Document 72 Hours

The Fateful Seven-Way Intersection

The stage is a rare “seven-way intersection” in Ota Ward. Seven roads converge here, with bicycles, cars, and pedestrians constantly passing through. With so many roads, traffic lights cannot be installed, yet surprisingly, accidents are rare, perhaps because people naturally yield to one another. At each of the seven corners, various shops—from produce stores to snack bars—line the streets, bustling with people from dawn until late at night. This intersection, known as “Seven Crossroads,” emerged during land reform in the Taisho era. What kind of lives lie beyond these crossroads?