Toshima

This article is about the ward in Tokyo. For other uses, see Toshima (disambiguation).

Toshima (豊島としま区く, Toshima-ku) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is one of the eight central wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Located in the northern area of Tokyo, Toshima is bordered by the wards of Nerima, Itabashi, and Kita in the north and Nakano, Shinjuku, and Bunkyo in the south.

Toshima 豊島としま区く
Special ward
Toshima City
Ikebukuro at night in Toshima
Flag Seal
Location of Toshima in Tokyo
Toshima Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°44′00″N 139°43′00″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo
Government
• Mayor	Miyuki Takagiwa (from April 24, 2023)
Area
• Total	13.01 km2 (5.02 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2020)
• Total	301,599
• Density	23,182/km2 (60,040/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-18-1 Higashi Ikebukuro 170-8422
Website	www.city.toshima.lg.jp
Symbols
Flower	Azalea
Tree	Prunus × yedoensis

The ward was founded on March 15, 1947, and reached a peak resident population of 370,000 in 1965. The population has continued to decline and as of May 1, 2015, the ward had an estimated population of 298,250, with a population density of 22,920 persons per km². During the day the population swells with commuters, resulting in a daytime population of around 378,475.

The total land area of Toshima is 13.01 km², sitting on a moderate plateau with a difference of 28 m between the ward's highest and lowest points. Approximately 47% of Toshima's land is residential, and 20% is commercial and public areas.

Although Toshima is a ward, it is referred to as a city. The ward offices are located in Ikebukuro, which is also the commercial and entertainment center of Toshima.

With a non-Japanese population of 19,868, or 7.42% of the total, Toshima is one of the most international wards in Tokyo. Of the foreign population, 56% is of Chinese descent, 20% is of Korean descent, with the rest being of primarily Filipino and European descent.

History

Toshima was formed in 1932 by the merger of four towns, Sugamochō, Nishi-sugamochō, Takadachō, and Nagasakichō, bordered by the quickly expanding former city of Tokyo.

The area evolved from a suburban agricultural district in the Edo period to the urban commercial center that it is today. The growth was fueled by the construction of various rail lines built in the Meiji and Taishō periods.

The former Somei village, now part of Toshima, was a center of plant nurseries, and is the birthplace of the Somei Yoshino, Japan's most popular variety of sakura (cherry blossom tree). The variety was developed at the end of the Edo period.

Politics and government

Toshima ward office

Toshima is run by a city assembly of 36 elected members. The current mayor is Yukio Takano, an independent backed by all major parties except the Japanese Communist Party.

In April 2011, Taiga Ishikawa was elected to the Toshima assembly, becoming the first openly gay man to win an election in Japanese history.

Districts and neighborhoods

Nagasaki Area

• Chihaya
• Kanamechō
• Mejiro^a
• Minaminagasaki
• Nagasaki
• Nishiikebukuro^b
• Senkawa
• Takamatsu

Nishisugamo Area

• Agariyashiki
• Higashiikebukuro
• Ikebukuro
• Ikebukuro Honchō
• Kamiikebukuro
• Kitaōtsuka^c
• Mejiro^d
• Minamiikebukuro^e
• Minamiōtsuka^f
• Nishiikebukuro^g
• Nishisugamo

Sugamo Area

• Kitaōtsuka^h
• Komagome
• Minamiōtsukaⁱ
• Sugamo

Takada Area

• Mejiro^j
• Minamiikebukuro^k
• Nishiikebukuro^l
• Takada
• Zōshigaya

Notes:

• ^a - 4, 5-chōme
• ^b - 4-chōme
• ^c - 2, 3-chōme
• ^d - 4-chōme
• ^e - 1-chōme
• ^f - 3-chōme
• ^g - 1, 3-chōme
• ^h - 1-chōme
• ⁱ - 1, 2-chōme
• ^j - 1, 2, 3-chōme
• ^k - 2, 3, 4-chōme
• ^l - 2-chōme

Sights

Ikebukuro Station

Myonichikan of Jiyu Gakuen

Sunshine 60 building

• Sunshine City: The focal point of much of the entertainment in and around Ikebukuro, Sunshine City sports some of the best shopping and dining in Toshima.
• The Ancient Orient Museum
• Morikazu Kumagai Art Museum
• Zoshigaya Missionary Museum
• Toyota Amlux Showroom building is located here
• Tokiwa-sō, an apartment complex famous for being the early living-quarters of many prominent manga artists.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre: Near Ikebukuro Station, this facility built in 1990 is one of the newer spots in Toshima and has a concert hall with regular performances and art exhibitions. There is a stage in the open space out front and it is a popular place for amateur musicians during the warmer months.
• Myonichikan of Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School: Designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this notable building was completed in 1922, shortly before he completed work on the Imperial Hotel.
• Sugamo Jizodori: The shopping district known as "old ladies' Harajuku."

Togenuki Jizo Street in Sugamo

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space

Festivals

• Fukuro Matsuri: This festival started in 1968 and features a parade of mikoshi (portable shrines) and a yassa dance. It is held on September 14 and 15 of each year outside the west exit of Ikebukuro Station and attracts as many as 200,000 people.
• Otsuka Awa Odori Dance: A large summer event gathering 150,000 people, this festival features groups performing and competing with colorful costumes and dancing in front of JR Ōtsuka Station.
• Nagasaki Shishimai (lion dance): The lion dance is performed every year on the second Sunday of May at Nagasaki Shrine.

Economy

FamilyMart has its headquarters in Ikebukuro, Toshima. Seiyu Group has its registered head office in Toshima. Libro, a bookstore chain, is headquartered in Toshima. Itochu corporation and Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd. has a presence in Toshima. Taisho Pharmaceutical, a pharmaceutical company, also has its headquarters in the ward.

In 1956, Asatsu Inc. established its headquarters in Mejiro, Toshima. In May 1967, the company's headquarters moved to Shinbashi, Minato.

Education

There are six Universities in Toshima.

• Gakushuin University
• Tokyo College of Music
• Rikkyo University or St. Paul's University
• Taisho University
• Tokyo International University
• Tokyo University of Social Welfare

Two prestigious universities are located bordering Toshima. They are the University of Tokyo in Bunkyo and Waseda University bordering Shinjuku. Located Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates area public high schools.

Toshima is also home to a number of accredited private schools:

• Rikkyo Ikebukuro Junior and Senior High School

Toshima City Board of Education (豊島としま区く教育きょういく委員いいん会かい) operates public elementary and junior high schools.

Municipal junior high schools:

• Chitosebashi Junior High School (千登世ちとせ橋きょう中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Ikebukuro Junior High School (池袋いけぶくろ中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Komagome Junior High School (駒込こまごめ中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Meiho Junior High School (明豊めいほう中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Nishiikebukuro Junior High School (西池袋にしいけぶくろ中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Nishisugamo Junior High School (西巣鴨にしすがも中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Senkawa Junior High School (千川せんかわ中学校ちゅうがっこう)
• Sugamokita Junior High School (巣鴨すがも北きた中学校ちゅうがっこう)

Municipal elementary schools:

• Asahi Elementary School (朝日あさひ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Chihaya Elementary School (千早ちはや小学校しょうがっこう)
• Fujimidai Elementary School (富士見台ふじみだい小学校しょうがっこう)
• Gyoko Elementary School (仰おおせ高だか小学校しょうがっこう)
• Hosei Elementary School (豊成とよしげ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Hoyu Elementary School (朋とも有ゆう小学校しょうがっこう)
• Ikebukuro Elementary School (池袋いけぶくろ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Ikebukuro Daiichi (No. 1) Elementary School (池袋いけぶくろ第だい一いち小学校しょうがっこう)
• Ikebukuro Daisan (No. 3) Elementary School (池袋いけぶくろ第だい三さん小学校しょうがっこう)
• Ikebukuro Honcho Elementary School (池袋本いけぶくろほん町まち小学校しょうがっこう)
• Kaname Elementary School (要よう小学校しょうがっこう)
• Komagome Elementary School (駒込こまごめ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Konan Elementary School (高こう南みなみ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Mejiro Elementary School (目白めじろ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Minami Ikebukuro Elementary School (南池袋みなみいけぶくろ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Nagasaki Elementary School (長崎ながさき小学校しょうがっこう)
• Nishisugamo Elementary School (西巣鴨にしすがも小学校しょうがっこう)
• Sakura Elementary School (さくら小学校しょうがっこう)
• Seiwa Elementary School (清和せいわ小学校しょうがっこう)
• Shiinamachi Elementary School (椎名しいな町まち小学校しょうがっこう)
• Sugamo Elementary School (巣鴨すがも小学校しょうがっこう)
• Takamatsu Elementary School (高松たかまつ小学校しょうがっこう)

Municipal kindergartens:

• Ikebukuro Kindergarten (池袋いけぶくろ幼稚園ようちえん)
• Minami Nagasaki Kindergarten (南長崎みなみながさき幼稚園ようちえん)
• Nishisugamo Kindergarten (西巣鴨にしすがも幼稚園ようちえん)

Transportation

Further information: Transportation in Greater Tokyo

Rail

The main hub for rail transportation in Toshima ward is Ikebukuro Station, the second busiest train station in Japan.

The rail lines which run through or terminate in Toshima are:

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
  • Saikyō Line
  • Shōnan-Shinjuku Line
  • Yamanote Line
• Seibu Railway
  • Seibu Ikebukuro Line
• Tobu Railway
  • Tōjō Line
• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei)
  • Tokyo Sakura Tram Also known as the Arakawa Metropolitan Streetcar Line, it is Tokyo's only remaining Tokyo Toden streetcar system.
  • Toei Subway:
    • Toei Shinjuku Line
    • Mita Line
    • Toei Ōedo Line
• Tokyo Metro
  • Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line
  • Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
  • Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
  • Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line

Notable people from Toshima

• Mone Inami, professional golfer
• Koki Morita, professional footballer
• Jun Matsumoto, singer, actor, and member of Arashi
• Kō Shibasaki, singer and actress
• Tatsuro Yamashita, singer-songwriter and record producer

External links

• Toshima City Official Website (in Japanese)