More "sacred sites" from the TBS hit "Hanzawa Naoki." Filming locations still abound near Takebashi.
The exterior of Tokyo Chuo Bank headquarters＝top photo＝ is Mitsui Main Building (2-1-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo Ward)＝bottom photo＝. On foot it is a bit of a walk, but by subway it is close from Mitsukoshimae on the Ginza and Hanzomon lines
. Designated an Important Cultural Property in 1998, it was the Mitsui zaibatsu headquarters before the war—site of the assassination of Dan Takuma (March 1932, Blood Brotherhood Incident)—and after the war housed GHQ. It later served as headquarters for Mitsui Bank, Mitsui Trust, and Chuo Mitsui Trust; today it houses Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank's Nihonbashi branch and housing-loan center.
Look closely at the photos. The "real" building is temple-like, with the 2005 Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower behind it, but in the drama the bank itself became a high-rise. That is compositing. The gold letters "Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank" were erased to read "Tokyo Chuo Bank"—not actually replaced on site, but composited
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Elsewhere, after the board meeting in the finale, Hanzawa and two classmates toast with Tokyo Station behind them at the terrace of "Marunouchi House" on the 7th floor of Shin-Marunouchi Building; the Iseya Hotel headquarters exterior is the Japan Press Center (2-2-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda Ward) facing Hibiya Park＝photo upper right; the building shown as the Financial Services Agency is actually where the FSA is locatedphoto lower right—"Kasumigaseki Common Gate West Wing" (Central Government Building No. 7, 3-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward). In Episode 6, the izakaya in Nihonbashi, Tokyo where Hanzawa cornered the acting loan manager of Kyobashi branch, is offering a "half payback!!" Hanzawa special course (5,000 yen for 2,500 yen, 30 people per day until October 31)
or so they say.
Some of this was reported during broadcast on the director's blog and helped promotion; many fans researched and posted on their blogs—Hanzawa information overflows online. Astonishing.
A hit drama indeed. The "afterglow" lingers generously.