logo
#

Latest news with #RetroJapan

Retro Japan: Ex-dorm for A-bomb effects survey staff sits on Hiroshima hill
Retro Japan: Ex-dorm for A-bomb effects survey staff sits on Hiroshima hill

The Mainichi

time10 hours ago

  • General
  • The Mainichi

Retro Japan: Ex-dorm for A-bomb effects survey staff sits on Hiroshima hill

HIROSHIMA -- A former accommodation facility for a U.S. atomic bomb radiation effects survey team quietly sits on Hijiyama, a small hill approximately 70 meters high located in the center of Hiroshima and offering a panoramic view. The two-story Hijiyama Hall made of reinforced concrete was completed in 1953 and served as an accommodation facility for staff of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC), established by the United States after World War II. Designed by Kunio Maekawa (1905-1986), a leading figure in modernist architecture, it is considered one of Hiroshima's three major postwar architectural works, alongside Kenzo Tange (1913-2005)'s Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Togo Murano (1891-1984)'s Memorial Cathedral for World Peace. The building's exterior features a large open area with extensive use of glass windows at the front. Inside, the suspended staircase in the first-floor hall is particularly eye-catching. The individual rooms also maintain the architectural beauty characteristic to Maekawa, who also emphasized functionality. In 1975, the ABCC was reorganized into the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), and Hijiyama Hall continued to be used as accommodation. However, with the building's aging, it has not housed residents for several years. RERF is planning to relocate to Hiroshima University's Kasumi Campus in the same city, and discussions are ongoing regarding the future use of Hijiyama Hall. (Japanese original by Kenjiro Sato, Osaka Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on June 22, 2025. * * * This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.

Retro Japan: Stately former Yamaguchi Pref. Assembly hall survives test of time
Retro Japan: Stately former Yamaguchi Pref. Assembly hall survives test of time

The Mainichi

time13-07-2025

  • General
  • The Mainichi

Retro Japan: Stately former Yamaguchi Pref. Assembly hall survives test of time

YAMAGUCHI -- More than a century after its construction, the stately former Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly building, built primarily in the late Renaissance style, now serves as a parliamentary archive, having survived demolition plans in the 1960s. Completed in 1916, the building incorporates touches of Japanese and other Eastern elements alongside European influences, and the structure's unique aesthetic is evident throughout. The assembly hall's seating is arranged in a fan shape around the speaker's seat. The dignified interior, which use materials like Japanese cypress and maple, features a plaster ceiling accented with wooden frames for contrast. The building was designed by Yorinaka Tsumaki (1859-1916) and Yoshikuni Okuma (1877-1952), then Finance Ministry bureaucrats in charge of building and repairs who were also involved in the construction of National Diet Building, along with Goichi Takeda (1872-1938), a professor at Kyoto Craft High School at the time. It features brickwork and also incorporates geometric patterns that were popular in Europe at the time. Each room, including the governor's office on the second floor, features a different ceiling and wallpaper design. The stripes, waves and embossed patterns on the wallpaper in the governor's reception room were modern motifs of the era. In 1965, plans were made to demolish the building due to deterioration and repeated typhoon damage. However, a preservation movement led by local residents successfully halted these plans. In 1984, the building was designated as an important cultural property of Japan. Serving as a parliamentary archive today, it is open to the public as a venue for concerts and lectures. (Japanese original by Minoru Kanazawa, Kyushu Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on April 9, 2023. * * * This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.

Retro Japan: University auditorium in Tokyo a blend of strength, beauty
Retro Japan: University auditorium in Tokyo a blend of strength, beauty

The Mainichi

time29-06-2025

  • General
  • The Mainichi

Retro Japan: University auditorium in Tokyo a blend of strength, beauty

TOKYO -- An auditorium at Japan Women's University in the Japanese capital was created to display both strength and beauty in its timber framing. Among the modern buildings on the campus in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, a structure exuding an elegant atmosphere catches the eye. The Naruse Memorial Auditorium originally opened in 1906 as the Homei Library Room & Auditorium. At the time, it featured brick walls, but after suffering significant damage in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, the bricks were removed, and the building was turned into a wooden structure. Inside the auditorium, a wooden truss structure disperses the weight of the roof with its beams arranged in triangles. The evenly spaced timber framing gives off a sense of orderly beauty within its robust design. Stained glass windows on each side of the stage add a touch of color to the serene setting. In 1961, as part of the university's 60th-anniversary commemorative projects, the auditorium underwent renovations that included structural reinforcement. At that time, the building was renamed in honor of the university's founder, Jinzo Naruse (1858-1919). Recognized as a valuable relic of Meiji-era (1868-1912) wooden auditorium architecture, it was designated a tangible cultural property by Bunkyo Ward in 1974. (Japanese original by Akihiro Ogomori, Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on March 19, 2023. * * * This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.

Retro Japan: Meiji-era school building in Okayama Pref. popular among cosplayers
Retro Japan: Meiji-era school building in Okayama Pref. popular among cosplayers

The Mainichi

time22-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Mainichi

Retro Japan: Meiji-era school building in Okayama Pref. popular among cosplayers

TAKAHASHI, Okayama -- A wooden Meiji-era (1868-1912) building at a former elementary school in this western Japan city is a popular photo spot among cosplayers. Alarming notices, such as "regarding swords that can be drawn" and "firearms that can be brought in," appeared on the website of a certain event. What were they about? The notes were precautions for a cosplay event held at the former Fukiya Elementary School. While the "swords" and "firearms" in question referred to replicas and toys, restrictions were placed on what could be brought in to ensure safety. The wooden school building has been featured in TV dramas, movies and anime, making it a popular photo spot among cosplay enthusiasts. The event has been held at the site three times in the past. The east and west wings of the school were completed in 1900, and the main building was finished in 1909. Until its closure in March 2012, it was considered the oldest wooden school building still in use in Japan. This is an example of "pseudo-Western" school architecture representing the late Meiji era. The main building, with its clapboard siding, is symmetrically flanked by the east and west wings. The wide hallway on the main building's first floor also served as a gymnasium. Above it is a triangular truss structure framework, a distinctive feature of the pseudo-Western style. After the school closed, the building underwent preservation and repair work, and it has been open to the public since 2022. (Japanese original by Masashi Mimura, Osaka Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on June 1, 2025. * * * This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.

Retro Japan: 'Greek temple' hall in Yokohama houses traditional wooden structure
Retro Japan: 'Greek temple' hall in Yokohama houses traditional wooden structure

The Mainichi

time15-06-2025

  • General
  • The Mainichi

Retro Japan: 'Greek temple' hall in Yokohama houses traditional wooden structure

YOKOHAMA -- A building here whose exterior is reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple houses a wooden structure often seen inside traditional Japanese architecture. Nestled within the lush greenery of Okurayama Park on a hill in Yokohama's Kohoku Ward, the Okurayama Memorial Hall welcomes visitors. It was completed in 1932 as the main building of the Okura Institute for the Study of Spiritual Culture by businessperson Kunihiko Okura (1882-1971). Designed by Uheiji Nagano (1867-1937), renowned for his work on many bank buildings during the Meiji era (1868-1912) and the Taisho era (1912-1926), the building features an entrance hall with an open atrium approximately 21 meters high. When sunlight streams through the stained glass, the space is bathed in a golden hue. Looking up, one can see terracotta sculptures of lions and eagles inside the tower atop the atrium, giving the feeling of being watched by them. The ceiling of the third-floor hall showcases the structural beauty of Japanese zelkova woodwork, which also contributes to the production of high-quality acoustics. Small concerts are also held in the space. The capitals of the columns supporting the ceiling incorporate the "tokyo" architectural structure, often used to support the heavy roofs of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan. The building was donated by the Okura Institute to the Yokohama Municipal Government, and it opened as a memorial hall in 1984. In 1991, it was designated as a tangible cultural property by the city. (Japanese original by Akihiro Ogomori, Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on April 2, 2023. * * * This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store