Ashikaga, a city in south western Tochigi Prefecture, is very unique. There is no other city like this.
It is the birthplace of Ashikaga clan, the ancestor of the founder of the Muromachi Shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji and also known as the site of Ashikaga Gakko described by Francisco Xavier as ‘the largest and most famous university in Eastern Japan’.
As its location along with Watarase River made easy transportation of woven textile to Tokyo, during early Showa-era, the city had developed to be a boom town. The main business district was vibrant with bars, shops and restaurants for factory workers. Ashikaga was a cultural hub for fashion and arts in the neighboring cities.
Along with the decline of the textile industry, the city was faced with grave depopulation with 15% fall in three decades. The local economy went downhill, which turned the former busy business district into a place full of closed shops and factories.
Then the new page was turned. Taking advantage of affordable rent price, foreigners came to Ashikaga and opened their ethnic restaurants. COVID-19 served as a game changer. A number of young people, who are allowed to work from home and seek for new way of living outside Tokyo, found Ashikaga attractive. This is not only due to affordable rent price given the relatively close location to Tokyo but also beautiful landscapes with mountains and the river as well as its historic value. The city government has been actively promoting revitalization projects, for example, turning closed school into an art exhibition space, whilst joining hands with the people relocating to Ashikaga.
Ashikaga now is the place where old meets new, history crosses with modern subculture and innovation paints over sluggishness. This blog is to showcase a variety of aspects from the standpoint of me, living in Tokyo.