The man who made the best one-way street in Japan in Osaka June 1, 20:42
Osaka's main street "Midosuji".
Ouyang Fei Fei, Dreams Come True, Kanjani ...
It has been sung for generations.
This Midosuji has 6 lanes, but all lanes are actually facing south.
It is one of the largest one-way roads in Japan.
Why is it one-way?
There was an unknown drama of a man who was obsessed with one-way streets.
Japan's largest one-way street Midosuji Why?
"Midosuji" where it rains a little (Ameno Midosuji / Ouyang Fei Fei)
"Midosuji" can only move in one lane on such a day (Osaka LOVER / DREAMS COME TRUE)
If you fall in love, it starts from "Midosuji" (Osaka Romanesque / Kanjani Eight)
Midosuji runs north-south in the center of Osaka with a width of 44 meters and a length of more than 4 kilometers.
The name is sung in many famous songs and is widely known to people outside of Osaka.
However, when I asked the people in the city why it was a one-way street ...
Shoppers in their 30s
"I was wondering why, but I was wondering why."
Taxi driver in his 60s "I
don't know."
Company owner in his 80s
"It's a long time ago. I don't know. "
Unfortunately, even the locals don't seem to know much about it.
At first it wasn't a one-way street
So we visited the Osaka City History Compilation Center.
I searched for the origin of Midosuji from the materials at that time.
The original form of Midosuji was created by Sekiichi, who served as the mayor of Osaka from the Taisho era to the Showa era.
A politician who developed Osaka into a modern city, he noticed Midosuji as a highway that supports logistics.
At that time, Midosuji, which was 6 meters wide, was expanded to 44 meters, which was a major construction work unlike any other.
Naohisa Oda, Researcher, Osaka City Historical Materials Research Association
"At that time, there seemed to be dissenting opinions about how to make something like this, as if you were asked,'Do you want to make it at the airport?' The idea was that we had to build a road that would not be ashamed of Osaka's central road, which aims to become the center of the Japanese economy. "
In this way, Midosuji opened in 1937 as the "aorta" of Osaka that connects Umeda and Namba.
However, when you look at the video at that time ...
The car is driving in the left lane facing each other.
It wasn't a one-way street.
Naohisa Oda, Researcher, Osaka City Historical Materials Research Group
"It seems that it was a one-way street just before the 1970 Osaka Expo. I heard that the traffic volume has increased, but I don't know the details."
I knew that Midosuji became a one-way street until January 1970, just before the Expo, but I couldn't find out the details even if I asked a history expert.
Find "Mr. Furusato"!
So, this time, I will head to the Osaka Prefectural Police.
We asked the person in charge of traffic regulation what happened at that time.
But what is the answer?
"I don't know the details because it was a long time ago. The person in charge at that time who was involved in the one-way street seems to be" Furusato-san "
. "
Therefore, I examined the past videos stored on NHK.
Then ... A police officer named "Kiyoyoshi Furusato" answered the interview in the newsreel 39 years ago.
He was in charge of traffic regulation.
If you can talk to Mr. Furusato, you may be able to understand the details of how Midosuji became a one-way street.
But I don't know the contact information.
Based on the information that he lived in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture, he will use the map and his feet to find Mr. Furusato's house.
And I found a house with a nameplate called "Furusato".
When I press the intercom ... "I
'm looking for a person named Kiyoyoshi Furusato ..."
"My father, too."
Mr. Mizuo, the son of Mr. Furusato, welcomed me.
Unfortunately, Mr. Furusato died nine years ago at the age of 83.
When I told him that I was interviewing Midosuji's one-way street, Mizuo said, "By the way ..." and went to the back of my house.
What I brought with my arms full was the materials that Mr. Furusato had left as a relic at that time.
During his lifetime, he heard that he was involved in a one-way street and kept it in a safe place.
It describes the serious challenges facing Osaka in the 1960s.
One-way traffic to prevent traffic jams and accidents
At that time, it was in the midst of high economic growth.
With the unprecedented car boom, traffic volume has increased significantly.
Midosuji, the main street in Osaka, is no exception, and it is said that traffic jams and accidents occurred frequently.
Furthermore, with the 1970 Osaka Expo coming up, countermeasures were urgently needed.
Therefore, it was Mr. Furusato, who was the chief of staff in his thirties at the time, who proposed "one-way traffic".
Mr. Furusato's idea is this.
In the case of two-way traffic, a car that wants to turn right can only turn when the oncoming car is gone, so traffic congestion is likely to occur.
If you can make all lanes one-way, you can turn immediately when you want to turn right and the lanes will flow smoothly.
However, if the main road is made one-way, the traffic in the city may be blocked.
The idea was to make the four arterial roads in the city, including Midosuji, one-way, facing south and north.
"Osaka city is not silent"
An unprecedented idea in Japan at that time.
Mr. Furusato also recorded the reactions of the surroundings.
In the police, my boss said something like this ...
Mr. Furusato
"As you know, it will be difficult at the Expo, so I think it would be better to take the plunge and make these four arterial roads one-way."
Boss :
"Sorry, if you want to do that, You'll have a lot of trouble. "
Mr. Furusato
" Isn't it okay?
Midosuji is a road that passes in front of Osaka City Hall.
There was also a tense exchange when I first told the city about a one-way plan.
Mr.
Furusato
"Actually, in the near future, we are planning to make at least four arterial roads including Midosuji one-way, but I asked for your cooperation in the future.
" I don't know how powerful the prefectural police are, but if that happens, Osaka City will not be silent. "
A one-way plan that surprised everyone.
I had to start by collecting materials to persuade the people around me.
Therefore, Mr. Furusato will investigate actual examples of overseas cities that have already implemented one-way streets.
The name of the city I looked up was left in the material by hand.
"Baltimore" "Oklahoma City" "Firadelphia" "Holiwood"
At that time, there was no internet yet.
It can be seen that the documents were ordered and analyzed one by one.
By making it a one-way street, we collected overseas cases and confirmed that many cars were able to flow smoothly.
We repeatedly explained the effects to the government and citizens and asked for their understanding.
Mizuo, my son,
"I think I was still in elementary school, but my dad didn't come home anyway. When I thought about it, I was the type who tried to make it happen."
Two nights all night big work
As I proceeded with the interview, I was able to talk to a man who was a junior of Mr. Furusato.
Former Osaka Prefectural Police Department Ichijo Nakaji (86).
I was in charge of managing road signs and road markings in the same section as Mr. Furusato.
Before the start of the one-way street, it is said that a large-scale work that had never been experienced before began.
Former Osaka Prefectural Police Department Ichijo Nakaji
"I started working with a contractor a week or two ago. The most difficult thing was to repaint the road markings such as the arrow indicating the direction of travel. The day before and before the one-way traffic started. Two nights each day, I repainted all the road markings all night. All the work was done early in the morning of the day when the one-way street started. "
"I did it, I did it."
January 11, 1970, two months before the Expo.
Finally, one-way street of Midosuji has been realized.
Former Osaka Prefectural Police Department Ichijo Nakaji
"On the day of the event, I was always thrilled that a car might come in from a side road and run in the opposite direction. I was really happy from the bottom of my heart. "
At the head of Midosuji, which became a one-way street, is the car carrying the Chief of the Prefectural Police Department at that time.
Mr. Furusato seems to have followed immediately behind him by car.
Mr. Furusato wrote down his feelings on the day as follows.
According to Mr. Kiyoyoshi Furusato's record,
"I had a long time struggling in the car that my subordinate chief said,'I did it, I did it.' I couldn't stop the tears that fell as I ran around thinking that it would be. "
In Midosuji this year, the number of accidents decreased by 40% from the previous year.
The number of traffic jams was reduced to one-third, showing a great effect.
On the other hand, Mr. Nakaji recalls that the one-way idea may have come from a chat.
Former Osaka Prefectural Police Department Ichijo Nakaji
"When I was discussing with Mr. Furusato what to do about the accident and traffic jam in Midosuji, he said," Isn't the blood flow one-way? I remember the topic of "Isn't it?". Perhaps such a trivial chat may have led to a hint to make Midosuji a one-way street. It was fast, planning ability, determination ability, everything was outstanding. "
Midosuji continues to change from a car to a pedestrian
Midosuji has been a one-way street for the Osaka Expo for more than half a century.
Three years later, in 2025, the "Osaka / Kansai Expo" will be held.
Midosuji is about to change again.
The two lanes at both ends will be sidewalks and roads for bicycles.
The number of cars has decreased due to the development of public transportation and the departure of younger generations from cars.
Therefore, it is about to change from a "car-centered" road to a "pedestrian-centered" road.
In addition, the idea of making all lanes a pedestrian space is being considered by 2037, which is the 100th anniversary of the opening of Midosuji.
Professor Mitsuichi Kana, Osaka Public University, who was involved in the formulation of the concept
"I think it is necessary to develop a more comfortable space for pedestrians as the number of automobiles decreases. We would like to aim for a more attractive Midosuji as the world-class main street of Osaka, referring to our efforts on roads that are well-known worldwide. "
Midosuji, the best one-way street in Japan created by the enthusiasm of a police officer.
The starting point was a simple wish, "I want you to use the road safely and comfortably."
As Midosuji continues to change in the future, I strongly felt that I would like you to inherit that feeling.
Why?
Please tell me a familiar question
"Why is this?" "Kansai only?"
Do you have any questions that you can't understand even if you search online ?
Please use the posting form linked below to ask your familiar questions.
Why?
Thorough research by the NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station's interview team.
Why are you guys?
Respond to!
Osaka Broadcasting Station Reporter
Haruhei Kageyama
Joined in 2014
After working at Saitama Station and Fukui Station, the Osaka Prefectural Police Department's
hobby is walking Midosuji.
Shinya Tamura ,
Director of Osaka Broadcasting Station Reiwa Joined the station in
2nd year and has a hobby of driving
to the Osaka station . I
'm still not used to one-way streets in Osaka city.