南流山--> (武蔵野線) -->西船橋--> (総武線) -->小岩When I was in Koiwa, I was thinking of the term Shitamachi, 下町, a term that I first got acquainted with in Asakusa. This seems to mean areas of Tokyo that are populated with the non-ruling class during the times when Tokugawa was still ruling. When I tried to verify this on wikipedia, turns out I was right. Koiwa, like Katsushika, is part of the Edogawa area, which is one of the areas considered Shitamachi.
Every time I moved away from the hustle and bustle of central Tokyo, I think of Shitamachi. These areas seems to be characterized by the bright lights of the area immediately surrounding the train station, and quickly (within a couple of streets) turns into quiet residential area. Koiwa is such a place. And when I am in a Shitamachi area, I like to check out their clock and watch shops. Usually they seems to carry pretty old models.
The Taiko team was sharing the stage with a local band, which seems to play mainly rock-and-roll stuff from the Elvis era. They were joined off-stage by some of the locals, dress in the custom of that era and jiving and dancing to their music: living up the name of the town, which means Little Rock.
GOTO: I lube, you tube
GOTO: Can move one, this one
After the concert, I went over to Nippori station to sort out some reserved seat tickets. Spin round the surrounding street, and I could feel the Shitamachi atmosphere. Incidentally, the station's ticketing reception area was pasted with photoes of the Taiwan Railway trains and station, while poster were advertising local Japanese train services.
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