Takeshita-san – the man at the Police Box
April 2nd, 2008 by Ian Priestlyphoto: Ian Priestly
Most Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, at the police box on the 4-chome crossing, you will see an old man peering at unfurled maps and giving directions or advice to some of the travellers that visit Ginza.
Mr. Takeshita – the man in question – has been doing the job for the last 3 years because, he says, he would like to pay back some of the kindness shown to him during his time in the U.S.A.
Mr. Takeshita is an excellent English speaker, works on a purely voluntary basis and is a great source of information. He was born and raised in Ginza, so he knows the area well. I asked him about the Ginza of his childhood compared to the Ginza of today, and he recreates the scene on a Saturday 60-years ago.
Then, the ground floor of the Wako department store opposite the police box was a café frequented by American soldiers, and the famous Matsuya department store was the PX (post / base exchange) clothing shop, specializing in clothes for the families of servicemen. “It’s a bit different now,” he says, casting an eye around at the glitzy shop fronts, billboards and video screens.
According to Mr. Takeshita, he deals with around 80 enquiries from visitors each day, but that number is increasing as Tokyo draws an ever-larger number of people from all over the world.
If in doubt, if in Ginza on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday – Mr. Takeshita is your man.
