Yurakucho

Yurakucho Station is located in the Yurakucho district of Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo. It serves the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line and the Japan Railways (JR) Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku Lines. Yurakucho Station is connected to the nearby Hibiya Station by underground passageways.

Yurakucho lies between the districts of Ginza, Hibiya, and Marunouchi. It takes its name from “Uraku” (from the name ‘Urakusai') and “cho” (meaning ‘city'). It is said that this area of land was given to Nobunaga Oda's younger brother Urakusai Oda (1547–1622) from Ieyasu Tokugawa, who built his residence here. In 1707, the Tokugawa shogunate established a magistrate's office in the area. After the office opened, the place slowly began to grow. In 1910 the Yurakucho station was built making Yurakucho easily accessible. With time more offices were opened and the area became a very busy area.

The most famous landmark of Yurakucho today is the DN Tower 21 , which has been designated as a historical building by the Government of Tokyo. The building was the headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers under Douglas MacArther after World War II. Today, the DN Tower 21 houses the Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Norinchukin Bank. Another landmark is the Yurakucho Center Building complex, featuring retail shops, performance halls, and parking. Other important buildings of Yurakucho include the Hibiya Mitsui (housing the offices of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the Japan Steel Works Ltd, Asahi Kasei), and the Shin Yurakucho Building (housing offices of Asahi Glass Co., Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., and the Japan National Tourist Organization).

Underground, beneath the Yurakucho Station , are izakayas , or neighborhood bars, frequented by the salaried workers of the area. Here, you will find a variety of stalls selling everything from beers and videos to electronics.

Tokyo International Forum 

Located in front of Yurakucho Station is the huge architectural wonder, the Tokyo International Forum. This great curving ship-shaped glass and steel building complex is Japan's largest comprehensive culture and information facility. Designed by Rafael Vinoly, the Tokyo International Forum is a $1.65 billion project owned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Opened in January 1997, the Tokyo International Forum covers an area of 21,000 square meters. On the west end of the site is a 60-meter high hull-shaped glass and steel atrium, and on the east end is a cluster of block-like buildings. The two ends are separated by a paved plaza and are connected by several above-ground glass-encased catwalks and two levels of underground space. The plaza in-between, besides being the entrance to the complex, is an open public space with public seating. The area has been beautified with several trees and sculptures. The atrium houses exhibition areas and theaters, and the buildings house theaters and reception halls. In all, the Tokyo International Forum has 7 multi-sized halls, an Exhibition Hall, and 33 conference rooms – each of which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. There is also a Lobby Gallery, a Lounge, cafes, restaurants and shops. The Mitsuo Aida Museum is also located in the Tokyo International Forum.

Mitsuo Aida Museum

Located in Tokyo International Forum B1, the Mitsuo Aida Museum displays original works of calligrapher and poet Mitsuo Aida.

Mitsuo Aida was born in 1924 in Ashikaga in Tochigi prefecture of Japan. After graduating from Ashikaga Prefecture Middle School in 1942, he joined a poetry group under the supervision of Mutsu Yamashita. There he met a Zen priest, Tetsurou Takei, who soon became his mentor. Being interested in brush-and-ink calligraphy and tanka poetry since his school days, Mitsuo Aida soon began producing his own works. He established a style of his own and soon produced a great number of works. He believed in the preciousness of life and this reflected in his writings, which reach the depths of the hearts of the readers. Of his calligraphy, he once wrote, “I merely express the natural way people should be as humans and the true way to live. To accomplish that, I borrow the format of brush-and-ink calligraphy.” 

His first exhibition was held in 1954 in Ashikaga, and subsequently more exhibitions under the title ‘My Words My Writing' were held at various sites around Japan. He became famous after his first book Ningen Damono (Because I'm human) was published in 1984. He died in 1991 of brain hemorrhage, but his works continue to live.

Mitsuo Aida Museum was opened in 1996 in the Ginza district of Tokyo to display the works of this great poet and calligrapher. The Museum later moved to its present location at Tokyo International Forum in 2003. Today, the permanent exhibits of this museum include 70 to 80 original works by Mitsuo Aida, displayed in an interactive format. A bar, a dining area, a Japanese tea lounge, and a shop are located within the museum. At the shop you can find books, video-tapes, cassette books, prints (including Silk screen), post cards, telephone cards, calendars and the like.