From the Meiji era, the main industries in the Tama region were sericulture, silk reeling, and textile manufacturing. There were three chief textile production areas: Hachioji (silk fabrics), Ome (silk-cotton blended fabrics),
and Murayama (blue kasuri for Oshima Tsumugi). In 1930 (Showa 5), the Showa Financial Crisis struck, plunging
the Japanese economy into a depression, which severely impacted the textile industry in the Tama region. The
Showa Financial Crisis marked a turning point, significantly altering the industrial landscape of the Tama region.
After this event, the textile sector, which had previously constituted a major portion of the area’s industrial
output, rapidly declined. In contrast, aviation-related industries experienced remarkable growth. Within the military-related facility belt, residential areas for factory workers were constructed in various locations, leading to a
sharp increase in population.

Followinarlhowa era

Coupled with the development of academic cities, the villages in the military-related facility belt became
increasingly residential and urbanized. To facilitate urban infrastructure development, there was a push to establish cities and towns. After 1933 (Showa 8), moves to demand application of the City Planning Act spreadwithin the region, and many small municipalities came up with proposals to merge with each other and becomecities or towns. Hachioji City merged with Komiya Town in 1941 (Showa 16). Also, from the early Showa era
until the end of World War II, 13 villages were upgraded to town status while retaining their independence. All inall, nine villages in the military belt became towns (Musashino, Koganei, Mitaka, Kokubunji, Hoya, Fussa, Showa,
Higashimurayama, and Kodaira). The others were Asakawa and Komiya, which bordered Hachioji City, Hikawa,which was affected by the construction of the Ogouchi Dam, and Mizuho, which dissolved its village union.

The Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937 (Showa 12),and as the conflict became prolonged, Japan gradually instituted
a harsh wartime regime. The government called for fresh approaches to administration, and the administrative affairs of cities and towns adapted to the wartime situation. Officials, alongwith the residents, assisted with the “protection of the homefront” to execute the war through such activities as dispatchingsoldiers, conducting air defense drills, rationing supplies, welcoming back the spirits of the war dead, and providing guidanceneighborhood associations and air defense groups. In December
1941 (Showa 16), Japan thrust itself into what would become
known as the Pacific War, and as the war situation gradually(Photo 1) B29 bomber over Nakajima Aircraft’s
worsened, the military-related facility belt became the target Musashi Plant (Collection of U.S. National Archives)of air raids by the U.S. forces. In November 1944 (Showa 19),
the Americans carried out their first full-scale air raid on theJapanese mainland using B29 bombers (Photo 1), during which they bombed Nakajima Aircraft’s Musashi Plant(now in Musashino City). From then on until the end of the war, there were air raids targeting military factories/
facilities and smaller cities like Hachioji, as well as attacks by small aircraft, resulting in the loss of many lives
and facilities.
And from August 1944 (Showa 19), over 220,000 schoolchildren from the wards of Tokyo evacuated to 13
different prefectures in regions such as Kanto, Tokai, and Tohoku. In the Tama region, Kitatama District received
evacuees from the former Akasaka Ward (now part of Minato Ward), while Minamitama and Nishitama districts
received evacuees from the former Shinagawa Ward (now part of Shinagawa Ward). In total, more than 9,000
schoolchildren and teachers evacuated to Tama (Figure 1).

Daiyon Hino
Kokumin Gakko

Daisan Hino
Kokumin Gakko

Hosui Kokumin
Gakko

Shinagawa
Kokumin Gakko

AsamadaiKokumin Gakko

Jonan Daini
Kokumin Gakko
Aoyama Kokumin
Gakko

Daigo Hino
Kokumin Gakko
Miki Kokumin
Gakko

Hikawa Kokumin
Gakko

Nogi Kokumin
Gakko

Akasaka Kokumin
Gakko

COLUMN

Daiichi&Daini
Hino Kokumin Gakko

Kihachi Koike’s Diary
Kihachi Koike served as the principal of Higashimurayama
Village Kasei Elementary School for 31 years. After retiring, heserved as the mayor of Higashimurayama from 1942 to 1946(Showa 17-21), overseeing the town’s administration under
the wartime regime. His diary from 1944 (Showa 19) was put
into print, and it offers insights into the busy daily life of themayor. The diary describes agricultural labor mobilization,
inspections by Prime Minister Tojo and others, acceptance ofgroups of school children as evacuees, mobilization of student
labor to military factories, and air raid alerts, and more (fromKoike Kihachi Nikki (Kihachi Koike’s Diary)).

Seinan Kokumin
Gakko

Jonan Kokumin
Gakko
Gotenyama
Kokumin Gakko
Daiichi Hino
Kokumin Gakko
Samehama
Kokumin Gakko
Hara Kokumin
Gakko
Hamakawa
Kokumin Gakko
Yamanaka
Kokumin Gakko
Oi Daiichi
Kokumin Gakko

Kihachi Koike(Collection of Higashimurayama
Local History Museum)Tachiai Kokumin
Gakko
Suzugamori
Kokumin Gakko
Ito Kokumin Gakko(Figure 1) Hosting of groups of schoolchildren evacuees in the Tama region(from Machi kara Kodomo ga Yattekita (Children Came from the City), Parthenon Tama)

31

Note:  was the name given to elementary schools from 1941 to 1947.

32

hapter

ilitarases an Tama

militar occ pation an sei

re oacilities

ollowint an
ostwar econstr ction o TamaIn September 1945 (Showa 20), the 1st Cavalry
Division of the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Divisionlanded in Yokohama, passed through Haramachida, and occupied the airfields in Chofu, Tachikawa,and Tama (Yokota). Later, the main forces entered
Tokyo, fanning out and taking over sites in various
locations, such as the Yoyogi military parade groundand the Dai-ichi Hotel. The U.S. military occupationin the Tama region began with the seizure of army
airfields. Military facilities were seized, and places
like the Army Fuel Factory and munitions factories
were repurposed for use by the American forces.
(Photo 1) U.S. military house
Western-style houses, such as the Yuzo Yamamoto(close to Yokota Air Base)residence in Mitaka City and the Suzuka residence inKomae City, were also occupied and refurbished asaccommodations for officers.
Around the bases, entertainment districts packed with bars, restaurants, hotels, and cabarets catering toAmerican military personnel sprang up, and vestiges of them are still visible today. Kunitachi Town, though, wasdesignated as a district of education in 1952 (Showa 27), with the goal being to prohibit the construction of suchentertainment facilities and thereby preserve public morals. Even after the Korean War ended, the U.S. militarystuck around. On the land on which Nakajima Aircraft’s Musashi Plant had stood, the Musashino housing area
(known as Green Park) was built as accommodation for officers’ families. Despite local opposition to the plan,in 1954 (Showa 29) families started to move in. U.S. military houses were also constructed on farmland around
Yokota Base (Photo 1), with the number totaling about 1,100 units by 1957 (Showa 32).

et rn omilitarUp until the fifth decade of the Showa era (1965-1974), numerous U.S. military facilities existed in Tokyo Metropolis (Figure 1). Even today, Yokota Air Base and Tama Ammunition Depot (now Tama Hills Recreation Center) remain in use by U.S. forces in Japan, but most of the facilities have been returned. This process generated
various tensions with the local communities. At Tachikawa Air Base, a plan to extend the runway was proposed in
1955 (Showa 30), and this led to the “Sunagawa Struggle” as families rose up in opposition to the expropriationof their land. The following year, there was a clash, known as the “Sunagawa Incident,” between the land survey
team on the one side and local residents and student sympathizers on the other. In 1969 (Showa 44), base functions began being transferred to Yokota, and after the full return of Tachikawa Air Base to the Japanese government in 1977 (Showa 52), the site was redeveloped. This project, which is still ongoing, has seen the creationof Showa Kinen Park and the establishment of a Wide-area Disaster Management Base with self-defense forcesand government facilities. There is also an urban redevelopment zone and a Tama Toshi Monorail hub.
The previously mentioned Green Park was subject to a citizen’s campaign for the return of the U.S. military
accommodation. The campaign started in the 1960s, and the return was agreed in 1971 (Showa 46) (Photo 3).
In 1974 (Showa 49), people began signing a petition for the site to be converted into a park, and this culminatedin the opening of the Musashino Chuo Park by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1989 (Heisei 1).

Camp Asaka
Grand Heights Housing Area

Yokota Airfield

Camp Oji
Returned Oct. 15, ’71 (Showa 46)

Tachikawa AirfieldOkutama Town

KiyoseCity

MizuhoTown
HinodeTown

HamuraCity

Musashimurayama
City

Fussa City

Itsukaichi Town

Chiba
Prefecture

Yamato Base

Ome City

HigashiyamatoCity

Higashimurayama
City

Akishima
City
Tachikawa
City

Kokubunji
City
Kunitachi
City

Hachioji City

Hino City

Fuchu
City

Tama
City

COLUMN
Kanagawa
Prefecture

Yugi
Communication
Site

Koganei
City

Inagi
City

AdachiWard

Itabashi
Ward

Higashikurume
City

Kodaira City

Akita Town

Yamanashi
Prefecture

Most of the former military sites in the Tama region
were eventually handed back to Japan, after which they
were repurposed into housing complexes, parks, andpublic facilities. However, Chofu Airfield is again being used as an airfield, retaining the role it had before
the war. The U.S. military used it as a hydroponic farm
(Photo 2) to enable the use of human manure to be
avoided and clean vegetables to be supplied. The site
also featured a housing complex called Kanto Mura.
However, after its return in 1956 (Showa 31), it became
an off-airport landing field managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In 2001 (Heisei 13) it officiallybecame an airport. Operated as a commuter airport by (Photo 2) Chofu Hydroponic Farm
the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, it currently offers (Collection of Chofu Local History Museum)flights connecting the capital with remote islands suchas Oshima, Niijima, and Kozushima, and serves as a vitaltransportation hub for island residents.

Owada Communication Site

Hamura School District
Returned Oct. 15, ’71 (Showa 46)

SaitamaPrefecture

Hinohara
Village

The return of military landases

Hoya City

Kita
Ward

Nerima Ward
BunkyoWard

NakanoWardMusashino City
Mitaka City

Shinjuku
Ward

Suginami
Ward

ChiyodaWard

Shibuya
Ward

Chofu
City

Setagaya
Ward

Komae
City

MachidaCity

Katsushika
Ward

Ara
kawa
Ward

Toshima Ward

Tanashi
City

Taito
Ward

SumidaWard

Edogawa
Ward
Koto
Chuo Ward Ward

MinatoWard
MeguroWard

Shinagawa
Ward

Ota Ward

Tokyo Communication Site,
Central Telephone Exchange

Sanno Hotel
Officers’ Quarters

Musashino Housing Area
Kanto Mura Dependent
Housing Area & Auxiliary
Airfield
Fuchu Communications Station

Akasaka Press Center

Haneda Post
Handing Office

Tama Ammunition Depot(Figure 1) List of U.S. military bases in Tokyo
Metropolis in around 1970 (Showa 45)(from Tachikawa Kichi (Tachikawa Air Base)).

(Photo 3) Citizens’ rally for the handover and repurposing ofGreen Park
1971(Showa 46) (Credit: Musashino City)

33

34

hapteri h Growth erio an
han es inministration o Tama
Changes in the living
environment of Tamater the war en e
apan entere a perioo hi h economic rowtho that s wh peo
ple starte to illots o ho ses o t
in the sr sn the reen elt opposition
mo ement there was also amo ement to create o r own
actories an ho sin com
ple es in the Tama re iono eah eople are
mo in to To o rom
all o er the co ntr

To o s prett crampe
so it s o er owin withpeopleTama New Town is aname we o ten hear
when it comes to ho sin
comple es

actl To o s peripher was i i e intoa reen elt an satellite cities an towns
were e elope

The s
r s
o mean Tamari hteems a it
one si e

The opposition mo ement
contri te to the en o thereen elt plans an policies
chan e towar s e elopment
while protectin towns an
nat rei ht ri ht t s a i ho sin
comple an people starte
mo in there rom Tama it inhowa

t it wasn t er con enientac then eca se there wasno train there eto Tama New Town was
an iso isolate isl

t pro a l was reall li elac theni n t the people li inin the area set asi e or
the reen elt complain

Ayumi-chan!!

Nat rall there was an
opposition mo ement
This was calle the reen
elt opposition mo ement

eople wante the o ernment
to listen to what the ha tosa a o t their own towns

35

What’s happening
to Ayumi-chan!?

h no omethin s happe tomi chanThis ail re s ma e it clear she s st a ro ot
an amato an a ra sa e
mi chann what will e her ate
Ne t weeiracles appenrin
nch rea
on t miss it

36

hapteri h Growth erio an

Great howa

er ers an Tamanactin theonicipalromotionct or theer ersitatama aims to ecome a new mer e cit

The Act for the Promotion of Municipal Mergers was enacted in 1953 (Showa 28). This law came about as aresult of the Shoup Report, which established the idea of municipal self-rule. To strengthen the financial foundations for municipalities, smaller towns and villages with less than 8,000 people would be dissolved by merging
them. Going by this law, Tokyo Metropolis formed the Tokyo Metropolis Municipal Merger Promotion Deliberation Committee, and began providing guidance on merging.

er er tren s e ore the war

han es in

There had been moves to merge municipalities in the Tama region even before the war. First, to get land forindustry, the city of Hachioji absorbed the town of Komiya in 1941 (Showa 16). In other areas, too, the move tomerge municipalities based on urban planning zones spread around about this time. The aim of these mergers
was urbanization. In the Tama region, the Great Showa Mergers did aim to eliminate smaller towns and villages,
but for the most part, it was a continuation of this pre-war trend towards urbanization.
There had been autonomous mergers, not based on the Act for the Promotion of Municipal Mergers, before
the Act was passed, and we can see that the passing of the Act further “promoted” mergers. (Table 1)

The e ent al ma or mer ers inan Nishitama

inamitama

Large-scale mergers took place in Ome, Hachioji, and Machida. In these three cities, in addition to the centers
being clear and easy to define, the National Capital Region Development Plan that was being carried out at thetime included the concept of developing these places as satellite cities, which also encourage these mergers.

COLUMN

Increase in Partial-Affairs Associations(Special Local Public Entities)(Table 1) Municipal Mergers During the Great Showa Mergers

Act for the Promotion of Municipal Mergers in Force

Post-War Local
Government Becomes Establishedministration o Tama

April 1, 1951 (Showa 26)

me it

me Town

as mi illa ehoilla e ◆October 1, 1953 (Showa 28)

Act for the Promotion of Municipal Mergers promulgatedApril 1, 1954 (Showa 29)

F ch

it

F ch Town Tama illa e Nishi

illa e ◆Machida Town (Machida Town, Minami Village) ◆May 1
April 1, 1955 (Showa 30)

ishima ithoithowa Town
ho

Town

ai ima illa e ◆in ai Town

Hachioji City (Hachioji City, Yokoyama Village, Motohachioji Village, Ongata Village, Kawaguchi Village,
Kasumi Village, Yui Village)

Ome City (Ome City, Yoshino Village, Osoki Village, Mita Village, Nariki Village)

With the increasing population, dealing with the hygiene issues of waste and sewage treatment became serious issues.
Municipal mergers meant that these issues could be handled in broader scopes. However, despite thepopulation explosion in Kitatama, mergers did not proceed smoothly. So this led to a movement to handle these issues not with mergers but through collaborations. In other words, the formation of what are
called partial-affairs associations to carry out these tasks jointly among municipalities. Starting in the
Great Showa Mergers period we see associations such as the Musashino-Mitaka District Health Association, the Nimaibashi Health Association (Fuchu, Chofu, Koganei), the Tachikawa-Akishima Health andWaste Association, the Three Northern Towns Health Association (Tanashi, Hoya, Kurume), and so on.

Itsukaichi Town (Itsukaichi Town, Komiya Village, Tokura Village, Masuko Village)

Akita Town (Tasai Village, Nishiakiru Village, Higashiakiru Village)
Okutama Town (Hikawa Town, Kori Village, Ogouchi Village)
June 1
June 30, 1956 (Showa 31)

New Act for the Promotion of
Building Municipalities in Force

September 30
February 1, 1958 (Showa 33)

Hinode Village (Hirai Village, Oguno Village)

October 15
April 1, 1959 (Showa 34)

ehin these ma or mer ers were pop

New Act for the Promotion of Building Municipalities promulgatedlation rowth an economic rowth

Act for the Promotion of Municipal Mergers abolished
Hino Town (Hino Town, Nanao Village)
achi a it

High Economic
Growth Policies
Period37

In Kitatama, there were moderate mergers in Fuchu, Akishima, and Chofu. This merger created new cities, andin other areas of Kitatama there sprung up movements aimed at forming new cities. There were also ideas forlarge-scale mergers in Tachikawa and Musashino. However, other than the three cities of Fuchu, Akishima, andChofu, no other mergers happened, and later, the original area was turned into a city. A range of combinations
for mergers were proposed, but no one could agree on where the center of the new cities would be, and this ended up being one reason the mergers never happened.

achi a Town Ts r

awa illa e Ta ao illa ea ai illa eMizuho Town (Mizuho Town, part of Moto-Sayama Village, Saitama Prefecture)

Hachioji City (Hachioji City, Asakawa Town)

The nee eJune 29, 1961 (Showa 36)

New Act for the Promotion of Building Municipalities abolishedm nicipal s stems

May 1, 1963 (Showa 38)

Tachikawa City (Tachikawa City, Sunagawa Town)

April 1, 1964 (Showa 39)

Hachioji City (Hachioji City, Yugi Village)* Blue = New cities created from mergers* ◆ = Autonomous mergers not based on the Act for the Promotion of Municipal Mergers(from Tama Koiki Gyoseishi (Tama Wide-Area Administrative History))toe elop38

hapterGreen elt

i h Growth erio an

pposition

isp te an

The National apital e ionan Tamae elopment lan

When the City Planning Act was revised in 1933 (Showa 8), the idea behind urban planning changed to control
the growth of megalopolises. After the war, that idea was reflected in the National Capital Region Development
Act of 1956 (Showa 31). In this law, to curb the “existing urban fabric” (the major metropolitan region), the areaaround was to be the “suburban areas” (greenbelt) and beyond that, the “urban development zone” (satellite
cities), aiming to spread the population distribution.

Green elt opposition isp te

han es inministration o TamaIn the National Capital Region Development Plan, the two cities
and thirteen towns of Kitatama as well as Inagi Village in Minamitama
were designated as “suburban areas” (Figure 1). These municipalities
formed the Alliance Against the Establishment of Suburban Areas inTokyo Metropolis, and launched the greenbelt opposition dispute (Figure 2). For municipalities at the time that were working towards urbanizing with the goal of becoming cities through mergers, greenbelts(which emphasized green areas at the cost of residential or commercial
areas) were seen as hampering the development of that region. As aresult of the strong opposition by locals, the National Capital Region
Development Act was revised in 1965 (Showa 40), eliminating the“suburban areas” and working for planned urbanization. In addition, it
set “suburban development areas” as areas to preserve greenery.

onstr ction o Tama New Town
rin

actories an ho sin comple es

As part of this opposition to the greenbelt, local
authorities actively lured factories and public corporation as a way to make urbanization a fait accompli.
In 1958 (Showa 33), the Alliance held informal talks
with the Japan Housing Corporation and urged themstrongly to construct housing complexes (“danchi”).
This led to the construction of the Hibarigaoka Danchi, the Higashikurume Danchi, and other large-scale
housing complexes within the “suburban areas” (Table1). In addition, the same year as the informal talks, aregulation allowing factories to be lured was passed in
Fuchu, and the following year in Chofu. The Hachioji-Hino, Ome-Hamura-Fussa, and Sagami-Machidazones that had been specified as “suburban development areas” also actively tried to attract factories totheir areas. The Tama region was changing dramatically during this period, becoming both residential andindustrial.

(Table 1) Public housing complexes constructed circa 1955-64

New residents

Complex nameLocal authority

1957 (Showa 32)

Midori-cho DanchiMusashino

1958 (Showa 33)

Kumegawa Danchi

Higashimurayama

Tamadaira Danchi

Hino

Yagisawa Danchi

Hoya

Higashifushimi Danchi

Hoya

Sakurazutsumi DanchiMusashino

Hibarigaoka Danchi

Higashikurume

Shinkawa Danchi

Mitaka1960 (Showa 35)

Fuchu Danchi

Fuchu

1962 (Showa 37)

Mitakadai Danchi

MitakaHigashikurume Danchi

Higashikurume

1959 (Showa 34)* Housing complexes with more than 500 households* Purple = housing complexes built in the suburban areas(Figure 2) Flyer opposing the greenbelt(from Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 100)
(Figure 1) National Capital Region Development Plan (from Tama Toshi Keikakushi (History of Tama Urban Planning))

onstr ction oTama New Town
Once the initial phase of residential development
in Kitatama had been completed, the focus shifted tothe hills of Minamitama. This is known as “sprawl,”
and is uncontrolled development using private capital.
So, to solve the worsening lack of residential land andto encourage orderly urban development, a large-scale
residential land plan was now formed. This was theTama New Town Concept. The project was launched
in 1965 (Showa 40), and people started moving in,to the Suwa and Nagayama areas, in 1971 (Showa
46) (Photo 1). However, back then neither the Keio
Sagamihara Line nor the Odakyu Tama Line had been
completed, and residents had to take buses toSeiseki-Sakuragaoka to commute to the central city
(Photo 2). This is why Tama New Town was called “anisolated island on land.”(Photo 1) People in the first wave of new residents (from Tama
New Town Kaihatsu no Kiseki (Trajectory of Tama New Town
Development), Collection of Tama City)(Photo 2) Suwa-minami Park Bus Stop at Rush Hour (from Tama
New Town Kaihatsu no Kiseki (Trajectory of Tama New Town

39

Development)), Collection of Keio Corporation)40

hapter

The Three Tamas Gap an Theirlimination

The Three Tamas Gap s r ace
Population increase rate

Tama region

Islands

50

(S

(H
ei
se
i2
)

ho
w
a

25
)

Wards

19
90

19

i h Growth erio an

Most of the Tama region was farmland up until thewar, which meant there was of course a gap between
it and the urban center of Tokyo.
With the migration of workers to military-use factories during the war, and the migration to the area inthe post-war urbanization, the population of the Tamaregion grew rapidly (Figure 1). At the same time, theinfrastructure was not able to cope with this increasing population. So by the late 1960s, the three Tamaregions (Kitatama, Minamitama, Nishitama) were considered harder to live in than central Tokyo, giving riseto the phrase “the Three Tamas Gap.”

limination o the Three Tamas Gap

Does not include Ogasawara Islands until 1966(Showa 41). The entire population of Miyake
Island was evacuated in 2000 (Heisei 12).

han es in(Figure 1) Post-war population increase rates by region (created from the
National Census data for each year)

ct alit anacro n to the Three Tamas Gap

ministration o Tama

So what sort of issues were there in this Three Tamas Gap? Table 1 shows the Eight Issues of the Three Tamas
Gap as set by the Metropolis and Municipalities Council in 1975 (Showa 50). The Council was set up in 1964(Showa 39) as a deliberative council for Tokyo Metropolis and the municipalities. This shows the directions taken to eliminate the gap. There is no doubt that the explosion on population lay behind the gap, but another factor
was the structural issues that appeared as part of the administrative function reforms.
Administratively, the district assemblies were abolished in 1923 (Taisho 12) and the district offices in 1926
(Taisho 15), meaning that wide-area administrative functions encompassing the district level no longer existed.
In addition, in 1943 (Showa 18) the Tokyo Metropolis system was put in place. The older Tokyo Prefecture andTokyo City had been abolished, replaced with the new Tokyo Metropolis. This is another factor leading to theemergence of the gap. In other words, as the administrative organs of Tokyo Metropolis were based on the oldTokyo City systems, it can be assumed that there would have been not a few aspects of its administration vis-avis the Tama region that were remiss.
Furthermore, if Tokyo Prefecture and Tokyo City had remained, it is likely that as a prefecture it would have
paid proper attention to administration outside Tokyo City, and this gap would have been less likely to arise. The
establishment of Tokyo as a metropolis (the metropolis and the inner wards) can be said to have pushed
the Tama region to the periphery. For the Tama region, now the periphery, something that made it even(Table 1) The Eights Issues of the Three Tamas Gap
more like an ancillary was the existence of the local
1. Compulsory education facilities (percentage
offices (see Chapter 3. Establishment of Tokyo Meof schools with gyms)
tropolis and Municipalities of Tama)
The local offices were there to provide guidance for
2. Percentage of population with sewer connecTama, and were called things like “Governor’s Offictionses” and “Local Commissioners for the Three Tamas.”
3. No. of hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants

Efforts to eliminate the Three Tamas Gap had already begun in the late 1960s. These include appointing
Tokyo Metropolitan Water Supply Project Investigation Specialist Committee Members in 1967 (Showa 42), thedecision on the Outline for the Formulation of Municipal Public Facility Development Plans by the Metropolis
and Municipalities Council in 1970 (Showa 45), the launching of the Three Tamas Promotion Measures Council
chaired by the Governor of Tokyo in 1970 (Showa 45), the establishment of the Three Tamas and Islands Measures
Office in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of General Affairs in 1971 (Showa 46), and the launch of
the Three Tamas Gap Research Committee in 1973 (Showa 48). As noted earlier, the Eight Issues were seen as
gap issues by the Metropolis and Municipalities Council in 1975 (Showa 50), and later, the Council carried out
initiatives to solve these, positioning them as key issues.
In addition to the Eight Issues, the Three Tamas Gap existed in many other forms. One of them was tap water.
Originally, water was generally supplied in the Tama region by wells in each municipality. However, the increasing water usage due to the increasing population led to these wells running dry, and the lack of tap water had tobe covered by temporary water diversion from Tokyo Metropolis. Thus residents were required to pay high water
rate as well as for a range of charged services that did not exist in the wards (Table 2).
With elimination of the gap becoming a major issue, the Governor of Tokyo consulted the Tokyo Metropolitan Water Supply Project Investigation Specialist Committee Members regarding measures to correct the gap
in water supply between the central wards and the Tama region. Then in 1971 (Showa 46), based on the advice
received that Tokyo Metropolis should absorb the municipality-run waterworks in the Three Tamas region andmanage it as a single entity with the ward waterworks, thus taking steps to eliminate the gap in water supply(Figure 2).

Local Authority

Cost (JPY) Remarks

Local Authority

Cost (JPY)

6. No. of people per library
7. Annual National Health Insurance premiums
per person
8. Monthly childcare costs per person

Local Authority

Cost (JPY)Remarks(Table 2)
Water rates per 10 tonnes for house-

140

Koganei City

240 ◎Mizuho Town

370 ◎●

Hachioji City360 ◎Kodaira City

270 ◎Hamura Town

320 ◎●

Tachikawa City

230 ◎Hino City

272 ◎●

Akita Town

350 ◎●

Musashino City

210 ◎Higashimurayama City

270 ◎●

Itsukaichi Town

250 ◎◎ Washer replacement fee

290 ◎Tama City

285 ◎● Borne by new builds

Mitaka City

250 ◎Kokubunji City

Ome City

275 ◎Kunitachi City

266 ◎●

Inagi City

360 ◎Fuchu City

205 ◎Tanashi City

280 ◎Musashimurayama City

250 ◎Akishima City

210 ◎Hoya City

325 ◎Higashiyamato City

275 ◎●

Chofu City

260

Fussa City

330 ◎●

Kiyose City

230 ◎●

Machida City

300 ◎Komae City

280 ◎Higashikurume City

260 ◎●(Figure 2)

hold use as of 1971 (Showa 46)(from Tama no Ayumi(History of Tama) Issue 100)Tone River

Water Supplies and Sources in the Tama Region

Musashi Canal
Ara River

Yamaguchi Reservoir/ Murayama Reservoir

Ozaku Intake Weir
Hamura Intake Weir

4. No. of people per public health center
5. Average width of roads

Remarks

Tokyo wards

AkigaseIntake Weir

HigashiMurayama
Sakai

Aqueducts
RiversIntake weirs
Treatment plants
Tama River system

Nagasawa

Tama River / Tone River combined system

Tama River

Tama River / Tone River / Sagami River combined system
Simple waterworks (not unified)Independent waterworks (not unified)

41

Sagami River42

hapter

esponses to nprece enteisasters
Rebuilding togetherhamato top
cr in so m ch
rr p

mi chaaaaan

Today’s school lunch
is burgers!

o r ran mother s mother wasa ectethe Great antoarth a e o now
t o m stn t e er i e pwhen this sort o thin happens

We nee to help

43

mi chaner one p lls toether in har times

n the Great ast
apan arth a ee er one p lle toether i n t theon t or et to ar lean wash o r han se ore o eat

Whaaa

h an wa ar lin
an washin o r
han s is reall im
portant ri ht

aaa Time
or l nch

on t r n in the corri ors

44hapter

Great anto arthesponse to

When the eartha e anama e to the Tama e iona e str cTokyo City itself suffered catastrophic damage, but while Machida (Photos 3, 4), relatively close to the coast,and Hachioji (Photos 1, 2, 5) were damaged, but the Tama region, largely covering the Kanto mountainous regionand Musashino Plateau, with their relatively solid soils, was luckily spared too much damage.

nprece ente

In Tama, there is a record referring to the-then Tama Village that goes as follows: “The day the great earthquake struck, I think rain fell intermittently like sudden showers until about ten in the morning, then a south
wind sprang up and the sun came out. It was very strange weather. Aftershocks continued for the next few days,
so there was damage to the destroyed houses in the village, as well as the store houses and the road and bridges.
But luckily there were no casualties among the villagers. The village quickly sorted out a damage assessment,
and worked to help those affects, and to rebuild the roads and bridges so that traffic could flow again.”
Following the Great Kanto Earthquake, a lot of people who had been affected by the quake moved out ofTokyo to the Tama region. This helped places along the Musashino Plateau like Kichijoji, Mitaka, and Kunitachi
develop from farmland on the environs to suburbs.

COLUMNA century after theGreat Kanto Earthquake

isasters(Photo 1) Collapsed houses (Yokoyama-cho, Hachioji City)(Photo 2) People evacuating (Hon-cho, Hachioji City)(Private collection. Provided by the Hachioji City History Museum)(Private collection. Provided by the Hachioji City History Museum)ama e to the Tama re ion an resc in resi ents
In Machida, the earthquake cause landslides, especially in what was then Sakai village. These killed 16 people,
destroyed 349 houses, and damaged 708 more. Hachioji too lost 10 people, 9 houses destroyed, and a further 39
damaged due to landslides mainly in Ongata village. For six days after the quake struck, huge numbers of refugees, especially families, passed endlessly through Machida along the Kanagawa Kaido and Yokohama Line from
Yokohama, and along the Tsurukawa Kaido from Tokyo. Despite having suffered damage themselves, the municipal workers, local military personnel, and youth groups in the surrounding towns and villages helped out. Theyran refugee sites, distributed food and so on, helping people out day and night, and getting thanked for theirefforts.

In the Tama region, efforts have been
made to reduce cheek-by-jowl wooden
housing. In addition, the momentum for mutual assistance in the region has increased,with 2,287 disaster prevention citizen organizations currently having been formed.
2023 (Reiwa 5) marked the centennial of
the Great Kanto Earthquake. To commemorate this milestone year, Tokyo Metropolis
and other areas held events and seminars
that looked back on the disaster.

This is the Disaster Readiness Coordinator Training, which has been conducted by Tokyo Metropolis since 2018 (Heisei 30) to foster people who
can take the lead in a disasterGreat Kanto Earthquake

45(Photo 3) Minamibashi Bridge collapsed after the Great Kanto(Photo 4) An explanatory board telling how after the quake many

Earthquake (Kanamori, Machida City)

people fled into the shrine grounds and were saved (Kasuga Shrine,(Photo: Toshihiko Tsutsumi)

Okura-machi, Machida City)At 11:58 in the morning on September 1,
1923 (Taisho 12), a Magnitude 7.9 earthquake,with its epicenter in the west of Kanagawa,struck. This caused immense damage over awide area covering both the coasts and inland
not only in Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures
but in the adjacent prefectures of Ibaraki and
Chiba as well. An estimated 105,000 people
were dead or missing after this disaster.
Fires broke out in many areas of Tokyo and
Yokohama, with their crowded wooden housing.
A third of the city from Tokyo’s working-class
district (Shitamachi) to the hills in the west
(Yamanote) burned. At the quake struck justbefore noon, when people were cooking lunch,in many homes stoves or grills overturned, causing fires.
(Photo 5) The destroyed Hachioji Textile Guild(Collection of Hachioji City History Museum)46

hapter

Great ast apan arthssistance ora e anesponse toama e to the Tama re ion rom the eartha enprece ente

Immediately after the earthquake struck on March 11, 2011 (Heisei 23), some railway companies restrictedentry to stations, so the areas around major stations were filled with people. The main streets were also filledwith people walking home, and the city suffered major traffic jams until late that night.
To support people walking home, convenience stores, service stations, Tokyo Metropolis schools and otherdesignated “Support Stations for Returning Home in Emergencies” along the main routes such as the Koshu Kaido, Ome Kaido, and Shin-Ome Kaido offered support to people walking home in the form of water or information
about the disaster. Government and public facilities in each municipality also provided similar support (Photo 1).
Also, due to the serious damage to thermal and nuclear power station along the Pacific coast, there were widespread power shortages, so TEPCO carried out planned power cuts to the Greater Tokyo area between March 15
and 28. For several hours at a time, power was shut off in turns to each of five areas within the Tama region (Photo2).

ispatchin sta

ecte

nicipalities

to a ecte local a thorities

Requests to dispatch staff were made to local authorities in the Tama region. These were centralized throughthe Tokyo Association of Mayors. From April 18, 2011 (Heisei 23), staff from the Association secretariat went to
Iwate Prefecture, which was targeted for support to coordinate with affected local governments. Following this,joint support from the 26 Tama cities began for Otsuchi Town and Kamaishi City. (Photos 3 & 4)
Following that, through requests via the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, staff were dispatched to Minami
sanriku Town and Sendai City, both in Miyagi Prefecture, the Miyagi Prefectural Education Office, Namie Town,
Fukushima Prefecture, and, based on a request made through Akishima City Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.
As of the end of March 2012 (Heisei 24), 1,062 staff members had been dispatched to 33 local governments.

isasters(Photo 2) Tama City during a power cut (Credit: Tama City)(Photo 1) People evacuating (Credit: Fuchu City)

ostin an s pportin re
ees
rom F
shima re ect re an other places
Due to the damage caused by the accident to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Tokyo Metropolis
made the decision to host people fleeing from Fukushima Prefecture. The Ajinomoto Stadium, designated as the
refugee site within Tokyo Metropolis, generally hosted refugees arrived using their own vehicles. Tokyo Metropolis, with the support of bodies like the Chofu City Social Welfare Council, operated refugee housing for more thana month.
Later, as refugees were unable to return home, the decision was made to host them in Tokyo Metropolis-run
housing, or municipal housing. Cities where refugees from Fukushima and other areas were living provided themwith the same administrative services its permanent citizens enjoyed.
Today, twelve years after the disaster, there are still more than 1200 refugees living in the Tama region (Table
1).
(Table 1) Numbers of Refugees in Tokyo Metropolis (released by Tokyo Metropolis, data as of Aug. 1, 2023 (Reiwa 5))

Category

47

Iwate Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

Other

Total

Special Wards

62

218

1,316

43

1,639

Tama

45

153

979

31

1,208

Total

107

371

2,295

74

2,847

(Photo 3) Overnight bus heading to the affected area from the(Photo 4) Receiving and sorting out emergency supplies in an af-

Tokyo Local Government Association Hall.

fected area(from Higashi-Nihon Daishinsai ni kansuru Tokyoto Shichokai(from Kodama Dai 102-go (Kodama No. 102), In-Service Training

no Taio Kiroku (Records of the Tokyo Association of Mayors’

Institute for Municipalities of Tokyo)

Responses to the Great East Japan Earthquake))

cceptin an processin

isaster waste rom

i a i re ect re

In November 2011 (Heisei 23), Miyagi Prefecture, Onagawa Town, Tokyo Metropolis, the Special Ward Mayors’ Association, and the Tokyo Association of Mayors signed a basic agreement regarding the disposal of disaster waste from Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and carried out a project to support the processing of large
amounts of disaster waste from Onagawa.
In taking in this, cities, and some partial-affairs associations (see p.38) that had processing facilities headedout to the affected areas to see where the waste was to be collected from, the size and condition of the waste,
and to classify it based on the presence of hazardous or dangerous materials such as asbestos, and to check forradiation measures. In addition, they also held briefings for local residents to gain their understanding and cooperation.
Local authorities in Tokyo Metropolis took in a total of 31,428 tonnes of disaster waste from Onagawa.

Tokyo Metropolis when the earthquake hit
At 14:46, on March 11, 2011 (Heisei 23), a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast along an
area from Iwate Prefecture in the north to Ibaraki Prefecture in the south, a distance of about 500 km.
This was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japanese history.
This earthquake created shocks registering up to 5+ on the JMA intensity scale in Tokyo Metropolis(topping out at 5- in the Tama region). There were 8 deaths and 117 wounded in Tokyo Metropolis,
along with incidents like a parking building partially collapsing and ceilings falling down. Immediately after the earthquake, railways in the Greater Tokyo region were all completely stopped to check for safety.
Estimates released by the Cabinet Office show that some 5.15 million people were stranded with noeasy to get home.

48

hapter

esponse toesponse tonitiati es

To oetropolis an the m nicipalities

nprece ente

In March 2020 (Reiwa 2), Tokyo Metropolis made the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics by a year (seep.57), and also requested people refrain from going out. In addition to confirming patient conditions, providing
consultations from patients and others, coordinating with hospitals to take in patients with medium or stronger
symptoms, and securing and running places where patients could stay while they recuperated, public health centers and other places worked with the municipalities to run immunization sites for a total of five times, carriedout patrols to ensure restaurants and pleasure establishments kept shortened hours, and carried out awareness-raising activities through a range of advertising.
In the municipalities of the Tama region, the system was secured in line with payments such as the special cash
payment that was part of the country’s emergency economic measures, and development of the vaccination system (Photo 1). In addition to this, every time a state of emergency was declared or a pre-emergency status was
issued to prevent disease spread, the municipalities were forced to respond by restricting public facilities andevents.

isasters

Hachioji, which had a public health center as a core
city, established a system to handle telephone consultations about COVID-19 infections, deal with shipping
specimens, and provide telephone consulting for people who had returned to Japan or were close contacts.
To prevent medical systems from collapsing, links between medical institutions in the city were strengthened, a system was developed for the early detectionof infected people, and facilities were secured to holdpatients.
While the municipalities faced a myriad of difficulties in the face of this unprecedented pandemic,
they drew on their wisdom and knowledge to create
countermeasures. As a result, they have accumulated
the expertise to prepare for and respond to infectious
diseases.

(Photo 1) The call center run by staff for special cash

the national o ernment

In February 2021 (Reiwa 3), the national government specified the novel coronavirus infection as Category II
Equivalent in terms of the Infectious Disease Law, meaning inspection and treatment costs would be borne by
the public purse. The government and local authorities urged people to go to hospital, to limit going to work, andto refrain from going out. After that, all residents of Japan (save for a few select people with underlying diseases) were made eligible for vaccinations fully paid for by the government. The disease was downgraded to Category V, the same as seasonal influenza, on May 8, 2023 (Reiwa 5).
In addition, emergency measures were taken such as restricting entry to Japan from countries where the disPhase 1
2020
Januaryease was spreading and having(Wave 1)
(Reiwa 2) tests on arrival.
April
Government Declaration April 7 - May 25
In addition, in response toof a State of Emergency
May
the spread of infection in JaJune
pan, the government requested
Phase 2
people avoid organizing large(Wave 2)
scale events, schools across theNovemberPhase 3country were asked to close(Wave 3)
December
2021
January
Government Declaration January 7 - March
temporarily, and it declared a(Reiwa 3) February of a State of Emergency 21
state of emergency or issued
Marchpre-emergency status to prePhase 4
April
COVID-19 pre-emergen- April 12 - April 24
vent the spread of infections in(Waves 4+5)
cy status
May
Government Declaration April 25 - June 20
prefectures where the infectionof a State of Emergency
June
had spread. Tokyo Metropolis
July
COVID-19 pre-emergen- June 21 - July 11
itself was subjected to fourcy status
declarations of a state of emerAugust
Government Declaration July 12 - September
September of a State of Emergency 30
gency and three COVID-19
October
pre-emergency statuses (Table
Phase 5 (Wave 6)1).
2022
January
COVID-19 pre-emergen- January 21 - March(Reiwa 4)

payments-related matters(Credit: Tama City)

Phase 6 (Wave 7)

February
March
June

cy status

21(Table 1) From “Initiatives by Tokyo Metropolis for Handing the Novel Coronavirus Infection”
2022 (Reiwa 4)

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a large number ofdeaths among Metropolis residents. Among them wasthe comedian Ken Shimura, an honorary citizen ofHigashimurayama City, who died on March 29, 2020
(Reiwa 2). Thanks to the support of huge numbers ofmourning fans both in Japan and around the world, a
bronze statue of Shimura doing his famous “Aiin” pose
was erected at the East Exit of Higashi-Murayama
Station in June 2021 (Reiwa 3). Shimura’s legacy still
provides smiles and hope to people passing by him every day (Photo 2).

Rise of infections and numbers infected in the Metropolis

Cumulative figures as of May 1, 2023 (Reiwa 5)(Photo 2) Bronze statue of Ken Shimura outside Higashi-Murayama Station

49

nitiati es

The pandemic started with the confirmation
No. of vaccinations (people)
Vaccination category
Vaccination rate (%)
of a patient with pneumonia from an unknown
cause in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in De1st
10,823,439
78.5
cember 2019 (Reiwa 1). The first confirmed casein Japan was found on January 16, 2020 (Reiwa
2nd10,748,040
77.92). Then the first death from the disease was
3rd
9,330,407
67.6
confirmed in February. In addition, there weremore and more cases where the infection route
Omicronwas not known. This unprecedented infectious
5,819,999
42.2
vaccinations
disease shook Japan to the core. From then until
the outbreak was contained about three years
Number of vaccinations and vaccination rates for the totallater, there were a total of eight waves of infec
Metropolis population
tions. As of May 8, 2023 (Reiwa 5), the final an
nouncement by Tokyo Metropolis, the cumulative total number of patients (people testing positive) in
the Metropolis was 4,388,360, and the cumulative death toll was 8,126.

50

hapterFesti als olt re an

The excitement is reachinga fever pitch

et s oports

where were the opening andtclosing ceremonies of thisTama Kokutai held?

Finallere at lastThei

ase all sta i msoccer sta i m

mmm s are whereo can t a lot o people

rr p with
the i

aaa
startem onna eatot Time s p

et s etThe answer is theinomoto ta i m inho

We re own to the nal ro n
The score stan s at one all
This ne t ro n will etermine thewinnerestionTo commemorate thecentennial of the Tama re-gion being incorporated into Tokyo,

h n re ears
This mar sears sowhat event happened overThirt ears a owasn t orn then

The nalestionNow or the nal estion
Whoe er ets this wins

In 2021 (Reiwa 3), after a year’s
postponement, what festival ofsports was held at venues
that included this Ajinomoto
Stadium?

the entire Tama regionin 1993] (Heisei 5)?

trip toawaii

This is easo r hint is T
oh

No no
This one oesn t
co nt

ie

What TThe

The answer is the Tokyo
Olympic and Paralympic
Games!!

l miet s o er

Wh are o answerin
thismi chanaestionIn 2013 (Heisei 25), the 68th NationalSports Festival of Japan (Kokutai)
was held in the Tama region.
This sports festival was
nicknamed...?

51

Tama otai

sh h sh ll see olater o aimi chan n s52hapterro ect to ommemorate the entennial

Festi als oacro n to Tie

lt re anTAMA Life 21, a project to commemorate the centennial of Tama’s transfer to Tokyo, was held in 1993 (Heisei
5). The theme was “Creating a New Era for Tama,” and the municipalities of Tama worked with Tokyo Metropolis to create a movement for creating towns that looked to the next hundred years, thanks to the participationof residents, companies, universities, administrations and many, many more across the Tama region. TAMA Life
21 was held for half a year, from April to November 1993. During that time, a variety of programs were carriedout across Tama, including 369 projects and 736 events, with a total of 6.65 million participants. These included
creating recycling-based cities, urban and suburban agriculture, and Tama River conservation (Photos 1 & 2). In
addition to compiling a great amount of advice, a large number of autonomous residential networks were formed.

o Tama s Trans er to To o T

ieTama istor ect re eries
pro i e in con nction with the Tamashin
lt re Fo n ation
The Tama History Lecture Series has been held since 1997 (Heisei 9), allowing people from Tama and beyond
to learn about the attraction of the Tama region, a treasure-house of history and culture. These are held fivetimes a year, and the themes have ranged widely, covering topics such as regional governors, temples, local capitals, castle sites, diaries, geographies, railways, and the Tamagawa Aqueduct. All of them offer clues to help understand the history of Tama. Nor is this just sitting listening (Photo 3): there are visits to local sites to deepen
understanding (Photo 4). The Lecture Series is well regarded as one of the lecture series of the Tama People’s
Square, with a large number of people taking note of it each year.

ports(Photo 2) For the hundred days between July and November,(Photo 3) Lecture 20, “Famous Lords of Tama”(Photo 4) Lecture 13, “In the Footsteps of Ino Tadataka’s Survey Team”

October 21, 2016 (Heisei 28)

A site visit (grounds of the Takahata Fudoson Temple, November 6, 2009
(Heisei 21))

“VOICE93: Tama 21 Lifestyles Festival” was held in the main
(Photo 1) Events were also held in mixed-wood forests.

venue, Showa Kinen Park.

(from Tama Raifu 21 Hakusho Shashin-shu (Photographic report of TAMA Life 21))a nch o the Tama eople sareWith the holding of TAMA Life 21, the importance and continuity of citizens’ networks became clear. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly was also keeping an eye on the unfolding projects of TAMA Life 21. It became moreinterested in the autonomous citizens’ networks and information centers that were being set up through theseprojects.
As a result, with the support of Tokyo Metropolis and the Tama region municipalities, the Tama People’s
Square was opened in July 1994 (Heisei 6) as an organization of the Tokyo Municipalities Local Government
Research Council, with the goal of continuing the legacy of TAMA Life 21. The Tama People’s Square provides arange of support to promote citizen exchanges and wide-area citizen networks in the Tama region.

COLUMN

Project to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Tama’s transfer to Tokyo
In 2013 (Heisei 25), there were a number of events to commemorating the 120th anniversary of thetransfer. These included the Tama Festival held by Tokyo Metropolis, the Summer Holidays Treasure Hunt
Challenge, the Experience Nature Program, and the Photo Contest.
Even the Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council held a symposium in February 2014
(Heisei 26) titled “Time for Tama Talk: The More You Know, the More You’ll Like.” Throughout the year, arange of programs were held, spreading the appeal of the Tama region.
To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Tama’s transfer to Tokyo, Tama
Shichoson no Ayumi (History of the Municipalities of Tama) was published.

Tama People’s Square projects
1．Providing a forum for exchanges and support for wide-area citizen network activities
2．Publication of the records of TAMA Life 21 and collection and provision of information about materials
3．Matters related to commemorative projects and exchange projects, including the results of TAMA Life 21

This is me ten ears a oView of the “Time for Tama Talk: The More You Know,
the More You’ll Like” lecture

53

54

hapter

ports Festi al TooFesti als oth National ports Festi al o apan Tama o tai
The 68th National Sports Festival of Japan was held over 11 days in 2013 (Heisei 25), featuring 37 official
events and 3 exhibition events. Official events were hosted by and run by local authorities throughout the Tamaregion.
For sports such as mountaineering, road cycling, and hockey that were unfamiliar to the host local governments, great efforts were made to obtain the understanding of the local community and the cooperation of local
sports organizations in constructing facilities and running the events, ensuring that everything could be ready ontime.

The m nicipalities a ter the Tama otailt re anCompetitions held in multiple municipalities, such as soccer, volleyball, and basketball, were prepared and run jointly by the hostmunicipalities. This allowed for a collaboration that transcended theboundaries of each municipality. The National Sports Festival also had
an impact on sports events in the Tama region. The soccer field thatwas used as a venue in Hinode Town was home to a number of official
events, and after the road cycling event was held at Hinohara Village, ahill climb has been held there yearly ever since (Photo 1).
(Photo 1) A hill climb race at Hinohara Village(Credit: Hinohara Village Board of Education)

ports

th National ports Festi al or eople with isa ilities

Blue Impulse aerobatic team provided an air show during the

Canoeing was held in the Mitake Gorge, Ome City

opening ceremony.

After the National Sports Festival was over, the 13th
National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities washeld over 3 days, feature 13 official events (both individualand group) and 17 open events for a total of 30 events. Of
these, 9 were held in the Tama region including track andfield, bowling, and archery (Photo 2).
The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the
Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu City, the same as the Tama
Kokutai. At the closing ceremony, the Tokyo governor handed over the Sports Festival flag to the governor of Nagasaki,
where the next one was to be held. When the various athletes left the venue, the Tokyo athletes, who joined with the (Photo 2) The archery event (Source: Cabinet Office website)
https://www8.cao.go.jp/shougai/whitepaper/h26hakusho/zenbun/h1_06_01_05.html
National Sports Festival athletes, could be seen high-fiving
people or swapping flags at the gates.

COLUMN

National Sports Festival

Track and field at Ajinomoto Stadium

Hockey at Hino City Citizen Athletics Stadium(Source: Tokyo Metropolis)

The opening and closing ceremonies were held at Ajinomoto Stadium. With the emperor and empress in attendance, the governor of Tokyo Metropolis declared the National Sports Festival open. The opening ceremony wascapped by a gorgeous display of fireworks lighting up the entire stadium.
Yuriito, the Tama Kokutai mascot character, was based on a black-headed gull (yurikamome), the official birdof Tokyo Metropolis. It helped provide PR about the sports festival. In the Tama municipalities, events had been
held for more than a year before the Tama Kokutai opened, and Yuriito had made appearances at these as well.
By having events such as children dancing with Yuriito, the mascot played a key role in building up excitement for
the National Sports Festival.

55

The National Sports Festival, abbreviated as “Kokutai” in Japan, is the country’s largest sports festival. It has been held every year since 1946 (Showa 21), when it started amidst the chaos of the post-war
period. Its purpose is to spread sports, work to improve the health and physical abilities of the citizens,and also contribute to the development of local culture. It makes peoples’ lives brighter and richer.
The National Sports Festival has been held three times in Tokyo Metropolis, starting with the 4th
Kokutai in 1949 (Showa 24), then the 14th in 1959 (Showa 34), and now the 68th in 2013 (Heisei 25),
which ran from September 28th to October 8th. The decision to hold it in Tokyo was made by the JapanSport Association’s National Sports Festival in July 2010 (Heisei 22). On July 31 that year, the nickname“Sports Festival Tokyo 2013” was announced, along with the slogan of “Spread your wings, athletes, toTokyo, to Tama, and to the islands.” In the Tama region, the Tokyo Association of Mayors and the Tokyo
Town & Village Association requested the governor of Tokyo to bring the “Tokyo Tama Kokutai” (as it
was provisionally named) to the region in November 1989 (Heisei 1). This provisional name later influenced the final name of “Tama Kokutai.”
The 13th games of the National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities, which began with the 56th
National Sports Festival, were held after the National Sports Festival was over, from October 12 to 14,
2013 (Heisei 25).

56

hapter

To o l mpic anaral mpic Games

Festi als oents hel in the Tama re ion

lt re anJapan’s second Olympic Games were scheduled to be held in 2020 (Reiwa 2) as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. However, the global COVID-19 pandemic meant that for the first time in Olympic history, the games were
postponed, eventually opening in 2021 (Reiwa 3).
There were 339 events in 33 sports, the greatest number ever. Thanks to the efforts of Japanese athletes, thehost country took in 27 gold, 14 silver, and 17 bronze medals for a total of 58, Japan’s highest ever record.
In the Tama region, soccer, modern pentathlon, and rugby were held at the Tokyo Stadium (Photo 1), whilebadminton and modern pentathlon were held at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza (Photo 2). In addition, theroad cycling event began at Musashino-no-mori Park, going via Kanagawa and Yamanashi prefectures to end at
the Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture, a distance of about 244 km for men, and 147 km for women.
The Paralympic Games, which were held after the Olympics, featured 22 events. Japan achieved its second-best results here, with 13 gold, 15 silver, and 23 bronze medals for a total of 51. In the Tama region, wheelchair basketball was played at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza (Photo 2).

e ac initiati es

local a thorities etc

To link the legacy of the Games in the Tama region to the future, a road cycling event using the Tokyo 2020
course within the Metropolis, the Road Race Tokyo (held by the Grand Cycle Tokyo Executive Committee, andwith Tokyo Metropolis as a co-sponsor) was held in 2023 (Reiwa 5).
An event visiting iconic cycling spots was held in Fuchu, and Inagi, which calls itself the City of Cycles, created
its own mascot, “Onekan Warrior, Inagi Pedarion.” In addition, citizens’ meets for boccia, a sport designed to promote the spread of parasports (Photo 5) and chances to try wheelchair basketball (Photo 6) have been held in
the cities of Hachioji, Musashino, Mitaka, Fuchu, Chofu and Tama.

ports(Photo 5) Playing boccia, a parasport, in Fuchu(Photo 6) Trying out wheelchair basketball at the Chofu Summer(Credit: Fuchu City)

Festival 2022, held a year after the Tokyo Olympics (Credit: Chofu
City)(Photo 1) Tokyo Stadium, the venue for Olympic events(Photo 2) Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, the venue for a
Paralympic event

ooperation amon local a thorities in the Tama re ion
For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 533 local governments nationwide registered as host towns for pre-training
camps and exchanges, with 15 of them being from the Tama region. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led tomany of them ending up withdrawing on their own or when requested to by the country that would stay there.
In the local authorities where the pre-training camps were held, there were a number of exchanges where children could experience the event, or cooking classes to learn how to cook food from overseas. These were actively
continued even after the Games were over. (Photos 3 & 4)

57

(Photo 3) Hanging out with a sports climbing(Photo 4) A cooking class for Chilean foodathlete from the States (Credit: Hachioji City)(Credit: Mitaka City)

COLUMNPrevious Olympic and Paralympic GamesThe first modern Olympics were held in 1896 (Meiji 29), but the first time Japan took part (in trackand field) was at the 5th Olympic Games in 1912 (Taisho 12), in Stockholm, Sweden. Japan won its firstgold medal in 1920 (Taisho 9) at the 7th Games in Antwerp, Belgium.
The first time the Games were to be held in Japan was set to 1940 (Showa 15), the 12th Olympic
Games. However, the worsening Second Sino-Japanese War meant that Japan was forced to relinquish
its right to hold the Games. So the first Games to actually be held in Japan, and indeed in Asia, were the18th Olympic Games, in Tokyo in 1964 (Showa 39).
The only place in the Tama region where Olympic events took place was the velodrome, erected temporarily for cycling events. The marathon and the 50-kilometer race walk both started at the National
Stadium and headed west along the Koshu Kaido highway, turning around in Fuchu. At the turn point,large numbers of Tama residents were on hand to cheer the runners.
The first Paralympic Games were held in 1960 (Showa 35) in Rome, Italy. In Japan, they were held inconjunction with the Olympics.

58

Final hapter

Where Tama Goes Now

i ht

hope Tama wille elop e enmore

So now we’re all Ph.Ds in Tama-ology?
oth o o areimpressi eo what s o r impression
now that we e ta en aloo at Tama s historh Whatchaoinlearnin its histor
ha e o elt more
attache to Tama

We were ma inthese

Goo Now it scompleteow s it cominamato

s s an thin oli e a o t Tamao what impressions ha eo two een le t withreall o eel li e an a lt
Now now how little realla o t Tama the place li em oin to sen
mi chan ac tenears to where we werechil ren to teach s
the histor o Tamanew

ea e it to sTama was at themerc o To oo mi ht e ri ht
Tama has wor e to n its
own wa thro h thin s li e
mer ers an liaisons59

Tama shi te its ris ictionanilt ho sin an
aca emic cities

To a s To o is possi lethan s to Tamas we were rea in all
those oo s in the li rar
ac then we wo l ha en erstoot wo l ha e eens rprise to see a oos
enl start to tal

60

Final chapter

Where Tama Goes Now
Tama ities lliance The other To

oWhere Tama Goes Now

From the late 1950s, as Japan’s economy soared, the Tama region began urbanizing. Yet at the same time, themountainous areas were being depopulated, and so broad measures that went beyond municipalities were required.
Right at that time, the Tokyo Metropolis Municipalities Liaison Council was formed in 1964 (Showa 39) tocoordinate matters related to the municipalities. The Council, following a reorganization into the Metropolis andMunicipalities Council, was reformed into the Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council in 1986(Showa 61) (and made a public interest incorporated foundation in 2012 (Heisei 24)) in order to investigate andresearch issues shared among the municipalities of Tokyo.
The Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council presented a new regional revitalization planin 1988 (Showa 63) in its Katsuryoku aru Tama Tosho no Sozo - Kihon Teigen (Creating a Vibrant Tama andIslands: Basic Recommendations) that went over and above the “Three Tamas Gap” (see p.41), and called fora “Union of Tama Cities.” In 1990 (Heisei 2), it laid out a vision for the future of Tama, one that would value its
rich natural environment, in Mo Hitotsu no Tokyo Tama no Sozo - Tama Gurando Dezain no Teigen (Creating
Another Tokyo: Tama - A Proposal for a Grand Design for Tama). This movement was one of the spurs for the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government to promote the project to commemorate the centennial of Tama’s transfer toTokyo and the Tama Kokutai.
In addition, the Tokyo Metropolis Three Tamas Regional Waste Wide-Area Disposal Union to operate waste
disposal over a broad area among the municipalities (1975 (Showa 50): now the Tokyo Tama Regional Association for Waste Management and Resource Recycling) and the Nishitama Regional Wide-Area Administration
Zone Council (1983 (Showa 58)) and the Tama North Region Urban Wide-Area Administration Zone Council(1988 (Showa 63)) to accurately respond to expanding administrative issues were all formed around this time.

The new Tama re ion
In 1995 (Heisei 7), Akigawa City and Itsukaichi Town merged to form Akiruno City, and in 2001 (Heisei 13),
Tanashi City and Hoya City merged to form Nishitokyo City. At the same time, there were a number of infrastructure developments to revitalize the north-south connections among the Tama region, such as the extension of
the Odakyu and Keio lines to Tama Center in 1990 (Heisei 2), the opening of the Tama Toshi Monorail in 2000
(Heisei 12), the connected elevated crossing for the Keio and Seibu Tamagawa lines in 1993 and 2006 (Heisei 5
and 18), and converting the JR Chuo Line to raised tracks in 2007 (Heisei 19). In addition, the Ken-O Expressway
Ome Interchange was opened in 1996 (Heisei 8) in West Tama.
In accordance with the 5th national Capital Region Basic Plan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of
Urban Development formulated the Basic Concept for Business Core Cities for Hachioji, Tachikawa, and Tama in
2002 (Heisei 14), Machi and Sagamihara in 2004 (Heisei 16), and Ome in 2009 (Heisei 21). The Bureau of General Affairs announced the Vision for a New Tama in 2013 (Heisei 25), formulated the Tama Promotion Plan in2017 (Heisei 29), and formulated the Promotion Plan for the New Tama in 2021 (Reiwa 3).

To commemorate the 130th anniversary of Tama’s transfer toTokyo, the “The Past and Present of Tama in Photos” exhibit washeld on the 1st floor of the Tokyo Local Government Association
Hall (Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council).

Tama s chan es
ann epen ence

ris iction

pansionHaving traced the various changes in the Tama region, we have selected some key words to summarize thecharacteristics of the changes from the beginning of the Meiji period to the high economic growth period.
The first is the “jurisdiction” of Tokyo. Many people were opposed to the idea of transferring to Tokyo Prefecture, and then to the Metropolitan system which aimed to exclude Tama from Tokyo Metropolis. The two oppositions were mutually opposing, but at their core was an opposition to having the future of Tama determinedby whatever suited the nation or Tokyo City. For the 50 years from its transfer of Tokyo Prefecture to the implementation of the metropolitan system, the Tama region remained in danger of being excluded despite being partof Tokyo.
The second is the “expansion” of Tokyo. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, Tokyo expanded westwards. Second homes and academic cities developed in Tama, and a zone of military-related facilities was created. After thewar, these were home to US bases. In addition, numerous housing complexes and factories were built, and development of Tama New Town began. Tama was the vessel into which the ever-expanding Tokyo poured itself.
The third is the “independence” of Tama. Tama, which had supported the developed of the Tokyo mega-city,
hoped to work for regional development through its own strengths. The idea of becoming an independent prefecture was explored, and the region’s views were sought in both urban planning as well as municipal mergers andliaisons.

ris iction

pansionn epen enceanWhat would the fourth key word be? What key word is appropriate to connect the era of growth and expansion
to the current era of maturity and sustainability?
In addition to the Union of Tama Cities and the “new Tama region” mentioned earlier, looking back on Chapters 6 and 7 and their discussions of support above and beyond regions during the Great East Japan Earthquake,or the links between the municipalities running the Tama Kokutai, and the other movements that led to today’s
Tama, one possible word could be “connections.” Also, considering the various movements in Japanese society
such as DX and carbon neutrality that work in conjunction with the world, what sort of place should Tama aim to
be in future?
The hunt for the fourth key word would surely be based on this. The fourth key word.... This is something thateach of you who read this book can think of for yourselves. It is our hope that this book could spur you to think
about the future of the Tama region.

The

per Tamaran

ointl

61

To o

hi itionan e ent to commemorate theto To octo eretropolis an the

eiwa

hel

m nicipalities in Tama wasth anni ersar o Tama s trans er

62

i lio raph

Ed. Tokyo Metropolis
Seinanboku San-Tama Kyoiki Henko Tsuran(List of Boundary Changes in the Three Tamas, West, South, & North)Eiichi Aoki
Tama no Tetsudo - Sono Ayumi to Haikei(Railways of Tama: Their History and Background)
Koji Amano
Denki, Gasu, Suido (Electricity, Gas, Water)

Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 2, Tama Chuo Shinkin Bank, 1976

Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 100, Tamashin Culture Foundation, 2000

Sadahiro Umeda
Naze Tama wa Tokyoto to natta ka (Why did Tama become Tokyo Metropolis?)

Keyaki Shuppan, 1993

Ed. Keio Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Keio Denki Kido Kabushikigaisha Sanjunenshi (Keio Electric Railway Co., Ltd. 30th Anniversary History)
Ed. Kunitachi Local Museum
Gakuen Toshi Kaihatsu to Maboroshi no Tetsudo - Gekido no Jidai ni Umareta Kunitachi Daigaku-machi(Academy City Development and the Phantom Railway: A national university town born in a turbulent era.)
Kihachi Koike / Ed. Higashimurayama Local History Museum
Koike Kihachi Nikki (Kihachi Koike’s Diary)

Kunitachi Local Museum, 2010

Higashimurayama City, 2006

Ed. Special Wards Council Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
Tokyo 23-ku no Oitachi (Tokyo’s 23 Special Wards Guidebook)Special Wards Council Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, 2011

Ed. Kokubunji City History Compilation Committee
Furusato Kokubunji no Ayumi (History of Our Home Kokubunji)

Kokubunji City, 1993

Kodaira City Central Library, 1993

Ed. Kodaira City Central Library
Tama Tokyo Ikan Zenshi Shiryo-Ten Zuroku(Exhibition Catalogue of Historical Materials Before the Transfer of Tama to Tokyo)

Kodaira City Central Library, 1993

Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 109,
Tamashin Culture Foundation, 2003

Ed. Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council
Tama Toshi Keikakushi (History of Tama Urban Planning)

Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 1999

Ed. Parthenon Tama
Tama Nyu Taun Kaihatsu no Kiseki (Trajectory of Tama New Town Development)

Parthenon Tama, 1998

Ed. Parthenon Tama
Machi kara Kodomo ga Yattekita: Senjika no Tama to Gakudo Sokai(Children Came from the City: Wartime Tama and the Evacuation of School Children)

Parthenon Tama, 2013

Ed. Public Relations Division, Policy and General Affairs Department, Fuchu City
Ano Hi no Fuchu (That Day in Fuchu)

Fuchu City, 2010

Ed. Jiyu Minken Institute of Machida City
Tama Ikan Hyakunen-ten - Kanagawa-ken kara Tokyo-fu e no Kiroku(Tama Transfer Centennial Exhibition: Records of the Change from Kanagawa Prefecture to Tokyo Prefecture)
Kaoru Matsuyama
Kanto Chiho ni Okeru Kyu-Gunyo Hikojo Atochi no Tochi Riyo Henka(Land Use Changes to Former Military Airfields in the Kanto Region)

Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 91, Tamashin Culture Foundation, 1998

Ed. Tamashin Culture Foundation
Niju Seiki no Tama (Tama in the 20th Century)

Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 100, Tamashin Culture Foundation, 2000

Ed. Tamashin Culture Foundation
Senji-ka no Chiiki Shakai (Local Communities During the War)Tama no Ayumi (History of Tama) Issue 119, Tamashin Culture Foundation, 2005

Kotaro Sato / Ed. Tama Centennial History Research Society
Tokyo to Santama - Tosei Undo Sanka no Ki (Tokyo and the Three Tamas:
Participation in the metropolitan organization movement)

Jiyu Minken Institute ofMachida City, 1993

Chigaku Zasshi (Journal of Geography) Issue 106 (3),Tokyo Geographical Society, 1997

Ed. Mitaka City Board of Education
Mitaka Yoshino Taihei-ke Bunsho Kosatsu-shu: Tama no Minken to Yoshino Taizo(Mitaka Taihei Yoshino Family Documents Considerations Collection: Tama civil rights and Taizo Yoshino)

Mitaka City Board of Education, 1999
Musashino City, 1989

Susumu Watanabe & Takao Tsurumaki
Ishizaka Masataka to Sono Jidai - Gono Minken-ka no Eiko to Hisan no Shogai(Masataka Ishizaka and His Times: A Life of Glory and Misery for a Wealthy Peasants-Rights Activitist)

Machida Journal Co., 1997

Ed. Machida City History Compilation Committee
Machida-shi Shi (Machida City History)

Machida City, 1974, 1976

Tama City History Editorial Committee
Tama-shi Shi (Tama City History)

Tama City, 1995-1998

Current Status of Disaster Prevention Programs in the Wards and Municipalities, FY2022

General Disaster Prevention Department, Bureau ofGeneral Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2022

On Human Support During Disasters Through Wide-Area Liaisons

Ed. Tamashin Culture Foundation
Tama no Senji Sokai (Wartime Evacuation of Tama)Tokyo Association of Mayors, 2012

Initiatives for Novel Coronavirus Infections, FY2020

Hachioji City, 2021

Initiatives for Novel Coronavirus Infections, FY2021

Hachioji City, 2022

Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 1992

Ed. Shashinshu Tachikawa Editorial Committee
Shashinshu Tachikawa (Photobook Tachikawa)

Tachikawa City Board of Education, 1990

Yoshiyuki Suzuki
Shuto Boku-mo to ‘Kuto’ Tama (The Capital Air Defense Network and ‘Air City’ Tama)

Yoshikawa Kobunkan, 2012

Ed. Tachikawa City
Tachikawa Kichi (Tachikawa Air Base)

Tachikawa City, 1972

Ed. Tama Grand Design Committee
Mo Hitotsu no Tokyo Tama no Sozo - Tama Gurando Dezain no Teigen(Creating Another Tokyo: Tama - A Proposal for a Grand Design for Tama)Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 1990

Ed. Tama Wide-Area Administrative History Compilation Committee
Tama Koiki Gyoseishi - Renkei Gappei no Keifu(Tama Wide-Area Administrative History: A Genealogy of Collaborations and Mergers)

Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 2002

History of the Municipalities of Tama
Date of Issue

December 25, 2023 (Reiwa 5)

Issued byTokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
183-0052

Ed. Committee to Consider the Tama Region and the Islands Region
Katsuryoku aru Tama Tosho no Sozo - Kihon Teigen (Chukan no Matome)(Creating a Vibrant Tama and Islands: Basic Recommendations (Interim Summary))

Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 1987

Tokyo Local Government Association Hall, 2-77-1, Shinmachi, Fuchu City, Tokyo
Tel. 042-382-0068

Ed. Tama Transport and Urban Development History Research Society
Tama Tetsudo to Machizukuri no Ayum I, II(History of Railways and Urban Development in Tama I, II)Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 1995

Tama Centennial History Research Society
Tama Hyakunen no Ayumi (Centennial History of Tama)
Ed. Chofu Local History Museum
Kyodo Hakubutsukan Dayori (Local History Museum News)

Three Tamas District Citizens Photobook Compilation Association,
Hachioji City, 1928

Ed. Greenery and Parks Division, Construction Department, Musashino City
Toritsu Musashino Chuokoen no Rekishi (History of Musashino Chuo Park)

Ed. Kodaira City Central Library
Tama Tokyo Ikan Zenshi Shiryo-Ten Shiryoshu: Tama wa naze Tokyo nano ka (Collection of Materials
from the Exhibition of Historical Materials Before the Transfer of Tama to Tokyo: Why is Tama Tokyo?)Toshihiro Kodama
Tama Chiiki to TAMA (Gijutsu Senshin Shutoken Chiiki)(The Tama Region and TAMA (Technologically Advanced Metropolitan Area))63

Keio Electric Railway, 1941

Ed. Three Tamas District Citizens Photobook Compilation Association, Hachioji City
Tama no Hitobito (The People of Tama)Tokyo Metropolitan Archives, 1993

Tokyo Municipalities Local Government Research Council, 1993

Fax 042-384-6057
https://www.tama-100.or.jp
Supervising Editor/Text

Kyodo Hakubutsukan Dayori (Local History Museum News) Issue 56,
Chofu Local History Museum, 1999

Ed. Urban Planning Division, Tokyo City Secretariat to Audit and Inspection Commissioners
Tokyo Shiiki Kakuchoshi (History of the Tokyo City Expansion)

Urban Planning Division, Tokyo City Secretariat to Audit
and Inspection Commissioners, 1934

Ed. Urban Planning Division, Tokyo City Secretariat to Audit and Inspection Commissioners
Tokyo Toshi Keikaku Gaiyo (Overview of Tokyo Metropolis Urban Planning)

Urban Planning Division, Tokyo City Secretariat to Audit
and Inspection Commissioners. 1937

Kazufusa Hosaka(Tamashin Culture Foundation Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

130th Anniversary Logo Creation

Yusuke Masuda (employee of Musashino City)

Creation

Keyaki Shuppan Co., Ltd.

th anni ersar o Tama s trans er to Tooshitama hoto ontest Winners
The “#Oshitama Photo Contest” was held in 2023 (Reiwa 5) to commemorate the 130th anniversary of Tama’s transfer to Tokyo. The contest theme was “The Oshitama+ I Found” (“Oshitama+” referring to “My Top Tama and Islands”). The contest wasadvertised through a special website, social media, posters, and more. All together, we received over 3,000 submissions. Here,
we present ten of the prize-winning photos selected by specialists following careful screening.

Top ri e

Top ri e

Top ri e

Photographer: m_t_p_photographPhotographer: shimakura_11

Photographer: hiroyuki.morimoto

Date: January 9, 2023

Date: June 30, 2023

Date: June 25, 2023

Location: Minami-Osawa Rinbu Footbridge,

Location: Kyodo-no-Mori Museum, Fuchu City

Location: Along the Tama River, Tama City

Photographer: kaoru_kotetsu

Hachioji City

Notes: This was taken in the former Fuchu

Notes: The Tama River in the evening, with theDate: December 13, 2022

Notes: I took this because the vivid tones of the

Town Hall building, one of the restored build-softly burning sky reflected in it.

Location: Keio Tama Center Station, Tama City

footbridge and the building were so charming

ings in the park.

I panned the camera to capture the silhouetteNotes: I took a photo of the annual Tama Center illuminations by

and pretty.

It looks almost as if we’ve gone back in time.

of the Keio Line train crossing it, giving a sense

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of speed to the photo.

zooming during exposure to create a photo with a sci-fi touch.

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Photographer: lovedrea335
Date: April 1, 2023
Location: Showa Kinen Park, Akishima City/Tachikawa City
Notes: I visited in spring, which I had been eagerly awaiting. The collaboration with the cherry
blossoms in full bloom seen from the colorful tulip garden formed a wonderfully gorgeous space.

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Photographer: yujikawaii4911
Date: March 24, 2023
Location: Hiramatsu Ryokuchi Park, Ome City
Notes: As I was driving along, my eye was caught by the dark pink cherry blossoms. The children
also looked like they were having such fun sliding along that I rushed to get this shot!

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Photographer: m.i_3192

Photographer: sky.hiromi

Date: March 31, 2019

Date: July 1, 2023

Location: Along the Kotta River, Tama City

Location: Azusami-Tengu Shrine, Tachikawa City

Notes: The Kotta River with cherry blossoms in full bloom. They looked so pretty in the setting sun,Notes: During Tanabata, the grounds became a beautiful space. I wanted to take a photo while

and made me feel like I could see a new side of cherry blossoms.

looking at the charming wishes of the children.
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Photographer: masaki_naitou

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Date: November 21, 2020

Photographer: ken.t3104

Location: Ishibunebashi Bridge, Akiruno City

Date: July 15, 2023

Notes: I went hiking admiring the autumn leaves while taking photos along the Aki River from Mu-

Location: Jindaiji Temple, Chofu City

sashi-Itsukaichi Station up to Seoto-no-Yu Spa.

Notes: I used to live near here years ago, and never knew it existed. When I visited now, I was

The maples at Seoto-no-Yu were in their autumn finery, and I recommend admiring the beautiful

seduced by the beauty of the spring.

leaves as you relax in a foot bath.

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