About
In a corner of Horikawa-cho, Saiwai Ward, Kawasaki City, where the Toshiba Horikawa-cho Factory once stood, a quiet green space now spreads out. There, lush bamboo sways in the wind, evoking a sense of history amid the silence. This bamboo grove is known as the “Edison-Related Bamboo,” telling the story of the deep connection between the great inventor Thomas Edison and Japan.
At the end of the 19th century, Edison sought a material for incandescent bulb filaments and tested plant fibers from around the world. Among them, madake bamboo sent from Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto was found to be an excellent material, enabling the bulb to remain lit for over 1,000 hours. This discovery greatly contributed to the practical use of the light bulb and became a revolution that illuminated the world’s nights.
Today, the bamboo planted in this place is considered to be the descendant of the madake bamboo used by Edison. An explanatory sign is installed beside the bamboo grove, conveying this historical anecdote to visitors. Quietly standing on the former factory site, this bamboo grove continues to attract people’s hearts as a symbolic place where technological innovation and Japan’s natural resources intersect.
Listening to the sound of bamboo leaves swaying in the wind, one can reflect on a scene from the history woven by Edison and Japanese bamboo. This tranquil green space, like a time capsule connecting past and present, gives visitors a deep sense of emotion.