Name:
九郎九坂 くろぐざか
Kurogu-zaka, Kurogu Rise

Location:
元赤坂1丁目3番、1丁目4番の間
Between Moto-Akasaka 1-3 and 1-4

This article is part of the special feature Akasaka on the Rise. Check it out in my Live Maps Collection.

The official description:

江戸時代の一ツ木町名主秋元八郎左衛門の先祖、九郎九が住んでいて坂名になった。鉄砲練習場があって鉄砲坂ともいう。
This rise takes its name from the nearby residence of Kurogu, an ancestor of Akimoto Hachirouzaemon who was the neighborhood chief of One Tree Town during the Edo Period. It's also called Rifle Rise, after the nearby shooting range.

Unofficial explanation:

One Tree (一ツ木, Hitotsugi) was the name of the village in this area from ancient times through the middle Edo Period. Many places, including a shopping street and park, bear its name today. I have no clue what made Kurogu, or even Akita Hachirouzaemon for that matter, memorable.　[Photos from the top of the rise]

The rise comes up from the north end at a junction with Under Sheriff Rise, near the base of Kii Country Rise. It goes up along the back of Toyokawa Inari Shrine (豊川稲荷神社, Toyokawa Inari Jinjya), ending at Aoyama Boulevard (青山通り, Aoyama Doori). The guide books might tell you that this is a subsidiary shrine of one based in Aichi Prefecture. What you really need to know is that this is the shrine of entertainers. It's become the standard spot to come to pray if you need to get back to your roots and become funny or pretty or a gifted singer again, because of the proximity of television studios and record companies. By the way, the Minato Ward tourism site invites you to walk along here with a can of sweet sake (甘酒, amazake), to somehow get you more in the Shinto and Edo spirit. Amazake is a byproduct from the sake brewing process that is sweet, pulpy, and mildly alcoholic. It's generally considered a festival or children's drink. Take them up on the offer, but make sure it's warm. You can get it during the fall and winter at any nearby convenience store.