Ginza Crossing

by Armand Vaquer

Category: Travel

(Originally published in G-FAN #77.)


Above, an aerial view of Ginza circa 1950.

I've always been fascinated by photographs of movie locations and comparing how they looked at the time of filming and how they look in present day.

Although Ginza wasn't actually a movie location in Godzilla (1954), except as a detailed minature, the craftsmen at Toho faithfully recreated Ginza crossing well enough to give viewers an idea on how the district looked in 1954.

I recently discovered a website for the 39th Bomb Group (VH) (http://39th.org/39th/history/damagephotos/ginza.htm) that contained photographs of the World War II bombing damage to the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan and a website devoted to Old Tokyo (http://www.oldtokyo.com/) Old Tokyo also contains vintage photos of the Ginza district, before and after World War II.

You will note (in the website) that one of the accompanying photographs of Ginza Crossing shows extensive damage to the district from the Allied firebombing, but the Wako Building survived (only to be demolished by Godzilla in 1954). The original building, the Hattori Building, stood at the Ginza Crossing location until it was destroyed by the 1923 Kanto earthquake. The Hattori was noted for its prominent clock tower. The new Wako Building also included a clock tower as a bow to the old building. It was completed in 1932.


Above, the Wako Dept. Store in 2001.

Across the street from the Wako Building, stood (and stands today) the Mitsukoshi department store. The Mitsukoshi was one of the first Western-style department stores in Japan. It sustained heavy bomb damage in World War II, but has been rebuilt and is still a thriving department store.


Above, Ginza Crossing during the occupation in 1945. The Mitsukoshi Dept. store on the right already had repairs started.

Two department stores, the Wako and Matsuya, were requisitioned for use by Allied forces during the course of the occupation (1945-1952).

Today, Ginza is a thriving and upscale district with many high-end department stores. According to the Old Tokyo website, "Ginza Crossing is still considered to be Tokyo's prime real estate, with prices fetching into the tens of thousands of dollars per square meter!" This was also mentioned by our tour guides during 2004's G-TOUR as we were bused through the district.


Above, Ginza Crossing in 2006.

Besides the Wako and Mitsukoshi Department stores, Ginza also has the Takashimaya, Seibu, Daimaru, Matsuzakaya, Tobu, Odakyu , Tokyu and Printemps Department stores. Apple Computers also has a big store in Ginza.

Hopefully, you enjoyed this look at one of the focal points in world and kaiju history.