View source for Azabu

{{Short description|Human settlement in Japan}}
{{for|the asteroid|3290 Azabu}}
{{Coord|35|39|16.7256|N|139|44|13.5|E|display=title}}
[[File:Azabu-juban 0147.jpg|thumb|Azabu-juban]]
{{nihongo|'''Azabu'''|麻布}} is an area in [[Minato, Tokyo|Minato]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. Built on a marshy area of foothills south of central Tokyo, its  coverage roughly corresponds to that of the former Azabu Ward, presently consisting of nine official districts: [[Azabu-Jūban]], [[Azabudai]], [[Azabu-Nagasakachō]], [[Azabu-Mamianachō]], [[Minami-Azabu]], [[Nishi-Azabu]], [[Higashi-Azabu]], [[Moto-Azabu]] and [[Roppongi]]. It is known as one of Tokyo's most expensive and upscale residential districts with many artists, business people, and celebrities residing there. It is also known for its large [[Demographics of Japan#Foreign residents|foreign population]], due in part to a number of foreign [[Diplomatic mission|embassies]] present in the area.

==History==
The name Azabu literally means [[hemp]] cloth. Until the early [[Edo period]], the area was agricultural. Archaeological evidence indicates that the area was inhabited as far back as the [[Jōmon period]]. The Juban Inari shrine (formerly known as Takechiyo Inari) was constructed in AD 712, the temple of [[Zenpuku-ji]] in 824, and the Hikawa Shrine in 939 (on orders of [[Minamoto no Tsunemoto]]).

The area became urbanized in the 17th century, after [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] established his seat of government in nearby [[Edo]]. Azabu soon became home to the Juban Horse Grounds, Edo's largest [[horse]] market. In 1859, the first [[United States]] delegation in Japan was established at Zenpuku-ji.

Azabu (including the adjacent district of [[Roppongi]]) was a ward of Tokyo from 1878 to 1947. During the industrialization of the [[Meiji era]], Azabu was connected to Tokyo by horse-drawn trams. The lowlands became light commercial areas, while the hilltops became prime residential areas. Later, during the [[Taishō era|Taishō period]], Azabu was overrun with theaters, department stores, and [[Prostitution in Japan|red-light districts]], becoming one of Japan's best-known entertainment districts.

Much of Azabu was destroyed during the [[Bombing of Tokyo|firebombing of Tokyo]] in [[Pacific War|1945]], although a special bunker  created for the [[Kazoku|privileged classes]] that lived there saved many lives, including [[Yoko Ono]]'s.<ref>Mission to Tokyo: The American Airmen Who Took the War to the Heart of Japan
 By Robert F. Dorr, p 167.</ref> Azabu's commercial areas were not revived after the war, and the area is mainly a residential district today. Following the merger of Azabu Ward into Minato Ward in 1947, the Azabu ward office located in Roppongi was converted into a branch office of the Minato ward government.

==Notable residents==
This is the district of Tokyo where [[manga]] artist [[Naoko Takeuchi]] resides, and the Azabu-Jūban area is the setting of her fictional ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' series. The internationally acclaimed vocalist [[Ayumi Hamasaki]] resides in a [[penthouse apartment]] in Minami-Azabu. Azabu is also the location of many international embassies and consulates, as well as a large foreign population. Azabu-Jūban, with its unique cobbled high-street, also hosts the popular annual Azabu-Jūban [[Matsuri]], a food festival with a variety of local vendor stalls and carnival games which attract large crowds every summer.

==Places in Azabu==
*Embassies of [[Afghanistan]], [[Russia]], [[China]], [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Switzerland]], [[Slovakia]], [[Taiwan]], [[Norway]], [[Philippines]],  [[Finland]], [[South Korea]], [[Iran]], [[France]], [[Romania]], [[Greece]] and [[Portugal]].
*[[Zenpuku-ji]], a temple which housed the first legation of the United States in Japan during the 19th century.
*[[Mindan]], a major Korean ethnic organization in Japan.

==Companies based in Azabu==

*[[Fujifilm]], located in [[Nishi-Azabu]]

==Subway stations==

*[[Akabanebashi Station]] (Toei Oedo Line)
*[[Azabu-Jūban Station]] (Namboku Line, Toei Oedo Line)
*[[Hiroo Station]] (Hibiya Line)

==Education==

===Schools===
The City of Minato (The Minato Ward) Board of Education operates local public elementary and junior high schools. [[Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education]] operates local public high schools.

*[[Roppongi High School]], a public school, located in [[Roppongi]] (former district in Azabu Ward).
*[[Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin]], a private girls school, located in Roppongi (former district in Azabu Ward).
*[[Azabu High School|Azabu Junior and Senior High School]], a private boys school, located in Moto-Azabu.
*Hiroo Gakuen Junior and Senior High School, a private school, located in Minami-Azabu.
*Kōryō Junior High School, a public school, located in Nishi-Azabu.
*Azabu Elementary School, a public school, located in Azabu-Dai.
*Nanzan Elementary School, a public school, located in Moto-Azabu.
*Kōgai Elementary School, a public school located in Nishi-Azabu, which has "Nihongo Gakkyu (Japanese language class)" for foreign students and returnee.<ref>Minato public elementary and junior high school guidebook
[PDF] www.city.minato.tokyo.jp › sentaku</ref><ref>The Japanese Department at Kogai Elementary School 1 2 3 4 5 6 [PDF] kougai-es.minato-tky.ed.jp › nihongogakkyu</ref>
*Higashimachi Elementary School, a public school, located in Azabu-Jūban.
*Honmura Elementary School, a public school, located in Minami-Azabu.
*[[Nishimachi International School]], a private school located in Moto-Azabu.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Page |url=https://www.nishimachi.ac.jp/about |website=Nishimachi International School |access-date=18 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[Tokyo International School]], a private school located in Minami-Azabu.
*Chateau School, a private [[pre school]], located in Nishi-Azabu.
*[http://www.school-in-tokyo.com Ohana International School in Tokyo], a small preschool, located in the centre of Azabu-Jūban.
*The Montessori School of Tokyo, a private school, located in Minami-Azabu.

===Public libraries===
*[[Tokyo Metropolitan Library|Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library]], located in Arisugawa-no-miya-Kinen Kōen ([[Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park]]), Minami-Azabu.
*The Azabu Library exists in Azabu-Juban.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/liv/serv/com/com03.html |title=Minato City - City libraries |access-date=2008-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524035023/http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/liv/serv/com/com03.html |archive-date=2008-05-24 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Tokyo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Minato, Tokyo}}
{{Original 15 wards of Tokyo}}

[[Category:Geography of Minato, Tokyo]]