Shibuya culture PROJECT

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Center Gai

And across the scramble intersection set foot in Center Gai, space appears exactly chaotic dizzying. That's the area that likes and dislikes are divided clearly among the Shibuya to strong impact due, but inherent a strong power, the place has become the epicenter of a unique culture with a focus on teenagers is undisputed. Center Street, follow what changes, I wonder if the formation of the current skyline.

Place called "Udagawacho" of Center Gai The area, once, from the rivers that Udagawa flowing this place. Although difficult even to imagine from the current bustling scene, is Udagawa that has flowed along the Inokashira Avenue from Yoyogi around, proceeds to the direction of Shibuya BEAM, SHIBUYA109, have joined the Shibuya River in around the temple Miyamasuzaka It was. Shibuya River same has been culverts, I'm surprised because I still Udagawa says that flows through the underground.

Shibuya Station intersection of 1951 circa
Source: Shirane Memorial Shibuya-ku, Provincial Museum, Museum of Literature (partial)

The birth of the Center Gai

とはいっても、当時はまだのどかな風情も残っていた。祖父母の代から渋谷センター街に居を構え、渋谷センター商店会の理事を務めた経験もある近藤彰敏さんは、昭和30〜40年代初期に少年時代を過ごした。「確かにバーや炉端焼きなど飲食店はたくさんあったけど、住宅も多く、家の前の路地は車も滅多に通りませんでした。友達と野球をしたり、近くの工事現場に秘密基地を作ったり、冬には雪合戦をしたり、この辺りは良い遊び場でしたよ」。

Then Center Gai also is, to continue the development of as downtown. Among to strengthen the image of the late 1980s Shibuya by such epidemic of "bitter Kaji" is "young fashion of the city", especially Shibuya center of the front and rear teenagers began to gather in the city has emerged around 1990, so-called whether not from around the "Chima", Kondo said.

Streets are crowded with young people in their 20s from teens

Chima is disappear in a few years, but then, "Young Gals" was Hayara and loose socks from 93 BC, also in 98 circa, exactly mutation fashion appeared. Suddenly, a stole the topic of the media appear to Center Gai "Ganguro". They seemed to do once in around 2000 disappeared, but revived as "Mamba" in the fashion that is similar from around 2004, and even more "N costume" dressed in costume of the animals and Pikachu in recent years has become a hot topic . Although the momentum has been pressed to women, such as "center GUY" minus the white lip to lip with brown hair and blonde, fashion men's unique.

These young people, what to gather in the Center Gai asking. He served as a juvenile guidance committee, close to Mr. Kondo, which has been in contact with the young people, to guess this. "Come to the Center Gai child became truancy, you may have heard the story that made a lot of friends. My place a child that arrived in Center Gai also looking Will many".

Breadth of the bosom to accept the foreign presence

Center Gai entrance

Is unceasing Center Gai is all day pedestrian traffic