[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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In this opportunity of 2008 National Convention of the Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan (IEIJ) being held at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Toyosu campus, a special issue was planned by Tokyo Branch of IEIJ. In this special issue, the expressions of Tokyo downtown, still with the feel of Edo Period, are introduced from the perspectives of cultures and lives of Edo, the history of Tokyo downtown, city lighting, and the histories of bridges over Sumida-river and their scenic lighting. In addition, with a focus on a fireworks show at Sumida-river, which is one of the largest summer events in Tokyo, this issue introduces the history, technologies, and scenes of the fireworks show.

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Tokyo, one of the world's largest metropolitan cities, has its origin in realization of a city planning in a place called "EDO". Many might know about "EDO" from a history textbook for a period between 1603, the year leyasu Tokugawa opened his Shogunate government, and 1868, the year of TAISEI-HOUKAN (the year the political power was transferred back to the Emperor from the Shogunate government), but not much about "EDO" prior to it. This article gives an introduction to "Dohkan Ohta", a feudal warlord before establishment of EDO government, and introduces why he opened EDO Castle, what he had done in EDO, and what kind of a city building leyasu Tokugawa promoted during later years of his government in the city of EDO. We believe that these topics facilitate better understanding of "EDO", and the understanding should cover the modern Tokyo. During EDO Period, which lasted for about 260 years, "GENROKU" culture bloomed around KAMIGATA area (Kyoto/Osaka) during the age of GENROKU, in which "Tsunayoshi", the fifth successor of the Shogunate, had reigned (1688-1704), and "KASEF culture flourished around EDO area during the ages of BUNKA/BUNSEI (1804-1829). These two cultures are characterized by being developed by the common people (merchants); therefore, this article also refers to some aspects of the cultures from the perspective of "the common people in EDO". These aspects mainly include "illuminations", "bridges", and "NOURYOU" (cooling during the summertime) during the EDO Period. To facilitate explanations of these topics, some aspects of "currency system" and lives of the people are also introduced. Details about "bridges" and "NOURYOU" will be provided in other chapters.

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We will walk through downtown of Tokyo (Fukagawa, Tsukishima, Tsukuda, Tsukiji, Shiodome), running east and west of "Toyosu", where the national convention of IEIJ is held, looking for city lightings in its history, food culture, and sightseeing areas.

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The Shitamachi is the traditional shopping, entertainment and residential districts of Tokyo. And, the Shitamachi area has historical old rows of houses and culture on everywhere. In this paper, the various culture and urban lightscapes of the shitamachi area -Nihombashi, Asakusabashi, Ryogoku, Kuramae and Asakusa- located in the north and south axis are introduced. Furthermore, it is mentioned to make a city view in Japan beautiful.

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I compile the history and the scene illumination of the bridge of Sumida River flowing through the Tokyo downtown area by an on-the-spot survey, documents investigation. The bridge to investigate is the bridge where a person can come and go on foot. I assume 16 bridges an investigation object. I gather up the light up of the bridge, structure, the history, design scenery. In addition, I report it about the cultural role of the bridge.

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The history, present situation and fireworks contest on the Sumida River are described. Fireworks were displayed originally in 1733 on the Sumida River as the memorial service for the victims of a bad crop and an epidemic. The fireworks display was called "Ryogoku Kawabiraki Hanabi". Since then, the display continued until today though there were several interruptions. Today, the display is called "Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai", the fireworks of about ten thousands each are displayed at two places on the river and the fireworks contest is held at one of the places simultaneously.

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