Tamagawa Josui : 4.6 Billion Years Walk

The Tamagawa Josui is a waterway built by the Tamagawa brothers in 1653. The canal was made so that in the west, it crossed from Hamura head gate to Musashino Plain, and continued to the Yotsuya Okido Mark, on to the towns of Edo that received its drinking water. Today, part of it is buried by highway construction, but due to opposition at the time the upper reaches of the waterway remain open, where it is loved by locals.

This project involves walking the original Tamagawa Josui distance of 46 km from Hamura to the Imperial Palace. According to the 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history, each kilometer of the path represents one hundred million years. The walk will make us think about how Tokyo appeared long ago, imagining what kind of trees, sounds of birds, and animals made up its natural environment. We are sure to see a completely different Tokyo than we have seen before. Beyond walking along the Tamagawa Josui, the project will also offer workshops for drawing creatures of the present and past, an exhibition of the 4.6 billion years of the Tamagawa Josui, as well as a symposium.

Support: Chimukui (meeting supporting small insects, grass and creatures), Earth permanent residence plan

(As of February 2021)

1: Tamagawa Josui, Photo by Karoku Kato
2: “Tamagawa Josui : 4.6 Billion Years Walk” route map
3: Image of pre-walk held in January

https://tamagawajosui46.jimdosite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/chimukui/

Current Activities

[Event]　Tamagawa Josui: 4.6 Billion Years Walk
Short Walks（18.10 – 12.12.2020/Five sessions)
Ahead of the planned one-day walk event from the start of Tamagawa Josui to the Imperial Palace, the same route totalling 46 km was divided into a series of five short walks. These walks included commentaries by experts on the history of the earth and history of Tamagawa josui.

[Tokyo Biennale note article]　Interview: Satoko Lee

Artist