Shibuya (wikt:渋谷, 渋谷wikt:区, 区 ''Shibuya-ku'') is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in Tokyo, Japan. As a major commercial and finance center, it houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shinjuku Station (southern half) and Shibuya Station. As of April 1, 2022, it has an estimated population of 228,906 and a population density of 15,149.30 people per km² (39,263.4/sq mi). The total area is 15.11 km² (5.83 sq mi). The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the shopping district which surrounds Shibuya Station. This area is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.

History

Heian to Edo period

Shibuya was historically the site of a castle in which the Shibuya family resided from the 11th century through the Edo period. Following the opening of the Yamanote Line in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major commercial and entertainment center.

Meiji to Showa period

The List of villages in Japan, village of Shibuya was incorporated in 1889 by the merger of the villages of Kami-Shibuya, Naka-Shibuya and Shimo-Shibuya within Minamitoshima District, Tokyo, Minami-Toshima County (Toyotama County from 1896). The village covered the territory of modern-day Shibuya Station area as well as the Hiroo, Shibuya, Tokyo, Hiroo, Daikanyama, Aoyama, Tokyo, Aoyama, and Ebisu, Shibuya, Ebisu areas. Shibuya became a List of towns in Japan, town in 1909. The town of Shibuya merged with the neighboring towns of Sendagaya (which included the modern Sendagaya, Harajuku and Jingumae areas) and Yoyohata (which included the modern Yoyogi and Hatagaya areas) to form Shibuya-ku Wards of Japan, suburban ward upon being absorbed into Tokyo City in 1932. Shibuya became an urban special ward under the Local Autonomy Act in 1947. The Tokyu Toyoko Line opened in 1932, making Shibuya a key terminal between Tokyo and Yokohama, and was joined by the forerunner of the Keio Inokashira Line in 1933 and the forerunner of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line in 1938. One of the best-known stories concerning Shibuya is the story of Hachikō, a dog who waited on his late master at Shibuya Station every day from 1923 to 1935, eventually becoming a national celebrity for his loyalty. A statue of Hachikō was built adjacent to the station, and the surrounding Hachikō Square is now the most popular meeting point in the area.

Post-War Showa

During the occupation of Japan, Yoyogi Park was used as a housing compound for U.S. personnel known as "Washington Heights." The U.S. military left in 1964, and much of the park was repurposed as venues for the 1964 Summer Olympics. The ward itself served as part of the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics, athletics 50 km walk and marathon course during the 1964 games. Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people since the late 70s. There are several famous fashion department stores in Shibuya. Shibuya 109 is a major shopping center near Shibuya Station, particularly famous as the origin of the ''kogal'' subculture. Called "Ichi-Maru-kyū," which translates as 1–0–9 in Japanese, the name is actually a pun on that of the corporation that owns it — Tokyu Corporation, Tōkyū (which sounds like 10–9 in Japanese; this is Japanese wordplay#Numeric substitution, numerical substitution, a form of goroawase wordplay). The contemporary fashion scene in Shibuya extends northward from Shibuya Station to Harajuku, where youth culture reigns; Omotesandō, Tokyo, Omotesandō, the zelkova tree- and fashion brand-lined street; and Sendagaya, Tokyo's apparel design district.

Heisei period

In 1985, Teamer created a new culture in Shibuya. During the mid 90s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the information technology, IT industry in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on both "Bitter Valley", the literal translation of "Shibuya", as well as bit, the computer term for Binary number, binary digits. Shibuya Stream, a skyscraper and retail complex, was completed in 2018.

Reiwa period

The East Wing of a mixed-used skyscraper Shibuya Scramble Square was completed in August 2019. Shibuya's new gateway Shibuya Fukuras was completed in October 2019.

2019 New Year's Day vehicle attack

During the early morning of January 1, 2019, a 21-year-old man named Kazuhiro Kusakabe drove his minicar into a crowd of pedestrians celebrating New Year's Day on Takeshita Street. The man claimed his actions were a terrorist attack, and later stated that his intention was to retaliate against the usage of the Capital punishment in Japan, death penalty for Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult members. The man attempted to flee but was soon apprehended by authorities in a nearby park. Miyashita Park has reopened in July 2020 as a shopping complex with a rooftop park.

Geography

Shibuya includes many well-known commercial and residential districts such as Daikan'yamachō, Shibuya, Daikanyama, Ebisu, Shibuya, Ebisu, Harajuku, Hiroo, Shibuya, Hiroo, Higashi, Shibuya, Higashi, Omotesandō, Tokyo, Omotesandō, Sendagaya, and Yoyogi.

Districts

* Hatagaya Area: ** Sasazuka, Hatagaya, Shibuya, Hatagaya, Honmachi, Shibuya, Honmachi * Yoyogi Area: ** Uehara, Shibuya, Uehara, Ōyamachō, Nishihara, Shibuya, Nishihara, Hatsudai, Motoyoyogichō, Tomigaya, Yoyogikamizonochō * Sendagaya Area: ** Sendagaya, Jingūmae * Ebisu-Ōmukai Area: ** Kamiyamachō, Shibuya, Tokyo, Kamiyamachō, Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo, Jinnan, Udagawachō, Shōtō, Shibuya, Shōtō, Shinsenchō, Maruyamachō, Shibuya, Maruyamachō, Dōgenzaka (district), Dōgenzaka, Nanpeidaichō, Shibuya, Nanpeidaichō, Sakuragaokachō, Shibuya, Sakuragaokachō, Hachiyamachō, Uguisudanichō, Shibuya, Uguisudanichō, Sarugakuchō, Shibuya, Sarugakuchō, Daikan'yamachō, Shibuya, Daikan'yamachō, Ebisunishi, Ebisuminami, Shibuya, Ebisuminami * Hikawa-Shimbashi Area: ** Shibuya (district), Shibuya, Higashi, Shibuya, Higashi, Ebisu, Shibuya, Ebisu, Hiroo, Shibuya, Hiroo

Politics and government

Shibuya is run by a city assembly of 34 elected members. The mayor is Ken Hasebe, an Independent (politician), independent.

Elections

* 2003 Shibuya mayoral election

The same-sex partnership certificate

In 2015, as the council passed "Ordinance for Promoting Respect of Gender Equality and Diversity in the Ward", Shibuya Ward became the first Japanese municipality that issues Domestic partnership, same-sex partnership certificates.. According to this ordinance, same-sex couples who live in Shibuya are allowed "to rent apartments together, and have gained hospital visitation rights as family members". The ordinance was intended to bring three benefits to same-sex couples: "(1) rental housing within the ward (co-signing of tenancy agreements for municipal/public housing), (2) medical institutions within the ward (hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights as family members), and (3) employment conditions within the ward (e.g. family benefits, congratulations and condolence leave)". In order to apply for the certificate, couples must be 20-years-old or older residents of Shibuya Ward and have to state that "their relationship is based on love and mutual trust" in a notarized document. Koyuki Higashi (a former member of the Takarazuka Revue) and Hiroko Masuhara (an entrepreneur), a lesbian couple, were the first to receive this certification. Since the Shibuya Ward passed the ordinance, seven other municipalities in Japan have begun offering similar certificates. The BBC notes that the ordinance has little binding law of Japan, legal force, saying it "amounts to a moral obligation on Shibuya businesses, which will not be penalised if they do not recognise the certificate", though their Guilt–shame–fear spectrum of cultures, names will be posted on the ward's website if they violate the ordinance. Shimizu says the system "is not equivalent to marriage, as it does not accord same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to inheritance, joint filing of taxes, or social welfare". As it requires at least a hundred thousand yen to apply for the certificate, it can be restrictive to some couples. Shimizu argues that Shibuya Ward has been criticized for Pinkwashing (LGBT), pinkwashing as "while passing this ordinance, the administration also moved to expel the homeless in Miyashita Park and other parks in the ward". Pointing out that the mayor of Shibuya Ward in an interview stated that this is not a matter of human rights, but of diversity, Yuri Horie claimed that the term of diversity seems to be used to divide citizens into the good and the bad; it raises only the ones who contribute to the consumeristic society as representer of "diversity of sexuality" while excluding the useless ones. Yuki Tsuchiya, a lesbian activist, also argues that LGBT individuals are used to promote the ward.

Sightseeing and historic sites

Shibuya scramble square sky view of crossing (48995414042)

Shibuya is famous for its Pedestrian scramble, scramble crossing, called Shibuya Crossing. It is located in front of the Shibuya Station Hachikō exit and stops vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection. Shibuya Crossing is the "world’s busiest pedestrian crossing", with upwards 3,000 people at a time. The statue of Hachikō, a dog, between the station and the intersection, is a common meeting place and almost always crowded. On the southwest side of Shibuya station, there is another popular meeting place with a statue called "Moyai". The statue resembles a Moai statue, and it was given to Shibuya by the people of Niijima, Niijima Island in 1980.

Green areas

*Meiji Shrine, Shinto shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, surrounded by a 700,000-square-meter forest. *Shinjuku Gyo-en (Sendagaya), former Imperial gardens now open to the public as a park. *Yoyogi Park, once a training base for the Imperial Japanese Army, later the Washington Heights housing area for the Occupation of Japan, then the lodgings for contestants in the 1964 Summer Olympics, Tokyo Olympics.

Buildings

Shibuya - Hotel Sunreon (love hotel) 01 (15554736517)

* 109 (department store), Shibuya 109, a popular and trendy place for mostly Japanese young women to shop. *United Nations University * Bunkamura, theatre and concert hall complex * Cerulean Tower, the tallest building in the Shibuya Station area * Ebisu, Shibuya#Sightseeing and attractions#Yebisu Garden Place, Yebisu Garden Place (Ebisu), site of the former Sapporo Brewery, now featuring restaurants and shopping, along with the Westin Hotels, Westin Hotel * National Noh Theatre (Sendagaya) * New National Theatre Tokyo, New National Theatre (Hatsudai), site of opera, ballet, and other performances * NHK Broadcasting Center, headquarters of the NHK radio, television, and satellite broadcasting system * NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, the List of tallest buildings and structures in Tokyo, fourth-tallest building in Tokyo, patterned after the Empire State Building * Omotesando Hills, Omotesandō Hills, a shopping mall completed in 2006 * Shibuya Fukuras * Shibuya Hikarie * Shibuya Scramble Square * Shinjuku Southern Terrace (Sendagaya) * Takashimaya Times Square (Sendagaya), one of the largest department stores in Japan * Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (Sendagaya), a major indoor arena complex * Tokyo Baptist Church * Tokyo Camii, the largest mosque in Japan * Yoyogi National Gymnasium, designed for the 1964 Olympics by Kenzo Tange.

Streets and places

* Aoyama Dōri, a major east–west thoroughfare * Center Gai * Dogenzaka, Dōgen-zaka, a road in central Shibuya famous for its surrounding nightclubs and love hotels * Komazawa Dōri – running past Daikanyama, down the hill to Ebisu, crossing Meiji Dōri and up the hill through Higashi, Shibuya, Higashi and Hiroo, Shibuya, Hiroo. The road stops at the Shuto Expressway in Minami Aoyama. Famed for its beautiful trees that turn bright yellow in autumn, cafes, restaurants, and a large replica of Michelangelo's David (Michelangelo), David outside of the Papas building. Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi have their official residence in a palace in large gardens off Komazawadori in Higashi. * Koen Street, Kōen Street, in central Shibuya between Shibuya Station and Yoyogi Park. * Meiji Dōri, a major north–south thoroughfare parallel to the Yamanote Line. * Miyamasu-zaka * Nonbei-Yokocho, a small street near the rail tracks famous for its small bars and old Tokyo feel. * Omotesandō, Tokyo, Omotesandō, an avenue leading up to the Meiji Shrine with a number of famous-brand boutiques * Spain-zaka * Takeshita Street, a shopping street through Harajuku * Yamanote Street * Shibuya * Ebisu, Tokyo, Ebisu * Harajuku * Hiroo, Shibuya, Hiroo * Sendagaya * Yoyogi

Transportation

Rail

The main station in Shibuya is Shibuya Station. The southern half of Shinjuku Station, including the New South Entrance, is located in Shibuya. *JR East **Yamanote Line: Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku, Yoyogi Station, Yoyogi, Harajuku Station, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ebisu Station (Tokyo), Ebisu stations ** Chūō Line (Rapid), Chūō-Sōbu Line: Shinjuku, Yoyogi, Sendagaya Station, Sendagaya stations **Saikyō Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu stations *Tokyo Metro **Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Ginza Line: Shibuya station **Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Marunouchi Line: Shinjuku station **Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Hibiya Line: Ebisu station **Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Chiyoda Line: Meiji-jingumae Station, Meiji Jingūmae, Yoyogi-Kōen Station, Yoyogi Kōen, Yoyogi-Uehara Station, Yoyogi Uehara stations **Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line, Hanzōmon Line: Shibuya station **Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, Fukutoshin Line: Shibuya, Meiji Jingūmae, Kitasandō Station, Kitasandō stations ** Toei Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku station *Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation ** Toei Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku station **Toei Ōedo Line: Shinjuku, Yoyogi, Kokuritsu-Kyōgijō Station, Kokuritsu Kyogi-jo stations *Tokyu Corporation **Tōkyū Tōyoko Line, Tōyōko Line: Shibuya, Daikan-yama Station, Daikanyama stations **Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line, Den-en-toshi Line: Shibuya, Ikejiri-Ōhashi Station, Ikejiri Ohashi stations *Keio Corporation **Keiō Inokashira Line, Inokashira Line:Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinsen Station, Shinsen stations **Keiō Line: Shinjuku, Sasazuka Station, Sasazuka stations **Keiō New Line: Shinjuku, Hatsudai Station, Hatsudai, Hatagaya Station, Hatagaya, Sasazuka stations *Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyū Odawara Line, Odawara Line: Shinjuku, Minami-Shinjuku Station, Minami Shinjuku, Sangūbashi Station, Sangubashi, Yoyogi-Hachiman Station, Yoyogi Hachiman, Yoyogi Uehara stations * The Imperial Platform, used by the Japanese Imperial Family on rare occasions, is located along the Yamanote Line, a few minutes walk from Harajuku Station in Sendagaya 3-chome.

Highway

*Shuto Expressway **No.3 Shibuya Route (Tanimachi JCT – Yoga) **No.4 Shinjuku Route (Miyakezaka JCT – Takaido) *National highways of Japan, National highways **Japan National Route 20, Route 20, the Kōshū Kaidō **Japan National Route 246, Route 246, with the local names Aoyama-dōri and Tamagawa-dōri

Economy

Several companies are headquartered in Shibuya. Calpis, Casio,Corporate
" ''Casio''. Retrieved on February 25, 2009 Mixi, Niwango, Nihon Dempa Kogyo, and Tokyu Corporation have their headquarters in Shibuya. East Japan Railway Company have their headquarters in Yoyogi, Shibuya. 81 Produce has its headquarters in Tomigaya, Shibuya.

Former operations

At one time Smilesoft had its headquarters in the CT Sasazuka Building in Shibuya.会社概要
" Smilesoft. February 12, 2002. Retrieved on February 11, 2010. In May 1985 the headquarters of Bandai Visual moved to Shibuya. In March 1990 the headquarters moved to Shinjuku. A.D. Vision - Tokyo, Y.K., the Japanese subsidiary of A.D. Vision, was in Shibuya. Acclaim Entertainment once had its Tokyo office in the Nomora Building. The Japanese subsidiary of Titus Interactive, Titus Japan K.K., had its head office on the eighth floor of the Kotubuki Dogenzaka Building in Dōgenzaka.Contact
" Titus Interactive. 3 June 2004. Retrieved on 4 September 2012. The former animation studio; Group TAC was also located here. Square Enix had its headquarters in Yoyogi before moving to Shinjuku ward in 2012.

Companies

*Amway Japan: Japan headquarters, a multi-level marketing company *The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola Japan *Campbell Soup Company, Campbells Soup's Japan division is headquartered in Shibuya, on the 10th floor of the Tokyo Tatemono Hiroo Building. *CyberAgent: Internet advertising agency *East Japan Railway Company (JR East) *Gap Inc, Gap Japan *Ito En: bottler of tea, coffee, vegetable drinks, and other beverages *NHK, NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) (NHK Broadcasting Center) *Papas: clothing, cafe, and bakery company *Sapporo Brewery, Sapporo Breweries Limited *Trend Micro Japan: security software company

Education

Colleges and universities

*Aoyama Gakuin University *Bunka Gakuen University (Yoyogi) *Jissen Women's University *Kokugakuin University (Higashi, Shibuya, Higashi) *Shibuya University Network *Tokai University *United Nations University *University of the Sacred Heart (Japan), University of the Sacred Heart (Hiroo)

Primary and secondary schools

The operates public elementary and junior high schools, while Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates public senior high schools. * Aoyama Gakuin Elementary, Junior and Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Shibuya, affiliated with Aoyama Gakuin University * —public co-ed school, in Jingūmae * The British School in Tokyo Shibuya Campus * First Commercial High School—public co-ed school, in Daikanyama * Fujimigaoka Junior and Senior High School—private girls' school, in Sasazuka * Hiroo Gakuen Junior and Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Hiroo, Shibuya, Tokyo, Hiroo * Hiroo High School—public co-ed school, in Higashi, Tokyo, Higashi * International School of Sacred Heart, in Hiroo * Jingūmae International Exchange School (JIES), within the Shibuya Ward Jingūmae Elementary School in Omotesando * Jissen Joshi-Gakuen Elementary, Junior and Senior High School—private girls' school, in Higashi, affiliated with Jissen Women's University * Kantō Kokusai Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Honchō * Kokugakuin Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Jingūmae Public combined elementary and junior high schools * Shibuya Honmachi Gakuen (:ja:渋谷区立渋谷本町学園, 渋谷本町学園) Junior high schools: * Hachiyama Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立鉢山中学校, 鉢山中学校) * Harajuku Gaien Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立原宿外苑中学校, 原宿外苑中学校) * Hiroo Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立広尾中学校, 広尾中学校) * Sasazuka Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立笹塚中学校, 笹塚中学校) * Shoto Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立松濤中学校, 松濤中学校) * Uehara Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立上原中学校, 上原中学校) * Yoyogi Junior High School (:ja:渋谷区立代々木中学校, 代々木中学校) Elementary schools: * Hatashiro Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立幡代小学校, 幡代小学校) * Hatomori Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立鳩森小学校, 鳩森小学校) * Hiroo Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立広尾小学校, 広尾小学校) * Jingumae Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立神宮前小学校, 神宮前小学校) * Jinnan Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立神南小学校, 神南小学校) * Kakezuka Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立加計塚小学校, 加計塚小学校) * Nagayato Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立長谷戸小学校, 長谷戸小学校) * Nakahata Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立中幡小学校, 中幡小学校) * Nishihara Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立西原小学校, 西原小学校) * Rinsen Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立臨川小学校, 臨川小学校) * Sarugaku Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立猿楽小学校, 猿楽小学校) * Sasazuka Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立笹塚小学校, 笹塚小学校) * Sendagaya Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立千駄谷小学校, 千駄谷小学校) * Tokiwamatsu Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立常磐松小学校, 常磐松小学校) * Tomigaya Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立富谷小学校, 富谷小学校) * Uehara Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立上原小学校, 上原小学校) * Yoyogisanya Elementary School (:ja:渋谷区立代々木山谷小学校, 代々木山谷小学校)

Public libraries

Shibuya operates several public libraries, including the Central Library, the Nishihara Library, the Shibuya Library, the Tomigaya Library, the Sasazuka Library, the Honmachi Library, and the Rinsen Library. In addition, the Yoyogi Youth Hall houses the Yoyogi Library Room.

In popular culture

*Gals!, Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran *Tokyo Revengers *Persona 5 *The World Ends With You *Neo: The World Ends with You *Jujutsu Kaisen, Jujutsu-kaisen *Alice in Borderland *Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!

Diplomatic missions

Several countries operate their embassies in Shibuya. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gallery

File:2018 Shibuya Crossing.jpg, Shibuya crossing at ground level File:Shibuya scramble square sky view of crossing wide (48994670573).jpg, View from the Sky View observation deck File:Scramble from above, SHIBUYA SKY (49367161357).jpg, Shibuya crossing at night File:Shibuya at night 03 (15120002334).jpg, Streets of Shibuya at night File:Facade of the polyhedral glass building The Iceberg, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.jpg, "''The Iceberg''", building in Shibuya

References

External links

Shibuya City Official Website
{{Authority control Shibuya, Articles containing video clips Entertainment districts in Japan Olympic athletics venues Venues of the 1964 Summer Olympics Wards of Tokyo