Taito City Culture Guide Book, The Ikenami Shotaro Memorial Museum

To the website of the Ikenam Shotaro Memorial Museum

The Ikenami Shotaro Memorial Museum opened on September 26, 2001, commemorating Ikenami's achievement, who was born and raised in the Ueno and Asakusa area, won the Naoki Prize with "Sakuran (confusion)," and wrote many Japanese historical novels, including "Onihei Hanka-cho" that is set in downtown Edo. His study room (re-construction), books, manuscripts, paintings and others are being exhibited. Bookshelves filled with Japanese historical novels are also installed, and the museum has collected books ranging from prewar treasure ones to contemporary popular ones, which are open to the public. (inside Taito City Central Library, Taito City Lifelong Learning Center 1st Floor, 3-25-16 Nishi Asakusa, Taito City)

The Ikenam Shotaro Memorial Museum

Shotaro Ikenami's study room (reconstruction)

A taste of Edo and its hustle and bustle are vividly depicted in Ikenami's novels, including "Onihei Hanka-cho" featuring Heizo Hasegawa, or Onihei, an agent who captures arsonists and burglars, "Kenkaku Shobai" and "Shikakenin - Fujieda Baian," which are familiar to TV viewers and radio listeners. Ikenami was born in Shoden-cho, Taito City (former Asakusa Word) and grew up in Negishi and Asakusa Nagasumi-cho. He was a Tokyoite who had a genuine Edo spirit. Onihei's way to look at downtown Edo and his consideration for people might be just Ikenami's own way to look at others, which was nurtured in Ueno and Asakusa.