memory – Impressions of East Asia

sign — The Tokushima cityscape was transformed during the post-war period.

The fifty-one photographic images contained in this post are recent additions to the Tokushima Air Raids Digital Archive showing the reconstruction of the city during the Occupation and post-war period (1946-1961). These English translations have been provided to mark the 71st anniversary of the Great Tokushima Air Raid. This selection includes images from the first Awa Odori festival of the post-war period, improvements made to the city’s transport infrastructure and efforts to redevelop the city centre.

Every effort has been made to retain the essence of the original Japanese text and all of the information provided. The responsibility for any inaccuracies is entirely my own.

The original Japanese language version of this archive can be found here: http://shinmachigawa.com/pg106.html

The photographs in this collection are courtesy of the Tokushima Prefectural Archives.

Scenes from Tokushima city centre in 1946

s2000008338b8c8bb482f095e08ds82b782e98es96af8fba98a2194n18c8e2993fa — Citizens walking along the old Shinmachi Bridge (29 January 1946).

s20000081890i92938cr82cc83v8393837b838b82be82c182bd83w815b83v8fba98a82q82p94n — The Jeep was a symbol of the Occupation forces (1946).

s200001542 — Awa Odori staged for the first time after the war (1946).

s20000082090ed8ce382dc82e082c882ad82cc967e97x82e891a0967b837d815b83p83b83g82c982c48fba98a2194n82b182eb — Bon Odori at Kuramoto Market shortly after the war (1946).

s200001543 — Awa Odori staged for the first time after the war (1946).

Scenes from Tokushima city centre in 1949

s200001155 — Looking towards Tenjin Shrine from Shinmachi Bridge (13 August 1946).

s200001091 — The Motomachi area viewed from the station (9 July 1949).

s200001090 — The view from the station in the direction of Shinmachi (9 July 1949).

s200001588 — A trailer bus that ran from Tokushima Station (1949).

s2000008348cbb91e58dh92ac838d815b835e838a815b95t8bdf82e682e890v92ac8bb482f082cc82bc82de8fba98a2494n88c8e1393fa — The view from what is now Daiku-machi towards Shinmachi Bridge (13 August 1949).

s200001007 — A view of Bizan from Shinmachibashi 1-chome (13 August 1945).

s200001196 — The new Shinmachi Bridge under construction (1949).

s200001201 — The opening of Shinmachi Bridge [the former bridge] (1 January 1949).

Scenes from Tokushima city centre in 1950

s200001199 — Shinmachibashi Kitazume (1950).

s200000836 — A view of Shiroyama from Shinmachibashi (1950).

s200001194 — Marushin Department Store (1 January 1950).

s200001092 — Tokushima Station Square: A view of Tokushima Station Square from the diagonal road (9 May 1950).

s200001093 — Tokushima Station Square: A view of Tokushima Station Square from the diagonal road (9 May 1950).

s20000083582dc82e982b582f1 — A view of Shinmachi from Shinmachi Bridge (25 January 1950).

s200001004 — A view of Shinmachi from Shinmachi Bridge (January 1950).

Scenes from Tokushima city centre from 1952 to 1955

s200001433 — The view of Higashi-Senba from Shinmachibashi Kitazuma (1950).

s200001197 — A view of Mt. Bizan from Shinmachibashi (1952).

s200000837 — Green space by the banks of the Shinmachi River (1952).

s200000845 — Transplantation of Washington palms (June 1953).

s200001202 — Shikoku Broadcasting’s Shinmachibashi office (1953).

s200001589 — A commemorative photograph taken in front of a trailer bus to mark the crossing of the new bridge (November 1955).

Scenes from Tokushima city centre from 1956 to 1957

s200001379 — A news flash about votes being counted in the southern part of Shinmachi (June 1956).

s200001584 — Taxis in front of Tokushima Station (1957).

s200001583 — Mt. Bizan cherry blossom viewing bus (1957).

s200001580 — Buses in front of Tokushima City Hall (1957).

s200001473 — Water-skiing on the Shinmachi River (1957).

s200001585 — Tokubus New Year preparations (1957).

Scenes from Tokushima city centre from 1958 to 1959

s200001084 — Station square in its present form (13 June 1959).

s200001200 — From Shinmachi Bridge to the station (13 June 1959).

s200001086 — Station square in its present form (13 June 1959).

s200001089 — Station square in its present form (13 June 1959).

s200001144 — Shinmachi River Bank Park and Shinmachibashi (1959).

s200000993 — The view from Tenjin Shrine (1959).

s200001142 — Shinmachi River Bank Park (1959).

s200001145 — Shinmachi River Bank Park Shinmachi Bridge (1959).

s200000994 — The view from Marushin Department Store (1959).

s200001087 — Station square in its present form (13 June 1959).

s200001204 — Shikoku Broadcasting viewed from Shinmachi Bridge (5 April 1958).

Scenes from Tokushima city centre from 1960 to 1961

s200001203 — The Shinmachi area viewed from the “driveway” (February 1960).

s200001198 — The new and old Shinmachi bridges after completion (1960).

Nittō Airlines was founded as the Japan Tourism Flight Association on 2nd April 1952 and renamed Nittō Airlines co. ltd. on 1 March 1959. The airline operated regular passenger flights across Japan using seaplanes. The company had its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka and the first service ran between Osaka International Airport and Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture on 1st January 1955. The company offered scenic flights in the direction of Nanki and Setouchi. From 1960 the range of destinations was increased to include regular flights to Tokushima, Kochi, Nanki-Shirahama, Kushimoto, Shima (Mie Prefecture) and Niihama (Ehime Prefecture). There were also irregular flights to places such as Beppu. The good thing about using seaplanes was that the destinations did not have to have an airport because the planes could simply take-off and land on water.

s200001592 — Nittō Airlines airplane (1961).

s200001591 — Nittō Airlines airplane named “Swallow” (1961).

s200001603 — Nittō Airlines airplane (1961)

Impressions of East Asia

Category: memory

Protected: Japan fieldwork diary 2016

Photographs of Tokushima city during the post-war period (1946-1961)