Tokyo City Ward Map

Edité par Not stated; likely issued in Tokyo by a commercial cartographic publisher, early Shōwa period. c. 1933–1936 (early Shōwa period), Japan, 1933

A propos de cet article

A finely detailed pre-World War II map of Tokyo City, depicting the administrative division of the capital into its 35 wards following the 1932 municipal expansion. The city is shown in pastel-colored sections, each corresponding to a ward (), with ward boundaries clearly delineated. Dense street grids define the urban core, while waterways, canals, and less-developed outskirts frame the city's perimeter.Major transportation infrastructure is prominently rendered. Railway lines and stations are marked, and an extensive network of Tokyo municipal streetcar () routes is shown in red, reflecting the peak of tram-based urban mobility in the early 1930s. Rivers such as the Sumida River () and Arakawa (), along with bridges and canals, emphasize Tokyo's historical relationship with waterborne transport and flood control.Public and institutional sites-schools, government offices, police stations, hospitals, parks, and military facilities-are indicated with standardized symbols, underscoring the map's administrative and planning function rather than a purely touristic purpose.The presence of 35 wards places the map after 1932, when Tokyo City expanded from 15 to 35 wards. The continued use of the designation "Tokyo City" () confirms it predates the city's abolition and reorganization into Tokyo Metropolis () in 1943. The decorative cartographic style, full depiction of civilian transit, and absence of wartime simplifications or damage indicators suggest production in the early-mid 1930s, most plausibly circa 1934.This map records Tokyo before wartime destruction and postwar reconstruction, preserving the layout of historic wards such as Kojimachi, Kanda, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi, Shiba, Azabu, Honjo, and Fukagawa, many of which were later merged into today's special wards.As a comprehensive visualization of Tokyo at its prewar height, this map is an important resource for the study of urban history, historical geography, transportation networks, and administrative change. It documents the city at the culmination of its streetcar era and provides a vital reference for understanding the transformation of Tokyo's historic ward structure into its modern form.Catalogue note: A classic example of early Showa Japanese urban cartography, combining administrative precision with refined color printing.Original color-printed paper map. Light, even age toning. Minor edge and corner wear. Original folds as issued, with slight wear at intersections; folds stable. No significant tears or losses. Colors fresh and clear, including red transit lines. No notable stains or annotations. Overall very good condition for a prewar Japanese map of this type.

N° de réf. du vendeur VMAP0076

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Tokyo City Ward Map
• Éditeur: Not stated; likely issued in Tokyo by a commercial cartographic publisher, early ShÅ wa period. c. 1933â 1936 (early ShÅ wa period), Japan
• Date de parution: 1933
• Reliure: Hard
• Type de livre: Maps
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Maps