Ishinomaki Utsumi Bridge Commercial Street 1951
The 1951 Photographed by an American Military Doctor
Kawahiraki and Tachimachidori Street
Jan. 21st, 2018
This photo is one view of the 1951 (Showa 26) Ishinomaki Kawahiraki Festival [a festival that marks the start of boating season] which was held on July 28th and 29th (Sat.).
Having been stopped since the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 (Showa 12), the Kawahiraki Festival was revived in 1946 (Showa 21) after the Pacific War. Based on the simple Tanabata Star Festival decorations on Tachimachidori Street and the back road leading to Toriya Shrine which is in front of the stone torii gate (which was damaged by an earthquake in the sea off of the coast of the Miyagi prefecture and moved to the grounds of Toriya Shrine) we know that this was one of the Kawahiraki Festival days.
On this day the one-way Tachimachidori Street had been blocked off to cars. Without expecting streamers or kusudama (decorative paper balls used during festivals, etc.) like the ones on Omachidori Street, a tunnel made of colored paper strung from small bamboo plants was the best they could do. With the modest, small bamboo plants, it was a time when [everyone] felt the joys of festivals and peace.
Below the 200+ stone steps the road from the old Kyuoikawanaika internist to the old Kyunakajimageka surgeon is unclear, but it had already been built. The Tachimachi shops from the left are Fukuraikanshashinkan photo studio, several houses down between the reopened Taigetsushokudo restaurant and the red and white curtain of the Western building is a roof (a gateway?) to the entrance of Fukichodori Street. To the right of that is the Akitaya mansion and the large ginkgo tree in the gardens, several storehouses, and Miyoshi Shrine.
The new two story building is the prefectural Public Healthcare Center, and with the large storehouse-like roof and chimney as a landmark we understand that
to the right behind Akitaya is Shindencho’s Kinkabuto, Suzukishoyuya soy sauce shop, and Suminoe sake brewery, etc.
There are two festival performance tents standing in the remains of Akitakoen Park in front of Fukicho, and beginning in May of this year the Kigura Circus was performing. Aren’t there several people who remember the crowded circus tents on that festival day? Several years later the remains of Akitakoen Park were sold off and it changed into the Ekimae Market, but there are now few left of the generation that knows of the market.
It is thought that at the upper end [of the photograph] are Ogawa railroad crossing and the northern end of Asahimachidori Street. To the left of the Asahimachi railroad crossing can be seen the Takayashikido Road which runs along the Hebitahori trench. Before long, around 1955 (Showa 30), the adjustment of arable land behind the station was completed and the Hebitahori trench was made into a straight line near the Ishinomaki Line. In this year the North-South road of the Mizuoshi railroad crossing in front of the Niinumakanamonoya hardware store in Kokucho was put in place.
※The 1951 that an American Military Doctor Captured Ishinomaki, Naikaibashidori Shopping Street
Please let us know if you have any information>
You can browse the published photos on the photographer’s eldest son, Alan Butler’s, website “Miyagi 1951”. https://www.miyagi1951.com/
Please feel free to contribute any information regarding these photos to Mr. Henmi at 090(4317)7706.
米軍医が撮った1951＜２＞ 川開きと立町通り
１９５１（昭和２６）年の石巻川開き祭りは７月２８、２９日の土日開催で、写真は当日の一景です。
日中戦争の開戦で３７（昭和１２）年から休止していた川開き祭りは、太平洋戦争後の４６（昭和２１）年に復活。石鳥居（宮城県沖地震で損壊し鳥屋神社境内移転）前の鳥屋神社裏参道や立町通りの簡素な七夕飾りから、川開きの一日と分かります。
この日、一方通行の立町通りは歩行者天国となり、大町通りのようなくす玉や吹き流しは望めず、笹竹に色紙テープのトンネルをつるすのが精いっぱい。ささやかな笹竹に、平和と祭りの喜びを感じた時代です。
二百余段の石段の下、旧及川内科から旧中島外科への道路がはっきりしませんが、既に開通しています。立町の店舗は左から福来館写真館、数軒目は再開した待月食堂で、洋風建物の紅白幕との間が富貴町通り入り口、屋根（門口か）が掛けてあります。その右側に、秋田屋邸宅と庭園のイチョウの大木、数棟の土蔵や三吉神社。
新しい２階建ては県石巻保健所、秋田屋の右奥には大きな蔵屋根と煙突が目印となり新田町の金兜（きんかぶと）と鈴木醤油（しょうゆ）屋、墨廼江（すみのえ）酒造などと分かります。
富貴町正面の秋田公園跡に、祭り目当ての興行のテント小屋２棟が立ち、この年は５月からキグレサーカスが公演中。祭日でにぎわう見せ物小屋を思い出す人は多いことでしょう。数年後、秋田公園跡は売却されて駅前マーケットに変わりますが、マーケットを知る世代も少数になりました。
上端は、小川町踏切と旭町通りの北端と思われます。旭町踏切から左折する蛇田堀沿いの高屋敷道の１本道が見えています。やがて駅裏は耕地整理され５５（昭和３０）年前後に完工、蛇田堀が石巻線近くまで直線化され、この時に穀町の新沼金物屋前の水押踏切の南北道路が整備されています。（郷土史家・辺見清二）
※米軍医が撮った1951＜１＞ 石巻・内海橋通商店街
http://ishinomaki.kahoku.co.jp/news/2018/01/20180114t13017.htm
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