A lovely spring on the Sumida River, Going upstream and downstream, As the boatmen oar, the drops from the paddles scatter like cherry blossoms’. This is the lyrics of the famous song ‘Flowers’ composed by Taki Rentaro. 
In Edo era, there was Ofunagura, a boathouse, along the Sumida River. The place was for the battleships owned by Tokugawa shognate. 
‘Atake-maru’ was moored there. As it was the largest but impractical, Tokugawa shogunate was obliged to demolish the ship in 1682. People in Edo called the area ‘Atake’.
Atake is also seen on the woodblock print. The title is ‘Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake’. Since the famous impressionist Van Gogh reproduced it, it is known to the art lovers in the world.
Atake area in Koto city is now called Shin-ohashi itchome. Though, the monument in the square says the area was Fukagawa Atake cho in Meiji era. by K.K
Would you like to stroll alongside of Sumida river ?
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