roppongi

File:Roppongi Area from Tokyo Tower.jpg

The name Roppongi, which appears to have been coined around 1660, literally means "six trees". According to one account, the name comes from six very old and large zelkova trees that used to mark the area; the first three were cleared, and the last were destroyed during World War II.{{cite web |url=http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/030207/roppongi-030207.html |title=Tokyo Weekender – Weekender Archives: Roppongi – A history of our favorite watering hole |access-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212322/http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/030207/roppongi-030207.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }} Another legend has it that the name comes from the fact that six daimyōs lived nearby during the Edo period, each with the kanji character for "tree" or a kind of tree in their names. Roppongi was not extensively populated until after the Meiji Restoration, although the area was trafficked for centuries and served as the site of the cremation of Shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada's wife in 1626.Gary Cooper, [http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/030207/roppongi-030207.html Good ol' six trees—the way it was] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212322/http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/030207/roppongi-030207.html |date=2007-09-27 }} Tokyo Weekender

In 1890, the Third Imperial Guard of the Imperial Japanese Army was moved to a site near Roppongi (now home to the Pacific bureau of Stars and Stripes). The influx of soldiers led to the area's rise as a nightlife district, briefly interrupted by the Great Kanto earthquake which flattened the area in 1923. Roppongi was administratively part of Azabu Ward from 1878 to 1947.

File:Apartment complex for US embassy employees Roppongi Tokyo.jpg Housing Compound in Roppongi-Nichōme]]

After World War II, during which the area was again destroyed, this time by aerial bombing raids, the United States Army and Allied government officials occupied several facilities in the area, beginning Roppongi's reputation as a neighborhood with large numbers of non-Japanese. Several large US military installations were located in the nearby area, with Hardy Barracks probably the most significant (the US Embassy Housing Compound and Akasaka Press Center including Hardy Barracks Recreational Lodging, Stars and Stripes office and heliport are still there). Surrounding the military installations were many Japanese-owned restaurants, pool halls, bars, and brothels which catered to US military personnel but were also often frequented by Japanese customers.

Starting in the late 1960s, Roppongi became popular among Japanese people and foreigners alike for its disco scene, which attracted many of Tokyo's entertainment elites. Contributing to the international scene was the location of several foreign embassies and foreign corporate offices in the Roppongi area. However, many dance clubs shut down in the recession following the market crash of 1989.

The Roppongi area received a major economic boost in 2002–2003 when the Izumi Garden Tower and the Roppongi Hills high-rise complexes were completed. These projects brought high-end office and condominium space to Roppongi for the first time. The Tokyo Midtown project in neighbouring Akasaka, which was completed in 2006, and includes the first Tokyo Ritz-Carlton Hotel, continued this trend.

File:Roppongi Avenue seen from Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 3.jpg]]

The area features numerous bars, nightclubs, strip clubs, restaurants, hostess clubs, cabarets, and other forms of entertainment. Among the expatriate community, the area tends to be favored by business people, students, and off-duty US military personnel. Overall, the neighborhood caters to a younger crowd.

Clubs can range from large, multi-level establishments, to smaller one-room clubs located in upper levels of buildings.

In more recent times some of the larger venues with known yakuza connections have closed.

{{Cite web |website=Tokyo Reporter |url=http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2008/08/24/site-of-notorious-gangster-playpen-in-roppongi-now-vacant/ |title=Site of notorious gangster playpen in Roppongi now vacant |date=24 August 2008 |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-date=2010-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021232138/http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2008/08/24/site-of-notorious-gangster-playpen-in-roppongi-now-vacant/ |url-status=live }} Around Roppongi crossing are a number of clubs which feature foreign performers. There are also a number of both foreign- and Japanese-operated bars catering to different crowds. Recently, Roppongi has enjoyed a growing reputation for its organized events such as art festivals, dart and billiard tournaments, pub crawls,{{Cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/12/31/food/on-a-pub-crawl-every-drink-is-one-for-the-road/#.UsQTjfQW2Sp/ |title=On a pub crawl, every drink is one for the road |date=31 December 2013 |access-date=2014-01-08 |archive-date=2014-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103165547/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/12/31/food/on-a-pub-crawl-every-drink-is-one-for-the-road/#.UsQTjfQW2Sp/ |url-status=live }} robot exhibitions, beauty pageants, and so on.

Restaurants in Roppongi vary from upscale Japanese fare to popular international restaurants.

Roppongi is home to many important art galleries and museums in Tokyo, serving as a center hub for culture. This includes prestigious institutions such as the Mori Art Museum, Kotaro Nukaga, Galerie Perrotin, and The National Art Center, Tokyo.

File:Roppongi tv asahi.jpg of TV Asahi, which was moved from Ark Hills to Roppongi Hills in 2003]]

Mori Building Company and The Pokémon Company have their headquarters in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower."[http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/outline/ Company Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005154025/http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/outline/ |date=2016-10-05 }}." The Pokémon Company. Retrieved on December 14, 2011. "Head office Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 18F, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-6118""[http://www.mori.co.jp/en/company/about_us/profile.html Company Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218221041/http://www.mori.co.jp/en/company/about_us/profile.html |date=2011-12-18 }}." Mori Building Company. Retrieved on December 14, 2011. "Headquarters Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-6155, Japan""[http://www.mori.co.jp/company/about_us/profile.html 会社プロフィール] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228071023/http://www.mori.co.jp/company/about_us/profile.html |date=2011-12-28 }}." Mori Building Company. Retrieved on December 14, 2011. "〒106-6155 東京都港区六本木6丁目10番1号 六本木ヒルズ森タワー"

Companies based in Roppongi include:

• TV Asahi{{cite web|url=https://www.3darchidesigner.com/archidesignerjp/tour/tv-asahi-head-office/|title=TV Asahi Head Office|website=Archi Designer Japan|access-date=8 April 2023}}
• Google Japan{{Cite web |url=https://www.google.com/corporate/address.html |title=Google offices |access-date=2016-11-12 |archive-date=2010-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220212545/https://www.google.com/corporate/address.html |url-status=live }}
• Being Inc.{{cite web |url=http://beinggiza.com/company.html |title=Being Inc. "About us" |publisher=Being Inc. |access-date=May 23, 2011 |archive-date=May 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512022654/http://beinggiza.com/company.html |url-status=live }}
• Wrestling New Classic{{cite web | url=http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/contact-us.html | script-title=ja:会社概要 | access-date=December 27, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja | archive-date=December 1, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201030104/http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/contact-us.html | url-status=live }}
• NJPW World{{cite web | url = http://njpwworld.com/law | title = 特定商取引に関する法律に基づく表示 | access-date = July 12, 2017 | work = NJPW World | language = ja | archive-date = June 29, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190629055121/https://njpwworld.com/law | url-status = live }}

• Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (H-04) & Toei Ōedo Line) (E-23)
• Roppongi-itchōme Station (Tokyo Metro Namboku Line) (N-06)
• Nogizaka Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)

File:Roppongi highschool.jpg]]

Public elementary and middle schools are operated by the Minato City (the Minato Ward) Board of Education.{{cite web |url=http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kyoiku_e/index.html |title=Minato Board of Education |access-date=2007-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116004054/http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kyoiku_e/index.html |archive-date=2007-11-16 }} {{ill|Roppongi Junior High School|ja|港区立六本木中学校}} is located at Imoarai-Zaka, in Roppongi.

Roppongi 1-chōme, 3-chōme, and 4-chōme, as well as 1-8 and 15-18 ban of 5-chōme, and 1-22 ban of 7-chōme, are zoned to {{ill|Azabu Elementary School|ja|港区立麻布小学校}}. 2-chōme is zoned to {{ill|Akasaka Elementary School|ja|港区立赤坂小学校}}. 9-14 ban of 5-chōme and 6-chōme are zoned to {{ill|Nanzan Elementary School|ja|港区立南山小学校}}. 23-ban of 7-chōme is zoned to {{ill|Kōgai Elementary School|ja|港区立笄小学校}}.

The majority of Roppongi is zoned to Roppongi Junior High School. However, 2-chōme is instead zoned to {{ill|Akasaka Junior High School|ja|港区立赤坂中学校港区}}. Roppongi 7-chome 23-ban is instead zoned to {{ill|Koryo Junior High School|ja|港区立高陵中学校}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/gakkouuneishien/kodomo/gakko/tetsuzuki/tennyugaku/tetsuzuki/documents/kuiki-r4.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008171116/https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/gakkouuneishien/kodomo/gakko/tetsuzuki/tennyugaku/tetsuzuki/documents/kuiki-r4.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 8, 2022|title=港区立小・中学校通学区域一覧表（令和4年4月以降）|publisher=City of Minato|accessdate=2022-10-08}}

Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education. Roppongi High School is located in Roppongi.{{Cite web |url=http://www.roppongi-h.metro.tokyo.jp/ |title=東京都立六本木高等学校 |access-date=2007-06-05 |archive-date=2007-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520032634/http://www.roppongi-h.metro.tokyo.jp/ |url-status=live }}

Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin is private girls school, also located at Torii-Zaka in the district.

The American School in Japan Early Learning Center is in Roppongi Hills."[http://community.asij.ac.jp/contact Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529085243/http://community.asij.ac.jp/contact |date=2014-05-29 }}." The American School in Japan. Retrieved on May 28, 2014. "Early Learning Center 6-16-5 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo 106-0032 Japan""[http://community.asij.ac.jp/profile School Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084741/http://community.asij.ac.jp/profile |date=2014-05-29 }}." The American School in Japan. Retrieved on May 28, 2014. "Location: Campuses in Roppongi and Chofu, Tokyo"

Minato City Library operates Azabu Library in Roppongi.{{cite web|url=https://www.lib.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/azabu.html|title=Azabu Library|publisher=Minato City Library|accessdate=2023-01-18|quote=5-12-24 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032|archive-date=2023-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119015346/https://www.lib.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/azabu.html|url-status=dead}}

Mori Tower Under View.jpg|Partially lit Mori Tower from a low view

Roppongi kosaten 0105.jpg|Roppongi crossing

Akasaka Press Center overview.JPG|US Army heliport and Stars and Stripes office in Roppongi-Nanachōme

Roppongi_Junior_High_School1.JPG|Roppongi Junior High School

In the past, Roppongi had a reputation as an area with high yakuza presence, whether as customers at Roppongi establishments, conducting business, or managing or owning clubs and bars in the area. Although still exerting some influence in Roppongi, in recent times they appear to have shifted much of their presence to other districts in the Tokyo area.Robert Whiting, Tokyo Underworld : The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan (Vintage Departures, 2000) {{ISBN|0-375-72489-3}}"[http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/624/feature.asp Feature: Dark Matter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121094754/http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/624/feature.asp |date=2006-11-21 }}," Metropolis, March 10, 2006.

In 2006, Nigerian immigrants to Japan began opening a number of bars and nightclubs in the area, following an earlier group of innovators who had been in business in Roppongi for many years. The Nigerians were noted for using visible, high-pressure tactics to draw customers to their bars. In 2009 and 2010 a series of drink-spiking incidents, in which customers reported being drugged and robbed, were linked to Nigerian-owned bars. The incidents resulted in the United States embassy in Japan warning US citizens to avoid certain bars and clubs in Roppongi. An investigation by The Japan Times in July 2011 found that though drink spiking occurred, most of the incidents did not involve criminal activity. Many customers claimed unusually severe hangovers after nights spent in Nigerian-run establishments. Similar complaints are often made about non-Nigerian bars in Roppongi that offer unlimited drink packages and often lace drinks with hard liquor to minimize customer consumption and increase profit.{{cite news|title=Trying to tame Tokyo's adult playground|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jan-26-la-fg-japan-roppongi26-2010jan26-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 26, 2010|access-date=February 26, 2010|archive-date=May 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520104525/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/26/world/la-fg-japan-roppongi26-2010jan26|url-status=live}}Richard, Dreux, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110719zg.html Japan's Nigerians pay price for prosperity] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120713140354/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110719zg.html |date=2012-07-13 }}", The Japan Times, 19 July 2011, pp. 10-11.Richard, Dreux, "[http://metropolis.co.jp/features/feature/something-my-spirit-wanted/ 'Something My Spirit Wanted'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502220312/http://metropolis.co.jp/features/feature/something-my-spirit-wanted/ |date=2016-05-02 }}", Metropolis, #905, 29 July - 11 August 2011, pp. 14-15.

• Terry Farnsworth (born 1942), Canadian Olympic judoka

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• [http://gmap.jp/gmap/roppongi/ Roppongi-Azabu Maps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402021600/http://gmap.jp/gmap/roppongi/ |date=2008-04-02 }}

{{Coord|35|39|36|N|139|43|48|E|region:JP_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Minato, Tokyo}}

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Category:Entertainment districts in Japan

Category:Red-light districts in Japan

Category:Yakuza