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Feature From Meiji to the Present: Looking Back on 150 Years of Progress

THE DAWN OF MODERN


JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
Modern Japanese architectural design began to College of Engineering (now the University of
take shape at the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867) Tokyo’s Department of Architecture). Invited
and developed in tandem with the Meiji government’s to Japan in 1877, he remained here even after
rise. One of the new design movement’s main completing his commission and became a permanent
proponents was Kingo Tatsuno, who revolutionized resident. Conder designed many buildings—
the way Japan built and lived. including the Rokumeikan, Iwasaki Residence and
Holy Resurrection Cathedral—and was referred to as
AKIKO KAWAGUCHI the “father of Japanese architecture.”
“Besides incorporating European architectural
techniques and teaching Japanese architects,”

A
S Japan modernized during the Meiji architectural historian Yoshiyuki Kawahigashi says,
Restoration in the late nineteenth century, “Conder also made major contributions by setting
the Department of Public Works established principles for constructing foundations on soft soil
the Imperial College of Engineering to promote and enforcing earthquake-resistant construction—
technological studies and engineering as a way both essential for an earthquake-prone country like
to accelerate the advance of architectural studies. Japan.”
Japan had been relying on foreign architects, and
2
this new policy was designed to have Japanese
students absorb European architectural skills and
techniques. The hope was that they would construct
modern architecture that Japan could take pride in
and show off to the world.
Josiah Conder was a British architect who taught
at the architectural department of the Imperial

12 highlighting japan
3 4

Conder had many disciples here, and one of the Not limiting himself to modern buildings, Tatsuno
first was Kingo Tatsuno, who went on to design also created traditional Japanese-style wooden
the Bank of Japan building. After graduating at the buildings like the Nara Hotel. Despite the traditional
top of his class, Tatsuno went to study in England. temple-like exterior, there are many Western-
After returning to Japan, he became an instructor influenced touches throughout the building, such as
at the Imperial College of Engineering in Conder’s vertically sliding windows, pillars framing the walls,
place and helped design a variety of Western-style and a chandelier. Formally referred to as the “state
architecture. The Bank of Japan became a symbol guesthouse of Kansai,” the hotel was regarded as the
of Japanese abilities and progress in making a perfect place for royalty and government guests to stay.
national structure. “The British Neo-Baroque and Tatsuno was one of several new-wave architects
Renaissance style exterior is simple but sturdy, and Conder disciples to refashion the look of Meiji
a perfect way to present a national structure,” Japan. One of his contemporaries, Tokuma Katayama,
Kawahigashi says. designed the massive and ornate Togu Palace in Tokyo,
Influenced by the 1891 Mino–Owari earthquake, showcasing the best architectural skills, aesthetics
which struck after construction had started, the and technology of Japan at the time. Known as the
exterior of the second and third floors was made Versailles of Tokyo, the palace was the high point of
with lighter materials to make the building more modern European-style architecture achieved during
earthquake-resistant. the Meiji Period. Now known as the Akasaka Palace, it
Tokyo’s main train terminal, which is still in serves as the State Guest House, welcoming dignitaries
use as Tokyo Station, has an impressive British from all over the world. The State Guest House is
Queen Anne style dome. The white granite stripes sometimes open to the public, and visitors can see the
along the red bricks were later called the Tatsuno marvelous structure and the many fine artworks on
style, and can be seen in other structures he display firsthand.
designed. Applying Conder’s teachings, Tatsuno Josiah Conder taught his pupils about European
focused on earthquake-resistant structures, using architecture, the starting point from where they went
over ten thousand pine pillars in the building’s on to create their own Western-influenced styles that
foundation. became the basis of modern Japanese architecture.
Thanks to that sturdy base, the building Tatsuno, Katayama and other key architects used what
survived even the Great Kanto Earthquake in they learned from him to continue to strive to create
1923. The station’s dome, roof and interior were national buildings that harmoniously fused Japanese
unfortunately destroyed in the firebombing of and Western sensibilities and have stood strong for well
Tokyo during World War II. The original three- over a century.
story station was reconstructed as a two-story
1 In 2012 Tokyo Station was restored to its former glory (Kingo
building after the war, but was restored to its Tatsuno, 1914)
original three-story design in 2012. During the 2 The Bank of Japan (Kingo Tatsuno, 1896)
3 The Akasaka Palace is also known as the “Versailles of
restoration process, many were surprised to find Tokyo” (Tokuma Katayama, 1909) / Photo courtesy of Cabinet
the original pine pillars still standing strong and Office, State Guest Houses of Japan website
4 The elegant Nara Hotel harmoniously incorporates Japanese
supporting the building. and Western elements (Kingo Tatsuno, 1909)

october 2018 13

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