The Shukugawa Gakuin-mae Intersection Has Been Renamed Shishigaguchi-cho

A “Nishitsu Detective” segment, where Nishitsu writers investigate mysteries and questions from around western Nishinomiya and turn them into articles.

This time, the request comes from “Furu-Kyon”さん.

These are the intersections by the former Shukugawa Gakuin.

Here it is on the map↓

On Goofle Maps, it was still labeled Shukugawa Gakuin-mae.

Near this intersection, there’s Taisha Junior High School, and also that railroad crossing where everyone somehow takes turns pretty nicely.

Now, let’s take a look at Shukugawa Gakuin-mae on Google Street View.

It says Shukugawa Gakuin-mae. This was as of November 2022.

So, I went to check it out on April 9, 2023.

Sure enough, it says Shishigaguchi-cho.

From the former Shukugawa Gakuin side↓

Yep, it’s Shishigaguchi-cho here too.

By the way, the nearby bus stops are:

Hanshin Bus calls it “Shishigaguchi Kita,” while Hankyu calls it “Shishigaguchi,” so they’re slightly different. Though the next Hanshin bus stop is actually Shishigaguchi

Now let’s also check Google Street View for the “Shukugawa Gakuin Kita” intersection, which is a bit farther north on Prefectural Route 82.

This is the intersection where turning right takes you toward Koyoen Station. It says “Shukugawa Gakuin Kita.”

And now↓
It has changed to Kamizono-cho!

Shukugawa Gakuin was fully demolished in 2017, so why did the change happen at this timing?

So I asked Nishinomiya Police Station, which I figured was probably in charge.

The intersection name Shukugawa Gakuin-mae on Prefectural Route 82 has changed to Shishigaguchi-cho. Do you know why?

Ever since Shukugawa Gakuin disappeared, the location name had been under consideration, and it ended up being changed at this timing.

I see. So it had been under consideration for a long time. “Location name” isn’t a term we hear very often. Isn’t it called an intersection name?

A location name is something the police assign for administrative convenience. Whether or not a location signboard (intersection name) is installed there, and what name is used, is left to the decision of the administrative body that manages the road.

Ohhh, so that’s how it works. Come to think of it, not every intersection has a name, does it? By the way, was this change made recently?

No, it wasn’t recent. I believe it wasn’t during this fiscal year (April 2023 onward). For details, you may want to ask Hyogo Prefecture, which has jurisdiction.

Thank you very much. I’ll contact Hyogo Prefecture.

So I checked with the department in charge of Hyogo Prefecture’s roads, and got a somewhat vague answer: it was probably last year lol

So it doesn’t seem like the signs were replaced very recently.

That said, if any of you sharp Miyakko detectives out there know roughly when they were replaced, please let us know. You can also send us a tip.

↑ What will the results be?!

Updated 4/19

Based on the survey results, we received a tip that supports the many responses saying it happened in March 2023!

Thank you to Toshiさん, and to everyone who answered the survey!!

So, Nishitsu’s conclusion is that the signs were probably replaced around March 2023.