Yokogawa, The Time / The History of Yokogawa

A river called "Yokogawa", has decided the destiny of the city.

The history of “Yokogawa – "Yoko"=Side or Horizontal & "gawa(kawa)"=River” began to change drastically when the construction of “The Hiroshima Castle” satrted, in 1591. The location of the castle was chosen to be in the largest island in “Ohta River” delta area. The areas consisted of multiple large and small islands. The island, called "Beppu-no-sho" which was located, in the northwest, was the origin of “Yokogawa”. “The Ohta River” has been splitting, vertically (from north to south direction), in the delta. The only one part that branches from “Honkawa river” to “Tenma River” flows horizontally (from east to west direction). This reasoned the name of "Yokogawa".

“Beppu-no-sho” was destined to get separated from the castle town by this “Yokogawa”.

The independent spirit, which also supports each other, has been born & growing, by facing the difficulties

The first destiny was that ”Beppu-no-shou” held the role of a retarding basin to protect the castle town from flood damages.

According to the construction contract of “Hiroshima Castle”, “Honkawa river” embankment of “Beppu-no-sho” shall get low, and, the embankment of the castle town will get higher than the embankment of “Beppu-no-sho”. The embankment on the upstream side of the castle town will get lowered and flooded. This idea shall reduce the amount of water downstream." And, it was built, accordlingly. Every time, “Ohta River” overflowed, “Beppu's villa” was flooded. People also started to call this place, "Saikachigahara".

As of today, on the right bank of “The Honkawa river”, we may see the traces of "over the water" that cut down the embankment. The town name, "Uchikoshi-cho" is thought to include the meaning that the flooded water "passes" from "inside" to outside (former “Fukushima River”, former “Yamate River”).

“Yokogawa” has suffered from flood damages until recent years. “Geibi News Paper” on July 5, 1919, stated that "Missasa Shinjo Bridge”, “Yokogawa Bridge”, and “The train bridge” have gone. The houses were covered by flood to their underfloors. “Yokogawa Station” was covered by flood to it's top ceiling. “Yokogawa” was isolated. No assistance valid. There is no way to supoort “Yokogawa”.

The history of accepting flood damages and achieving restoration and reconstruction, in cooperation with all of local residents together, in order to protect the castle town “Hiroshima”, has bore the community spirit of “The independent spirit, which also supports each other”.

As a fact that validated “the independent spirit, which supports each other”, when "The rice riots" that occurred in “Toyama Prefecture”, in 1918 and spread nationwide immidiately, there was “Misasa-cho's method” (the area including the present “Yokogawa”). At that moment, “Misasa-cho”, as the town, controlled rice grains by themselves. It was a remarkable fact that the town, “Misasa-cho”, prevented “The rice riots”, with a unique method, such as, town’s management to the rice supply, and strong cohesion of the community.

People and supplies have gathered. Various businesses have started

The second destiny was that it obtained an attractive condition which was being "the gateway to the castle town". Because it was located out of the castle town.

“Beppu-no-so” owned the northern agricultural mountainous villages that could produce rice, vegetables, wood, and iron, behind it.
In front of “Yokogawa”,there was the castle town,”Hiroshima”,separated by a river, called “Yokogawa”.
As the castle town expanded and developed, agricultural and forestry special products and various supplies were brought, in from the upper reaches of “The Ohta River” behind. Therefore, miscellaneous commercial businesses occurred spontaneously, and the number of houses increased.

Eventually, the grassy names of "Beppu-no-sho" and "Saikachigahara" were getting forgotten, and the regional name "Yokogawa" was established as the nickname of the river.

Free and open minded enterprising and founding. "The Town of Misasa"

Before being incorporated into Hiroshima City in 1929, “Misasa-cho”, “Asa-gun” (currently Yokogawa-cho, Misasa-cho, Kusunoki-cho, Nakahiro-cho, etc.) had been developing the spirit, which was "do not refuse whoever" and "do whatever necessary". The pioneering sprit has been developing new products and advanced manufacturing methods.

In manufacturing(mono-zukuri), the needle-manufacturing industry, used iron sands from “Chuugoku mountains” and utilized the boat transportation on “Ohta River”, became the number one, in the Asia, in “Taisho era”.

In addition, a wide variety of industries, such as wood, indigo, seedlings, vinegar, castings, glass, and rubber (balls), have gathered together, and have produced “an only one-of-a-kind” companies that have made names for themselves, in Japan and also overseas, have grown, because of their unique strengths.

"Mikasa" and "Molten", which manufacture balls for games of volleyball, soccer, basketball, etc., are well-known as the official ball brands for international competitions. "Otafuku Sauce", which is indispensable for Hiroshima's soul food, ”Okonomiyaki”, and the Hiroshima's first supermarket, "Housewives’ Shop" (currently "Fresta"), were founded in the former "Misasa-cho".

“Futaba Tosho”, which once turned to dusts, by the atomic bomb, quickly visited the burnt field of “Tokyo Kanda” to buy magazines. .. And, "Futaba Tosho" sold these, in the black market, in front of Yokogawa station. This was a story that this activity could cheer the local residents up.

“Misasa Credit Union”,the predecessor of the current "Hiroshima Credit Union", was born in this area where these entrepreneurs gathered. The amount of it's funds in 1943, was, overwhelmingly, the biggest, among the 292 urban credit unions nationwide.

“The former Misasa-cho, Asa-gun” is now “Misasa-cho”. “Misasa-cho” still owns a free-spirited atmosphere, since “the Hiroshima castle” was built.

The first shopping street, under the railroad bridge,in Hiroshima

At the request of “Misasa District Council of Social Welfare” and local residents, the first "municipal houses with stores" and "Yokogawa Shopping District Promotion Association Building" were built in the vacant previous railway space, as the result of the elevated construction.

Six old and new shopping streets got united

There used to be six shopping streets in Yokogawa.
Five shopping streets, "The Station Front Shopping Street", "The Yokogawa Hondori Shopping Street", "The Prosperity Party", "The Cross Road Shopping Street", and "The Hoshi no Michi Shopping Street", in a retro alley, have re-built, after "the world war 2".
After that, the sixth "The Shinjuku Shopping Street" was born, which was reorganized on the occasion of the elevated railway.
The six shopping streets had continued to work together, working as a team. In 2021, "The Prosperity Association" joined "The Yokogawa Hondori Shopping Street". Currently, five shopping streets are active.