| Moving north along Kiyosumi-dori, you will come
to a major thoroughfare called Keiyo-doro, which crosses Ryogokubashi. Built in
1659, Ryogokubashi was the first bridge to span the Sumida River south of Asakusa.
Ryogoku, which means "both provinces," takes its name from the fact
that it linked Musashi Province (now the Tokyo side) with Shimofusa Province (now
the Chiba Prefecture side). Located along Keiyo-doro near Ryogokubashi is Ekoin,
a temple constructed to pray for the souls of the more than 100,000 people who
died in the Meireki Fire of 1657. The temple accepted the souls of all comers
without regard to religion or species. In addition to having the graves of such
famous people as Edo-period playwright Santo Kyoden, the temple grounds also have
the graves of executed convicts, as well as those of pet cats and dogs. One particular
criminal is the notorious thief Nezumikozo Jirokichi. |
