Traducción y Significado de: 下町 - shitamachi

Explicación y Etimología - (下町) shitamachi

下町 (Shitamachi) is a Japanese word that refers to an urban area of ​​an city that has historically developed as a commercial and residential area of ​​working class. The word is made up of two kanjis: 下 (shi/ka) which means "below" or "lower" and 町 (machine) which means "city" or "neighborhood". The origin of the word goes back to the Edo period (1603-1868), when the city of Tokyo was known as Edo and the area of ​​Shitamachi was the city center. The area was inhabited mainly by traders, artisans and workers, and was characterized by narrow streets, wooden houses and an animated and busy atmosphere. Nowadays, the word Shitamachi is often used to refer to historical or traditional areas of Tokyo, such as Asakusa and Yanaka, which preserve the atmosphere and architecture of the Edo period. The word is also used in other Japanese cities to describe similar areas of historical development.