Shitamachi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The traditional working-class low city areas of Tokyo, known for their older wooden houses and lively neighborhood culture
2. Historic low-lying downtown neighborhoods in eastern Tokyo that preserve the atmosphere of the old merchant and artisan quarters
3. An older part of Tokyo's downtown, characterized by narrow streets, humble homes and a long-established local community spirit

Etymology: Shitamachi literally means "low city" or "downtown," from "shita" (below, under) and "machi" (town, quarter). The contrast it names is physical as much as social: the old merchant and artisan quarters of Edo lay on the low ground along the Sumida River and its delta, while the samurai residences and the shogun's castle occupied the higher plateau, the yamanote, or "hill-side" area. The pairing of "shita" and "yamanote" is still used to describe the two halves of the city. The term is a compound of ordinary Japanese words, so there is no foreign coinage or myth to unpick. Its meaning has moved from geography toward character. As the low city became home to craftsmen, shopkeepers, and laborers, "shitamachi" came to suggest a plain-spoken, close-knit, and unpretentious way of life, and it is often contrasted with the more polished or affluent yamanote districts.