The Seven Wonders of Fukagawa are seven mysterious phenomena and legends that are said to have originated in the Edo period, particularly in the Fukagawa area. They are said to have been modeled after the Seven Wonders of Honjo. Though called “Wonders” back when Tokyo was still called Edo, these stories would fit easily into urban legends or even classed as urban lore today. So, get ready for some fun, interesting and even creepy tales from a long time ago when the Shoguns still ruled Japan.

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Map of The Seven Wonders of Fukagawa | 深川七不思議地図

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While there are various theories about the specific origins of the Seven Wonders of Fukagawa, according to the Edo-Tokyo Museum, they include the following:

#1 Eitai Bridge Collapse | 永代の落橋

On August 19, 1811, during the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, the Eitai Bridge collapsed, resulting in approximately 2,000 injuries and drownings. It is said that screams from that time can still be heard late at night. What made the Eitai bridge collapse so deadly was the crowds of people taking part in the ongoing festival that was crossing the bridge. You see, at that time bridges in Japan often had a much more pronounced curve to them. The collapse in the bridge occured because of the weight of the crowds of people passing over for the festival. The break in the Eitai bridge occured a bit past the zenith of the bridge from the direction of the progression of the thronging crowds. What happened was the people behind were pushing the people forward and over the edge of the broken bridge down into the river below. Boatmen came to help, but of course the constant stream of people going over the edge overwhelmed all efforts to rescue them.

The Rakugo One Man Play About the Eitai Bridge Collapse

　There is a rakugo story called “Eitai Bridge,” but the story is completely different. Various fictional stories have been created based on actual events, showing how the collapse of the Eitai Bridge was a major event that has been passed down to future generations. This story, too, has a somewhat moralistic and allegorical quality, and the ironic twist of no one being saved is intriguing.

[Synopsis]

　

In Otaki Village, Chichibu, there is a mansion owned by Tarouemon, said to be a descendant of the Taira clan. One day, a pilgrim arrives, requesting to use their lunch box. As the mansion staff offer tea and hospitality, the pilgrim repeatedly repeats, “Is it dangerous? Is it dangerous?” while eating his lunch box. Tarouemon, the owner, appears and asks the pilgrim what the danger is, but he does not know. As the pilgrim asks Tarouemon a few questions, he learns that the mountain that Tarouemon owns, which has been passed down from his ancestors, has been neglected for a long time, and the trees have grown around the shrine in the mountain, blocking out the sunlight. The pilgrim left, saying he had to do something about it.

　

A few days later, a man named Denmaya Rokubei arrived. He was the owner of a lumber business in Fukagawa Lumberyard and was looking for a large amount of lumber to donate to the temple. He asked if he could cut down a tree from Tarouemon’s mountain. This was perfect for Tarouemon. Perhaps the pilgrim from the other day was just a temporary disguise for the shrine owner. He agreed to cut down the tree.

　

Returning to the lumberyard, Rokubei and the storekeeper chuckled. In fact, the pilgrim who had visited Tarouemon’s house earlier was the storekeeper in disguise. Now they could obtain a large amount of lumber for free. This lumber was used for the long-planned reconstruction of the Eitai Bridge, and the storekeeper made a huge profit.

　

On August 14th, the day of the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine’s grand festival, the Eitai Bridge collapsed amidst countless crowds, killing 800 people. People began to rumor that this was a fateful event, in which the god of the forest was tricked.

　

Later, Denmaya Rokubei lost his life when his boat sank, and it was said that the boat had been made using wood from the collapsed Eitai Bridge.

#2 Takahashi’s Walking Stick | 高橋の息杖

One day, a Kagoya was murdered on this bridge. His grudge lingers, and on lonely nights, the sound of a breathing stick can be heard traversing the bridge. Taka in Japanese means high, and hashi in this case means bridge. This bridge was known to have an exceptionally high curve. The fall this man had to take before perishing would have been exceptionally terrifying.

#3 Enmado Bridge: The Rope of Hatred | 閻魔堂橋恨みの縄

A man once hanged himself on this bridge, and the spirit of that person remains. It is said that if you pass by this bridge in a state of deep thought, you can see a piece of rope hanging from the railing.

#4 Sendai Hori Bloodstained Geta | 仙台堀血染めの下駄

The bloodstained geta (wooden platform sandal) of someone killed in the moat were left on the riverbank. It’s said that whenever locals threw them into the river, they always return to the same place on the river bank where they were originally found.

#5 Torn Shoji Screens at Hachimanyama | 八幡山の破れ障子

It’s said that a curse has been brewing at the teahouse in front of Fukagawa Hachiman Shrine, and no matter how many times the shoji screens in one room were repapered, they were always torn by the next morning in the exact same spot.

#6 The Mysterious Fire of 60,000 Tsubo (RokuManTsubo could be the ancient name of the place) | 六万坪の怪火

It is said that mysterious fires can sometimes be seen in the vast plains that stretch from Suzaki to Sunamura. The southern part of what is now Koto city used to be part of Tokyo bay. Near the Kiba ItoYoKado (a large department store run by 7&i Holdings) is a medium sized shrine. This shrine was built when that land was the southern limit of habitable land. After that going south that area became a salt marsh. It was believed that at night, if for some unfortunate reason you had to be on a boat out there you would see these floating balls of fire or light hovering over the marsh. Often these ghostly balls of light were associated with lingering spirits who were unable to pass on to the afterlife.

#7 Lord of Mannen Bridge | 万年橋の主

It is said that there is a master at the foot of Mannen Bridge, and that if you look through an umbrella on a rainy, droughty day, you can see him.The lord or master in this case refers to an ancient fish that has grown gigantic in its old age. Such creatures whether they were fish, wolves, deer etc. were refered to as the lord of their respective places. So if you went to Mannen Bridge on a rainy day and looked down you might see a monstrously large fish looking right back up at you!
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These mysterious phenomena are linked to the history, climate, and lives of the people of Fukagawa, and have been passed down through the generations. Not just Fukagawa but also Honjo and many other traditional neighbor hoods in areas that had been part of old Edo have their own urban lore. Some are spooky, some are humorous, and they all tell us what people were concerned with all those years ago and some were immortalized in the plays and popular entertainments of their time. Enjoy!

Other Legends and Lore of Old Tokyo You Might Enjoy

References in Japanese

About the Seven Wonders of Fukagawa

https://sechin.blog.shinobi.jp/%E6%97%A5%E8%A8%98/%E6%B7%B1%E5%B7%9D%E4%B8%83%E4%B8%8D%E6%80%9D%E8%AD%B0

Eitai Bridge Collapse | 永代の落橋

http://koudanfan.web.fc2.com/arasuji/06-26_hukagawaeitaibasi.htm

A Special Thank You for the Edo Era Ukiyo-e Style Woodblock Prints by Kitakatsushika Tanukigitsune (Artist)!