Yesterday I read an 30-something pages of (the English translated version) of the novel twilight years by sawako ariyoshi for university.
One thing that struck me as odd is that "the Ginza" was written in the book. I also read the novel breast and eggs by Kawakami Mieko, and currently I'm reading Norwegian wood by Murakami Haruki, both in German (yes I know I should read Japanese books in Japanese, but unfortunately my vocab and kanji knowledge is still so limited that it takes me ages to read novels, but that's another topic.) And also in those to Novels, in the German translation it said "Die Ginza" (Die meaning The in German).
While I was living in Tokyo and having a part time job in Ginza, I have never heard anyone saying The Ginza when I was either talking to other foreigners or Japanese people in English. I always said I Work in Ginza, not in The Ginza. Am I wrong?
Also, in those translated novels it never says The Shinjuku or the Shibuya.
I'm hoping this sub is an ok place to ask this question.
by Shoddy_Incident5352