Jiyūgaoka

Jiyūgaoka (自由が丘, Jiyūgaoka) is a neighborhood in southern Meguro, Tokyo, Japan, consisting of districts 1-chome to 3-chome, with a population of 7,231 as of January 2013.[1] The name also refers to the broader area surrounding Jiyūgaoka Station, which includes both Jiyūgaoka, part of Midorigaoka and nearby Okusawa (奥沢) in Setagaya.

For the station, see Jiyūgaoka Station (Tokyo).
Jiyūgaoka Station (Tokyo)

Jiyūgaoka Station is located at the junction of the Tōyoko Line and Ōimachi Line. There are numerous apparel stores, zakka stores, cafes and restaurants. Jiyūgaoka is often considered as one of the most desirable places to live in Tokyo.[2] The middle class demographic is also reflected in the concentration of private schools in the neighbourhood and the large number of after school juku. The area has had its own newspaper dating back to 1919.[3]

History

Jiyūgaoka was largely rural until the late 1920s, when rail service commenced. On 28 August 1927, Kuhonbutsu-mae Station (九品仏前駅, Kuhonbutsu-mae eki) was established on the Tōyoko Line. In the same year, Jiyūgaoka-gakuen High School was opened.[4] The school name, 自由ヶ丘学園高等学校, literally "Liberal Hill Academy", due to its liberal education (part of the Taishō period liberal education movement; see 大正自由教育運動), later gave rise to the name of the nearby station and thence the entire area, similarly to the neighboring stations of Toritsu-Daigaku Station and Gakugei-daigaku Station (named for universities formerly located in the area).

In 1929, the Ōimachi Line was opened and a new Kuhonbutsu Station (九品仏駅, Kuhonbutsu eki) was established about 800m west of the already existing Kuhonbutsu-mae Station. Kuhonbutsu-mae Station was renamed to Jiyūgaoka Station around the same time.[5] The "Jiyūgaoka" name was formally adopted for addresses in the area in 1932.

Following World War II, the area grew quickly as a suburb of Tokyo, with its central business district taking its current form around the 1970s. The spelling of the area was changed from the original 自由ヶ丘 to the current 自由が丘 (replacing the small ke) in 1965, with the station following in 1966.

Population

As of January 2013:

  • 1-chome　2,533
  • 2-chome　2,613
  • 3-chome　2,085

　Total　　　7,231[1]

Transportation

Road
  • Jiyu Dori
  • Meguro Dori
  • Marie Claire Dori
  • Midorisho Dori
  • Gakuen Dori
  • Suzukake Dori
  • Shirakaba Dori
  • Maple Dori
  • Cattleya Dori
  • Megami Dori

Rail
Main article: Jiyūgaoka Station (Tokyo)

Bus
  • Tokyu Coach – Jiyūgaoka Station
  • Tokyu Bus – Jiyūgaoka Station Entrance

There is also a community bus, called "Thanks Nature Bus", which runs on tempura oil .[6][7] The fuel for this bus, called VDF (vegetable diesel fuel), is an alternative fuel which is said to be "clean and environmentally friendly" purified and recycled oil,[7] but there is still room for improvement.[6]

Events
  • 　January　Gantan-sai (New Year Festival) ― boasting a history of more than 800 years at Kumano Shrine. Meguro City intangible cultural heritage.
  • 　April　Jiyugaoka Cherry Blossom Festival ― first Friday of April each year. Music and festivities under cherry blossoms in full bloom along Green Street.
  • 　April/May　Spring Festival ― centered just outside the Jiyugaoka Station main entrance featuring well-known guest artists.
  • 　May　Marie Claire Festival ― centered along Marie Claire Street next to Jiyugaoka Station south exit. Concert featuring chanson artists and other music.

References
  1. Demographics Section, Statistics Division, Bureau of General Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (March 2013). "Tokyo Metropolitan Households and Population according to the Basic Resident Registry, January 2013". Demographics Section, Statistics Division, Bureau of General Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Retrieved 29 December 2013.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. http://www.major7.net/contents/trendlabo/research/vol013/
  3. Newspaper front page (Japanese) Archived 14 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. http://www.jlogos.com/webtoktai/index_login.html?word=%BC%AB%CD%B3%A4%AC%B5%D6&id=5703742 Archived 23 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Kadokawa Japanese Location Name Dictionary 13 Tokyo (角川日本地名大辞典)
  6. "Thanks Nature Bus – VDF". Thanks Nature Bus. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. "Cars Run on Tempura Oil". Someya Shoten Co., Ltd.（developer of VDF）. Retrieved 19 April 2013.

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