Looking back on `` Shibuya in 2019 '' with dogmatic and prejudice

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Finally, 2020 has begun, but the first article of the year starts with the annual “News Ranking”! Let's take a look back at last year's Shibuya boiled to the opening rush.

★ Because the rankings are determined solely by discretion and prejudice, there may be many people who feel a little biased or uncomfortable, but please forgive me.

<Choose by dogmatic and prejudiced! 2019, Shibuya News Ranking>
1st place:SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE opens The panoramic view overlooking Tokyo is talked about
2nd place: Shibuya PARCO opened, bustle on Koen-dori to revive
3rd place: Tokyu Plaza Shibuya opened, targeting “senior” in youth town
4th: FOREVER21 Closure Where will next enter?
5th place: Sending “celebrating the opening” message heartwarming topics
6th place: "Shibuya Station East Exit Underground Plaza" started operation
7th place: Tokyu Department Store Toyoko store announces closure With redevelopment around the station
8th: Unprecedented tapioca boom tapioca map
9th: Large crowd in front of Shibuya station with announcement of new era
10th: Drinking prohibited at Shibuya Halloween

1. SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE opens Panoramic view overlooking Tokyo

During the large-scale redevelopment of Shibuya Station, the “ SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE East Building”, the highest peak of about 230 meters, opened on November 1. By 2027, the facility will have a central wing and a west wing, transforming it into a huge three-station building. The East Wing, which opened this fall, is a landmark.
▲ SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE East Building stands out.

The lower section consists of a “commercial area”, the middle section consists of “Shibuya QWS (Q's)”, an industry-academia collaboration facility aiming to create new innovations, and the upper section consists of an “office area”. Commercial areas available to the general public include food and sweets floors such as "Tokyu Food Show Edge" (B2F) and "Ecute Edition" (1F), "Tokyu Hands" (10F), and "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" (11F) ), As well as the NHK Plus Cross SHIBUYA (14F), a gallery and event space operated by NHK (14F).
▲ An escalator that goes up to the rooftop space from the 46th floor to the 47th floor. You can see the Shibuya Scramble intersection below.

One of them is the rooftop space "SHIBUYA SKY" located on the 46th and 47th floors. As the name of "Sky" means, you can get a 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo city as well as "Shibuya Scramble Crossing" from 230 meters above the sky. In addition, since the enclosure is only a see-through glass wall, there is nothing obstructing the line of sight, and the feeling of openness and exhilaration at the moment when you drop your feet on the rooftop space is irreplaceable. Until now, sightseeing spots in Shibuya were mainly things to enjoy at the ground level such as `` Shibuya Scramble Crossing '' and `` Tada Inu Hachiko Statue '', but opening of `` Shibuya Sky '' added powerful contents to Shibuya sightseeing. It would not be an exaggeration.

2. The new Shibuya PARCO opens and revives the liveliness of Koen-dori
3. Opening of Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, targeting “senior” in youth town

After a temporary suspension in August 2016, Shibuya PARCO has revived for the first time in three years and three months. The bustle disappeared from Koen-dori Street after the PARCO holiday, but following the opening of `` LINE CUBE SHIBUYA (Shibuya Public Hall) '' in October, the new PARCO grand opening on November 22 and the streets are returning to liveliness feel.▲ The appearance of the new Shibuya PARCO featuring white outer walls. From the first floor of the Spanish slope, you can go up and down the outer corridor to the rooftop space.

Among the new PARCOs, keep a close eye on the 6th floor “Pokemon Center Shibuya”, Nintendo's first directly operated official shop in Japan “Nintendo Tokyo”, digital × subculture floor where games, characters and manga-like content are integrated, In addition, there is a chaos kitchen on the first floor underground. Until now, PARCO had a strong image of `` girls '' and `` fashion '', but also focused on `` subculture '' and `` food '' and conducted tenant leasing for a wide range of people including men and inbound I understand well.
▲ Chaos kitchen on the first basement floor. Upper left) Bird and beast insect izakaya where you can eat insects "Rice and Circus" Middle left) Mirai sake & SAKEBAR Lower left) Gokumiya (Hamburg) Center upper) Union Records Shibuya Central center) Neon logo "C" used in old PARCO Bottom center) Standing drink "Beer Boy" Upper right) Mix bar "Campy! Bar" Middle right) PARCO operated "Gallery X" Lower right) Kushikatsu Arata

Among them, `` Chaos Kitchen '' is a so-called commercial facility such as a standing bar, a restaurant where you can eat insect food, kushiage, ramen, etc., a mix bar with Shinjuku 2-chome atmosphere, a condom specialty store, a record shop, etc. There are shops completely different from the fashionable food floor. The suspicious and obscure atmosphere of the city, such as under the viaduct or the alley, is reproduced in the underground space as it is. The unique proposal that sets it apart from other commercial facilities is a challenging attempt like PARCO.

▲ "Tokyu Plaza Shibuya" in the lower part of Shibuya Fukuras

"Tokyu Plaza Shibuya," which opened on December 5 at the west exit of Shibuya Station, also ranked third. Shibuya was buzzing with the opening rush of a large commercial facility this fall, but what sets Tokyu Plaza Shibuya apart from Shibuya and Parco is the “target setting”. In Shibuya, which is called the “town of youth,” Tokyu Plaza is creating stores with a focus on “more than 40s,” especially the “senior segment,” and has a strong distinctive color.
▲ Upper left) “Shibuya Matsukawa (Unagi)”, which had a store at the former Tokyu Plaza, is also back. “STORIES SAKON” “Lower right)“ High Premium HIS Hills Shibuya ”that offers luxury travel for seniors

For example, there are information and shops that are of interest to seniors, such as planning for 60th birthday parties and prenatal funerals, proposals for gorgeous cruises, consultation on pensions and asset management, as well as hearing aid specialty stores and boutiques that can consult Chinese medicine according to constitution. Yes. It is also worth noting that tenant leasing, which is familiar to former patrons, is being carried out, such as the return of the "Shibuya Matsukawa (Unagi)" and "Tama Sushi" that had entered the former Tokyu Plaza to the eating and drinking floor.

4. FOREVER21 CLOSED Where is next?

Although the topic of "New Open" was prominent in Shibuya in 2019, "Forever 21 closed" was ranked in 4th place. This fast fashion store chain from Los Angeles, U.S.A., opened its first store in Harajuku and Meiji-dori in April 2009. The following year, Shibuya opened on the former site of HMV in the center area, and has been focusing on the Japanese market as a representative of fast fashion. The first store, Harajuku, closed in October 2017, stalled due to recent changes in the market environment. This summer, FOREVER21 filed for bankruptcy, and at the end of October all 14 stores in Japan, including the Shibuya store, were closed. In contrast to the city of Shibuya that floats on Halloween, it was impressive that the lighting of the Shibuya store in the center street was completely dark.
▲ FOREVER 21 signboard

About two months have passed since the Shibuya store closed, but no new store opening plans for the six-floor building have been announced. In addition, a large signboard visible from the Shibuya Scramble intersection is still posted. After the building, which was touched with HMV → Forever21, will foreign-affiliated companies still move in?

7. Tokyu Department Store Toyoko store announces closure With redevelopment around the station

Speaking of closing stores, the seventh place was "Tokyu Department Store Toyoko store announced that it was closed. In the case of Tokyu Department Store Toyoko, this is not due to sluggish sales like FOEVER21, but due to the large-scale development around Shibuya Station that will continue until 2027. The history of the Tokyu Department Store Toyoko Branch dates back to the Toyoko Department Store (Tokyu Department Store Toyoko Branch East Building), which opened on November 1, 1934 (Showa 9). Growing as a “terminal department store directly managed by a railway company” that supports a new urban life of “working in the city center (east) and living in the suburbs (west)”, the “West Building (Tamaden Building was expanded in 1954)” ) ", And the" South Building "was added in 1970 (Showa 45) to form a 3 building system. The Toyoko store has been popular for a long time, but in March 2013 the East building was closed and dismantled. Six years later, "SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE East Wing" opened on November 1, this autumn at the site of the ground station building on the Toyoko Line. The opening date of the "Shibu Suku East Building" and the opening day of the "Toyoko Store East Building" are the same.
▲ The Tokyu Department Store West Building, where the GINZA LINE jumps out, is one of Shibuya's leading buildings.

Following the east hall, the remaining west and south halls will be officially announced on March 31 next year, closing the Toyoko store's 85-year history. In January, a whole-building event titled "85 Years of Toyoko General Settlement" will start, and in addition to selling out, special plans such as "Exhibition at Toyoko Department Store" will be held.

5. Rivals send a message "Congratulations on opening!"

With new commercial facilities opening one after another, “ SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE ” (opening November 1), “Shibuya Parco” (opening November 22), and “Shibuya Fukuras” (opening December 5), rival Shibuya "Modi" celebrated the opening of each facility by showing a "congratulations message" on digital signage and attracted attention.
Around Shibuya Station, in addition to Shibuya Marui, the same line as Shibuya Modi, SHIBUYA109, Shibuya Hikarie Tokyu Department Store Main Store / Toyoko Store operated by Tokyu Group, and Seibu / Sogo-based Seibu Shibuya Store Many large-scale commercial facilities are integrated. In addition, with the addition of astringent discs, PARCO and Fukuras this fall, it is expected that competition among facilities will become even more intense. In this situation, Shibuya Modi sent a congratulatory message, saying, "Since Shibuya must beat regional competition in Shinjuku and Ginza, it is rather welcome to have more friends to excite together." That.

On the other hand, SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE and Shibuya Fukuras, who were sent a "celebration message", were impressed by this smart measure and returned thanks to Shibuya Modi on digital signage to respond to that feeling. Originally, it is a broadcast slot that is sold as advertising space, but it is a smiling episode that overcomes the barriers between companies and sends each other ale.

6. Opening of “Shibuya Station East Exit Underground Plaza” & “Renewal of Entrance Number”

Although Shibuya Station is ridiculed as a "maze" and "maze", new passages and escalators to smooth vertical movements are prepared with the opening of each facility, and although it is still incomplete, movement is more than before. It became easier to do. In particular, “Shibuya Station East Exit Underground Plaza”, which started operation in November, plays a hub-like role that makes it easy to access each area of Shibuya.
▲ “Shibuya Station East Exit Underground Plaza” has recently started operation. It also has a cafe space and toilets.

For example, in addition to smooth travel from Hachiko-mae Square to SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE East Building and Shibuya Hikarie, a new entrance `` B7 '' for Miyashita Park, which is scheduled to open next year before the Olympics, has also been newly established. Once you pass, you will reach all areas of Shibuya.
▲ A newly born doorway “B7”. Smooth access to Miyashita Park.

At the same time, the guidance sign inside the basement of the station, which had no regularity, has been renewed, and an "area system" has been introduced that divides the area around Shibuya Station into four zones A to D. For example, Shibuya Station Hachiko Plaza side is "A", Shibuya Station East Exit /Shibuya Hikarie Side is "B", Shibuya River /SHIBUYA STREAM Side is "C", and Shibuya Station West Exit / Shibuya Sclass Side is "D" Zone. . If you remember these four, you will be far less likely to misunderstand your destination or direction. If you are not good at Shibuya, try to hint at "Shibuya Station East Exit Underground Plaza" and "Entrance Number".

8. Unprecedented tapioca large boom Tapioca container garbage measures

Last year, tapioca caused a huge boom nationwide. Roughly calculated, there were more than 50 shops around Shibuya, Harajuku and Omotesando during peak hours. Also, while popularity has accelerated, littering of tapioca drink containers has become a major problem. To solve these problems, SHIBUYA109 led a call to stores in Shibuya and Harajuku Kawai, and attempts were made to discard tapioca containers purchased at other stores in the trash can of any store. This can be said to be one of the measures not to end with a mere boom. The season has changed, and tapioca popularity has begun to show some calm, but there are many shops that have stable customers. In 2020, I'm not wondering how the tapioca boom will evolve, or whether a second tapioca will be born from Shibuya and Harajuku.

9. Large crowd in front of Shibuya station with announcement of new era
Ten. No drinking at Shibuya Halloween

For some reason, crowds gather at the Shibuya Station Hachiko Square and the scramble intersection, such as the World Cup for Soccer, Halloween, and Countdown. On April 1 last year, when the New Era was announced, somehow people began to gather and it was difficult for them to move after 11:30 AM. By the way, it wasn't even announced that something would happen in Shibuya.
▲ A view of Shibuya Station Hachiko Square on April 1 when the new era was announced. For some reason, many people began to gather.

As a result, nothing happened in the city of Shibuya, and most people gathered there to know "new announcement of the new era" from smartphone news. Whether in a good or bad way, there is a sense of expectation in Shibuya.

▲ Shibuya Halloween on October 31. Near the center street.

Every year at Shibuya Halloween, many people come to Shibuya. Last year, some young people became mobbed and arrested, so last year we passed a "Drinking Prohibition" Ordinance around the station to prevent Halloween, and Shibuya Ward added to security expenses etc. Thorough measures were taken, including a budget of 103 million yen. It's not clear if it worked, but it didn't happen at all last Halloween, but it didn't suffer the terrible troubles of last year.
▲ The Shibuya Ward staff raised the "No Drinking" placard. Placards are written in English and Chinese, appealing to tourists.

It's a waste to attract so many young people and foreign tourists spontaneously and not to take advantage of it, despite its appealing events. We can share a little more wisdom and grow it as a “safe and fun” Shibuya-only tourist content.

New commercial facilities opened one after another in Shibuya last year, and the dark and noisy town was lightened at once. I think that the redevelopment of Shibuya is over by now, and this year, "GINZA LINE Shibuya Station" was relocated to Meiji Dori from the beginning of the new year. In addition, this spring, SAIKYO LINE home will be lined up with YAMANOTE LINE home, and the new station building of Harajuku station will also be opened. As the Olympics are scheduled to be held in summer, securing capacity and safety measures are also important issues. In particular, Shibuya, which has the New National Stadium and the Yoyogi Stadium, will receive considerable visitors. It's not a bad thing to make a city lively, but if many people gather, problems such as garbage, toilets, confusion, and trouble can easily occur. In Halloween and countdowns, Shibuya has been able to practice the dry run to some extent, but what will happen in actual production? I just hope that the Olympics will end safely. I want to continue watching Shibuya in 2020.

<Past Articles>
・ "Review of" Shibuya in 2018 "with dogmatic and prejudice" (January 7, 2019)
· "Looking back on" Shibuya in 2017 "by dogmas and prejudice" (January 9, 2018)
· "Looking back on" Shibuya in 2016 "by dogmas and prejudice" (January 11, 2017)
· "Looking back at the" Shibuya of 2015 "at the discretion and Prejudice" (January 3, 2016)
· "Looking back at the" Shibuya of 2014 "at the discretion and Prejudice" (January 3, 2015)
· "Looking back at the" Shibuya of 2011 "at the discretion and Prejudice" (December 31, 2011)
· "Looking back at the" Shibuya of 2010 "at the discretion and Prejudice" (January 7, 2011)
- "Going Shibuya 2000s, Kuru Shibuya 10's" (December 29, 2009)

Editorial department · Fuji Itakashi

Shibuya registrar. In addition to Shibuya of Culture information, seasonal news and topics, it will spell write that feel every day.