The origin of the area name "Asagaya" comes from the combination of two words, the adjective "asai" meaning "shallow"[REF] and the geographical noun meaning "marsh" or low wetlands.
After the exodus from central Tokyo following the Kantō Earthquake of 1923, Asagaya became the home to a literature community beginning with Ibuse Masuji, and eventually including Yosano Akiko, Dazai Osamu, Aoyagi Mizuho, Iba Harube, Miyoshi Tatsuji, Hino Ashihei, Taki Huang-Murao, Masami Murao and Tokugawa Musei.