Directory_and_Chronicle_1936 — Page 278

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JAPAN-TOKYO

SWITZERLAND (LEGATION)-1, Shimoni-

ban-cho, Kojimachi-ku

Minister-Walter Thurnheer

Chancellor-Ernest C. Ribi

Secretary-Interpreter

Tanaka

Louis N.

TURKEY (EMBASSY) 47, Kamiyama- machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Teleph. Aoyama 4520

Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary and Charge d'Affaires-H. E. Nebil

UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS (EMBASSY)-1, Mamianacho, Azabu- ou, Tokyo; Teleph. Akasaka 0138, 0139; Cable Ad: Polpred

Ambassador-K. Yurenev

Trade Commissioner and Comm❜l

Counsellor-V. Kotchetoff Military Attaché-Ivan Rink Naval Attaché-A. Kovaleff Consul General and 1st Secretary

-V. Jelezniakoff

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EMBASSY) -1, Enokizaka-machi, Akasaka-ku; Telephs. Ikasaka (48) 0421-4, 0525 and 1409

Ambassador

Grew

Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary-Joseph

Clark

Counsellor-Edwin L. Neville First Secretary-Erle R. Dickover Second Secretary - Edward S. Crocker Third Secretaries -- Cabot Coville Morris N. Hughes and George D. Andrews

Naval Attaché-Capt. Fred F.

Rogers

Military Attaché-Major William

C. Crane Commercial

Williams

Attaché-Frank S.

Assistant Naval Attaché-Lt. Ethel-

bert Watts.

Assist.

Military Attaché — John Weckerling

Capt.

TOKYO

The capital of Japan is situated on Tokyo Bay, on the East coast of Japan. The river Sumida runs through the city, the larger part lying to the west of this waterway, while on the east lie the two wards named Honjo and Fukagawa

Tokyo as viewed from the bay is a pleasant-looking city, being well situat- ed undulating ground, and possessing abundant foliage. The city covers 198 square miles and is divided into 35 wards.

In 1603, when Iyeyasu became Shogun, he made Yedo, as it was then called his capital, and from that time, in spite of the earthquakes which several times nearly destroyed it and the fires which ravaged it, the city con- tinued to grow until it exceeded Kyoto, the ancient capital, in population and in splendour. The transfer of the Imperial Capital from Kyoto to Tokyo, as it was then re-named, in 1868, brought increased prosperity to the city, and from a population of a little more than 580,000 in 1878, it increased to 1,280,000 in 1888, to 1,140,000 in 1898, and to 2,170,000 in 1920 when the first national census was taken. According to an estimate made by city officials during 1934 the population was 5,663,350.

Tokyo is one of the three cities in Japan which stands in a prefecture by itself, with a Governor appointed by the Central Government. The city itself is governed by a Mayor and a Municipality, which now has control over most of the public utilities, including the water and electric supplies, and the tramways. Of recent years the feudal aspect of Tokyo has almost entirely disappeared, the streets having been widened so as to permit of modern traffic conditions. Many fine buildings have also been erected, such as the Imperial Theatre, one of the finest in the Far East, the Imperial Hotel and large blocks of business houses. Tokyo Central Station situated in the heart of the business quarters, is now connected with all the main lines in Japan, thus adding to the convenience of passengers.