Takenotsuka 2009.10.10

It is not honorable, but Takenotsuka has become famous as a symbol of Japan’s new poverty problem. Many Japanese magazines printed special reports focusing on Takenotsuka.

The town is in Adachi Ward, northeast part of Tokyo. It is quite to Saitama Prefecture.

I left the train of Tobu Isezaki Line at Takenotsuka station. I didn’t find neither homeless people nor drunk men. The town was safe. It looked like other towns in Tokyo.


Then, I felt something different. It was the view of the buildings. There are many old low public apartment houses in front of the station. (Usually, We find commercial buildings in fromt of the stations). Most buildings are 5 to 10 stories and look more than 50 years old.

There are shops in the ground floor of the apartment houses. They are, however, old. Later, I found newly developed shopping streets behind the apartment houses.

There are many (more than usual) jewel shops. Shops for foreigners (thy sell international telephone cards, tickets etc.) are also notable.

The magazines report that the average income of Adachi Ward is lower than other wards. The proportion of families supported by public (public livelihood support) is higher at Adachi than other wards. They also report that many poor people live in the public houses.

I thought many things in Takenotsuka.