American World traveler Spring 2017 Issue

56
Nihonbashi, Tokyo
Never have I encountered a country
with as much contrast as
Japan: thousands of years of tradition
and the most futuristic of technology;
hallowed shrines and Hello Kitty; seas of
gray suits and the craziest of costume-like
getups; welcoming and distant. You can
experience this contrast throughout the
entire country, but even also within a couple
of city blocks as we found out on a visit
to Nihonbashi, Tokyo, a city district just
north of Ginza and Tokyo Station.
As we stood beside the Nihonbashi River,
surrounded by modern high rises and busy
streets, our guide handed us a pair of black
glasses that looked like it came straight out
of a sci-fi movie. As we focused on certain
designated points, we could see a 3D film
overlapping with the actual location, illustrating
the history of this exact spot. And
what a history it is.
All Roads Start Here
During the Edo period from the beginning
of the 17th century to the mid-1900s, the
Nihonbashi Bridge was the starting point
for the five highways of Japan, and the
commercial centre of the city. Though our
3D contraption, we see animated historical
dramatization of inhabitants unloading
boats under the wooden bridge and fishermen
bringing their catch to markets. It was
a hi-tech and totally Japanese way to
appreciate the area’s history.
Next we headed to the thoroughly modern
COREDO Muromachi shopping complex to
find out more about some of the most venerable
of Japanese traditions.
The Art of a Geisha
Often misunderstood, geisha are essentially
artists and are highly skilled, not only in
traditional dance and music, but also in the
art of conversation, social etiquette, tea
ceremonies and even parlour games.
Nihonbashi offers interactive experiences
for gaijin (foreigners) to learn more about
Geisha arts. We watched as beautifully
made-up performers danced an intricately
choreographed routine with their fans to
the music of the shamisen, a three-stringed
lute. The older women who played this traditional
instrument were as elegant as the
dance itself.