Across the Tama: Bridges and Roads, Rivers and Rocks

Bridges and highways are everywhere symbols of modern life. Made of cement and steel, they speed the movement of peoples and flow of goods. They conquer rivers and mountains; overcoming obstacles they bring people together. This talk focuses on the bridging of the Tama, a short river (138 km) that flows into Tokyo Bay between Tokyo and Yokohama, and the construction of Japan's first modern highway linking these two great cities. The conclusion inquires into the legacy of the Rokugo Bridge and Keihin Highway and the massive use of concrete that has been the hallmark of modernizing countries everywhere.Talk is also sponsored by the Triangle Center for Japanese Studies.