Tokyo,December(1)

Originally opened as a botanical garden in 1853, Hanayashiki has changed its area size, managers and use, yet remained open. Now it is well known as the oldest amusement park in Japan. Because the site plot is quite small, amusement equipments are located very densely. When we take one of the high-rise equipments, we can look around Asakusa from the sky. A sense of overlooking the place where we were. It is a place where we can experience the sense of overlooking both usual and unusual scenes.
Now this is an amusement park. What kind of change will happen to it and how it will be adapted in the next decade?

1853年に植物園「花屋敷」として開園し、面積や経営者、用途が変化していく中で、今に残る日本初の遊園地、浅草花やしき。敷地面積が狭いため隣り合う遊園器具の密度がとても高い。けれど、垂直方向に伸びる遊具に乗ると、密な地上から、空にほうりだされ浅草を見渡すことができる。上にあがったときに見える自分たちの住む場所、通ってきた場所を俯瞰する感覚。
非日常と日常を俯瞰する体験ができる場所。
今は遊園地として存在するこの場所は、これから先、どんな変化を受け入れて年を重ねていくのか。

(Tokyo, December (1), by erika okamoto)