A glimpse into Tokyo’s many histories   

This particular week, I visited Shin-Okubo (Koreatown) and the Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Museum. I explored some aspects of the history of the Korean community in the neighborhood in Shinjuku through its shops, stores, and parks. It was so fascinating to see flourishing Korean businesses in Japan. I, of course, did quite a bit of shopping as well. At the Open-Air Museum, I saw reconstructed buildings from various centuries in Japanese history, ranging from modern Western styles to traditional Japanese styles. The museum provided an immersive introduction to Japanese history, with well-maintained buildings, beautiful gardens, and a really, really cool train. The replicated products in each of the buildings gave me an authentic sense of the people who once lived and worked there. The museum really made me reflect on the importance that physical relics of history have in education and culture. In no other way than seeing it with my own two eyes do I think I could have come to the same understanding of Japanese architecture through the centuries and its connection to historical events. Want to see what else is out there to explore? Check out your options for student activities at TUJ!