One of Ginza\u2019s charms is the absence of guardrails.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You are a member of the Ginza Association. What activities does the organization do?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- We\u2019re a group that thinks about the Ginza as a whole. There are many local and street-level associations in the area, but the Ginza Association oversees them all.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Really? I am surprised to know that there are so many associations in Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- For example, we voluntarily control the heights and designs of buildings.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Aren\u2019t they controlled by the government?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- The locals feel very strongly about Ginza, and they\u2019ve always thought about how they want the area to be. Of course, we rely on the cooperation of the Chuo City and the national government, too. We were the first in Japan to implement a pedestrian paradise. And the absence of guardrails along Chuo-dori for the sake of aesthetics and the convenience of visitors has created a charm of Ginza, which many people don\u2019t realize. The Ginza you see today is the result of the wisdom and efforts of previous generations who continued to make the area a first-class place in the world.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_00_01.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nWe\u2019d like to use the website to tell people about Ginza where many attractions are mixed.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Why did the Ginza Association decide to launch the Ginza Official website?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- The Ginza Concierge portal site played the role to inform many attractions of Ginza for the last 15 years, but both the Internet and Ginza have changed a lot during the period. You could say, since the Meiji Restoration when the Japanese government started Ginza to create a world-class town, Ginza has repeatedly transformed and evolved in line with the times. The Ginza Concierge played a vital role for 15 years, but the time has come to change and move forward. We need to take on a new challenge with the Ginza spirit (laughs).<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I had imagined Ginza to be more preservative in nature, so this is surprising to me.<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- Actually, when businesses get protective, they end up disappearing. It\u2019s a scary town, Ginza (laughs). There\u2019s also this image of Ginza being high-class and hard to approach. But if you\u2019re willing to do a bit of footwork, there are many inexpensive and delicious places to dine, for example. My favorite cold noodle shop is on a side street near my office, where I can enjoy a meal for about 800 yen.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- The idea of eating in Ginza for less than 1,000 yen sounds great.<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- There are lots of places like that. It\u2019s not just expensive places. One of the great things about Ginza is the natural mix of many different elements. There\u2019s the daytime face and the nighttime face, the main streets and the back streets, the Japanese and the Western\u2014I think it\u2019s fabulous that Ginza has all kinds of polar opposites in one place. So we are thinking about how we should communicate with people of all ages to dispel this image of stiffness and to have them pick up on this interesting mix.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_00_02.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_00_03.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nRich contents that showcase Ginza\u2019s many charms.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What kind of contents will be available on the website?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- We will introduce interesting stores. We will provide information on Ginza and upcoming events in the Information section. We will have a variety of people describe the charms of Ginza in the People section. People from different generations, different industries and different environments have different ways of enjoying Ginza. So we hope to showcase Ginza\u2019s many charms through the interviews with people\u2014what locals find interesting in Ginza and how those active in different industries enjoy Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It sounds interesting. What events are coming up for fall?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- At the end of October every year, we hold an event named Autumn Ginza. The Ginchakai tea ceremonies, for example, are very popular. The four major tea schools including Omotesenke and Urasenke come together in Ginza to conduct tea ceremony in this unusual event. Such events can\u2019t be found anywhere else.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_00_04.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nGinza represents Japan, so we need to be an innovative site.<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Do you plan to add the contents?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- Yes. We want a variety of generations to know about the charms of Ginza. In the context, we plan to introduce maps of Ginza from a variety of perspectives. Eventually, we\u2019d like have you put together your own map of Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Thank you! What are your commitments to developing this site?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- Ginza is a symbolic town in Japan and a well-known place around the world. We have many overseas visitors, too. So we will be presenting most of the site contents in English as well. We\u2019re also looking to move beyond just providing information. We want to create interactive experiences that allow visitors to participate\u2014a website that reflects both the sense of reliability and the forward-thinking, which are essential attributes of Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_00_05.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Began lessons at age six. After an active career overseas, she moved her base back to Japan to perform around the country.
\nIn addition, she has become a popular personality and branched out in the field of television and radio programs.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You are a member of the Ginza Association. What activities does the organization do?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- We\u2019re a group that thinks about the Ginza as a whole. There are many local and street-level associations in the area, but the Ginza Association oversees them all.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Really? I am surprised to know that there are so many associations in Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- For example, we voluntarily control the heights and designs of buildings.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Aren\u2019t they controlled by the government?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- The locals feel very strongly about Ginza, and they\u2019ve always thought about how they want the area to be. Of course, we rely on the cooperation of the Chuo City and the national government, too. We were the first in Japan to implement a pedestrian paradise. And the absence of guardrails along Chuo-dori for the sake of aesthetics and the convenience of visitors has created a charm of Ginza, which many people don\u2019t realize. The Ginza you see today is the result of the wisdom and efforts of previous generations who continued to make the area a first-class place in the world.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
We\u2019d like to use the website to tell people about Ginza where many attractions are mixed.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Why did the Ginza Association decide to launch the Ginza Official website?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- The Ginza Concierge portal site played the role to inform many attractions of Ginza for the last 15 years, but both the Internet and Ginza have changed a lot during the period. You could say, since the Meiji Restoration when the Japanese government started Ginza to create a world-class town, Ginza has repeatedly transformed and evolved in line with the times. The Ginza Concierge played a vital role for 15 years, but the time has come to change and move forward. We need to take on a new challenge with the Ginza spirit (laughs).<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I had imagined Ginza to be more preservative in nature, so this is surprising to me.<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- Actually, when businesses get protective, they end up disappearing. It\u2019s a scary town, Ginza (laughs). There\u2019s also this image of Ginza being high-class and hard to approach. But if you\u2019re willing to do a bit of footwork, there are many inexpensive and delicious places to dine, for example. My favorite cold noodle shop is on a side street near my office, where I can enjoy a meal for about 800 yen.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- The idea of eating in Ginza for less than 1,000 yen sounds great.<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- There are lots of places like that. It\u2019s not just expensive places. One of the great things about Ginza is the natural mix of many different elements. There\u2019s the daytime face and the nighttime face, the main streets and the back streets, the Japanese and the Western\u2014I think it\u2019s fabulous that Ginza has all kinds of polar opposites in one place. So we are thinking about how we should communicate with people of all ages to dispel this image of stiffness and to have them pick up on this interesting mix.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nRich contents that showcase Ginza\u2019s many charms.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What kind of contents will be available on the website?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- We will introduce interesting stores. We will provide information on Ginza and upcoming events in the Information section. We will have a variety of people describe the charms of Ginza in the People section. People from different generations, different industries and different environments have different ways of enjoying Ginza. So we hope to showcase Ginza\u2019s many charms through the interviews with people\u2014what locals find interesting in Ginza and how those active in different industries enjoy Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It sounds interesting. What events are coming up for fall?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- At the end of October every year, we hold an event named Autumn Ginza. The Ginchakai tea ceremonies, for example, are very popular. The four major tea schools including Omotesenke and Urasenke come together in Ginza to conduct tea ceremony in this unusual event. Such events can\u2019t be found anywhere else.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Ginza represents Japan, so we need to be an innovative site.<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Do you plan to add the contents?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- Yes. We want a variety of generations to know about the charms of Ginza. In the context, we plan to introduce maps of Ginza from a variety of perspectives. Eventually, we\u2019d like have you put together your own map of Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Thank you! What are your commitments to developing this site?<\/dd>\n
- Sayegusa<\/dt>\n
- Ginza is a symbolic town in Japan and a well-known place around the world. We have many overseas visitors, too. So we will be presenting most of the site contents in English as well. We\u2019re also looking to move beyond just providing information. We want to create interactive experiences that allow visitors to participate\u2014a website that reflects both the sense of reliability and the forward-thinking, which are essential attributes of Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Chisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Began lessons at age six. After an active career overseas, she moved her base back to Japan to perform around the country.
\nIn addition, she has become a popular personality and branched out in the field of television and radio programs.<\/p>\n