NHK's documentary program "Interesting Houses" (General), which explores the unexpected stories hidden behind intriguing houses seen around town, such as rundown Western-style houses and mansions hidden behind hedges, will air "Concrete Tenement Houses in the Downtown Area (Kiyosumi Shirakawa, Tokyo)" from 6:05 p.m. on January 12th.
Rows of elaborately decorated concrete storefronts line the building, commonly known as "Kiyosumi Nagaya." The building is actually nearly 100 years old. Built by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1928 after the Great Kanto Earthquake, it was a cutting-edge earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete building.
The surrounding area was burned to the ground during the Great Tokyo Air Raid, but the concrete tenement houses remained, protecting their residents. The century-old walls and ceilings have a deep charm, and behind the houses there is an unexpectedly spectacular view. What is it about the tenement houses that still attracts people today?
