Hanayashiki (浅草花やしき, Asakusa hanayashiki) is an amusement park in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo, Japan,[4] that has operated since 1853. It is operated by Hanayashiki Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. It is claimed to be the oldest amusement park in Japan. One of the unofficial mascots of the park is the Panda Car (パンダカー).[2]
Several scenes of Hanayashiki in 2018
History
Origins
Asakusa Hanayashiki opened in 1853, at the end of the Edo period (1603–1867), and is considered the oldest amusement park in Japan, though the park at that time did not meet the modern definition of an amusement park. In the first two decades after the park opened, it was a botanical garden created by garden designer Morita Rokusaburo, featuring peonies and chrysanthemums. The place was called Hanayashiki (花屋敷), which means Flowery Mansion.
Around 1872 (the beginning of the Meiji period), amusement facilities were established inside the park exhibiting animals and various oddities. From the Taishō era to the early Shōwa era, it was known as one of the leading zoos in Japan, and frequently made news headlinessuch as the birth of tiger quintuplets and the birth of Japan's first baby lion.[5]: 203 The 1923 Great Kantō earthquake occurred in the same year. Many of the animals were euthanized before the fires inevitably reached their cages.[6] One famous story from that event is the head of the park pouring water on a young elephant in an unsuccessful attempt to save its life.[7]
In 1930, “The Memorial of Birds and Animals” was erected for the animals that were burned to death because of the earthquake.[5]: 203 The animals that survived were later sold to the Sendai City Zoo in 1935.[8]: 42 The park was effectively closed.
In 1939–1940, the park was purchased by the Suda-cho Restaurant (須田町食堂), and the name was changed to Shokudo Yuenchi Asakusa Rakutenchi (食堂遊園地浅草楽天地). However, the park was resold to the Sho-chiku (松竹), and the name became Theater Rakuten (劇場楽天地, Gekizyō Rakutenchi).[5]: 204
Hanayashiki was demolished in 1944 in accordance with Japan's Air Defense Law (1937; revised 1941) during World War II, which required the evacuation and removal of many buildings and structures in order to create firebreaks to prevent fires from spreading during Allied air raids.
Post-war
In 1947, the park was rebuilt as Joint-stock company Asakusa Hanayashiki (合資会社浅草花屋敷, Gōshi Kaisha Asakusa Hanayashiki) under joint management by Tetsuo Amano (天野鉄男) from Sho-chiku and Teiichi Yamada (山田貞一) from Togo Gorakuki (東洋娯楽機). In 1949, Togo Gorakuki became the sole operators, and the name was changed to Asakusa Hanayashiki (浅草花やしき). Yashiki was changed from Chinese kanji characters to Japanese hiragana characters.[5]: 217
In 1953, the Yomiuri Rocket Coaster began operation. It is the oldest existing roller coaster in Japan today. The Bee Tower was built in 1960. These attractions became very famous.
Before 1985 no admission fee was charged at the park entrance; once inside the park, visitors would instead pay for each ride individually. However, this allowed for drunks to wander into the park from the neighboring betting parlor and be public nuisances. Young people would also gather in large groups in front of the arcade center, causing the park to feel unsafe. Because of these situations, operators were unable to increase their profits and thus decided to set a general admission fee to make the park safer and more welcoming.
In 2004, the operator SuitesーOligo (formerly Toyo amusement machine) bankruptcy, into the "Club Rehabilitation" (Japanese: Clubs Reorganization Law) process, and as Asakusa local businesses Bandai provide operational support group, so that it's the Cape Department of Corporation subsidiary Hanayashiki (Japanese: Corporation took ya shi ki ) (formerly known as Corporation Puaza those have Bldg su) which receives light flower Yashiki right to operate from August 31.
In September 2016, "Bee Tower" was demolished to make room for Asakusa Hana Gekijyou (浅草花劇場), which opened in April 2019. There is a theater that provides a variety of entertainment, including performances, concerts by popular musicians, and martial arts.
In popular culture
1986 - To Sleep So As To Dream (夢みるように眠りたい, Yumemiru yō ni nemuritai)
^ abcdOzawa, Emiko (1 October 2006). Edo-kko to Asakusa Hanayashiki Ganso Theme-Park Funto-no Kiseki 江戸っ子と浅草花屋敷 元祖テーマパーク奮闘の軌跡 [Edokko and Asakusa Hanayashiki: The trajectory of the original theme park struggle] (in Japanese). Shogakukan. ISBN978-4093876322. OCLC676137339.
