These sources collectively explore the history, culture, and significance of Mikawashima, an area now largely incorporated into Tokyo's Arakawa Ward. The texts discuss the various theories concerning the origin of the name Mikawashima, which may relate to three rivers or people from the Mikawa region. They highlight its past as an important agricultural center known for the traditional Edo vegetable Mikawashima-na and chronicle its evolution from a rural periphery of Edo into an urbanized area that hosted Japan's first modern sewage treatment plant and a historic pre-war Korean community. Furthermore, the sources cover profound historical moments, such as the devastating 1962 Mikawashima train accident that led to national safety reforms, and note the administrative decision to change the area's name to Arakawa in 1968, possibly to distance itself from the tragedy. Finally, the sources also reference the work of photographer Akihiko Hirashima and his documentation of the area, providing detailed historical context and modern guides for exploring its hidden cultural and culinary treasures.

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