The Nakasendo: Getting in Touch with Japanese History
Guest Speaker: John Tofflemire
Summary
The Nakasendō (中山道) trail was one of two major routes (the other being the Tokaido) along which people and goods transited between Kyoto and Edo during Japan’s Tokugawa era. The trail, which was established in the early 17th century, had 69 officially designated stations (called “juku” or “shuku” in Japanese) that hosted travelers walking along the route. John Tofflemire, today’s presenter, has walked the entire route twice, in 2022 and 2023. A number of these stations were located in what is now Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo and many of these stations became the nucleus of the current day towns and cities in Saitama. John will discuss in detail the history of a number of the Saitama stations along the Nakasendō. His presentation will include numerous photos he took during his walks along the trail as well as historical maps, photos and other material of these stations.
Profile of John Tofflemire
John Tofflemire is a Tokyo-based professional with a diverse background in urban economics, real estate consulting, and a passion for Japanese architecture and culture. Professional Background: John holds a doctorate in urban economics from the Regional Science department at the University of Pennsylvania. He has an extensive career in real estate consulting, primarily serving international commercial real estate investors. Residing in Tokyo's Koto Ward for over 25 years, John has immersed himself in the city's rich architectural heritage. He documents vintage Japanese buildings and places through photography, sharing his work on Instagram under the handle @cittaaukoto_japan, where he has a following of over 30,000. Demonstrating his appreciation for Japan's historical routes, John has undertaken the 540-kilometer walk along the Nakasendo Trail from Tokyo to Kyoto in both 2022 and 2023, sharing his journey through videos and photos.
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