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All Japan Tokyo Dorikono Slope
AO Edited

Dorikono Slope

A slope with a mysterious name recalls a discontinued pre-war energy drink.

Tokyo, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Tokyo used to have decidedly hillier terrain.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Tokyo used to have decidedly hillier terrain.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A 1930s Durikono advertisement.   Asahi Shimbun
What does “dorikono” mean?   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The Dorikono Slope has a curious history behind it.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The western half of Tokyo is known to have been a hilly area in feudal times, and there remain a number of slopes, some steep but most not so much. Dorikono-zaka is one such slope in Ota City, the southwestern ward of Tokyo, with a fascinating history.

To begin with, the name is a bit of a mystery, its meaning unclear even to native Japanese speakers. “No” seems to be the common particle indicating possession, similar to “of” in English, but what then could “doriko” possibly be?

Turns out, it’s actually “dorikono,” which still doesn’t make an ounce of sense. Of course it doesn’t; it’s the name of a proto-energy drink that has long been discontinued.

Dorikono, officially spelled Durikono, was a soft drink invented in 1927 by Dr. Kōtarō Takahashi, who was inspired by German physiologist Arnold Durig’s claim that glucose was the most efficient source of energy. Takahashi named his invention Durikono after Durig, himself (Kōtarō), his assistant Nakamura, and three of his other assistants who shared the initial O.

Initially, the energy drink was only served by the doctor to his guests, but word of mouth soon made it a highly sought-after product. It was sold and advertised nationwide by 1930, and even exported abroad as “Drinkall.”

When the Pacific War broke out, however, Dorikono could no longer be produced due to the lack of sugar import. It went back into the market in 1954 but was discontinued in 1970 when Takahashi passed away. His recipe was never made public, making it difficult to bring back the lost drink despite high demands.

The slope in Den’en-Chōfu, Ota City, was given its name in remembrance of Dr. Takahashi, who lived in the neighborhood, and his once-beloved invention.

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History Drinks Energy Drinks

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There's not much to see on the slope itself, but there is something of a view towards the top.

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Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

linkogecko

  • linkogecko

Published

August 25, 2024

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Dorikono Slope
Ota City
Tokyo, 145-0071
Japan
35.590867, 139.669783

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