Kabutochō (), or more formally Nihonbashi Kabutochō (), is a neighborhood of Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. It is the location of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and many securities companies, so is considered Japan's equivalent of Wall Street in New York City.
History The name of Kabutochō, literally the town of Kabuto (ancient helmet), is said to come from a legend that Minamoto no Yoshiie, upon his return from having conquered the north-eastern provinces in the eleventh century, buried his helmet there.The origin of the name, Nihonbashi Kabutochi (in the Chuo-ku official site) (in Japanese) It used to be a swampy area till the early 17th century, when the Daimyo who were forced to participate in the building of the Edo Castle built their residences.The history of Nihonbashi kabutocho (in the Chuo-ku official site) (in Japanese)
By the Meiji period, the Kabutochō area came to be owned by the Mitsui family. In 1871, Eiichi Shibusawa established the First National Bank there, which later would become part of Mizuho Bank. As the Tokyo Stock Exchange was established there in 1878, the area soon became Japan's financial center, with many securities companies and banks setting up their headquarters and/or branch offices.
Revitalization Recently, as securities trading has become electronic, larger securities firms have already left Kabutochō to other premier locations in Tokyo. Heiwa Real Estate, the owner of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Exchange buildings, has kicked off a Kabutochō Revitalization project.The Nihonbashi Kabutochō and Kayabachō Revitalization Concept Heiwa Real Estate In 2020 Time Out named Kabutochō as the coolest neighborhood in Tokyo.Kabutocho in Nihonbashi is named Tokyo’s coolest neighbourhood in 2020: The 'former wall street of Tokyo' is reinventing itself with cool, independent restaurants and bars Emma Steen, Time Out, 7 October 2020
Education
Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by Chuo City Board of Education.
Kabutocho is zoned to Sakamoto Elementary School (中央区立阪本小学校) and Nihonbashi Junior High School (日本橋中学校).
See also Tokyo Stock Exchange
References
External links
Official site of Chuo-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese) The town that developed with Japan’s financial economy (Nihonbashi-tokyo.com)