Rokumeikan

Rokumeikan (Japanese鹿鸣 馆, literally " deer call Pavilion ") was the name of a 1883 building constructed in the district Kojimachi the former Tokyo Prefecture (now Chiyoda ward of Tokyo Metropolis ), which became the symbol of the Westernization of Japan in the Meiji period was.

Background

The two-story building was designed at the request of Foreign Minister Inoue Kaoru (1835-1915) by the architect Josiah Conder in 1880. Conder, one of his time employed by the government " contract foreigners" (o- yatoi gaikokujin ), mixed Japanese and Western elements. The garden was created in the pure Japanese style.

The area near the Imperial Palace once belonged to the fief of Satsuma. After the Meiji Restoration, it was used initially to prepare for the World Exposition 1873 (Vienna). Between 1875 and 1881 stood here the "Museum behind the Yamashita - gate" (山下 门内 博物馆, Yamashitamon - nai Hakubutsukan ) with seven buildings for plants, animals, minerals, antiques, etc. For this purpose, a greenhouse and various building came to animal breeding. These facilities were then laid on the site of today's Ueno Park.

Use

At the opening gala on November 28, 1883 1,200 guests were invited. The managed by the Foreign Ministry building was used for accommodation for foreign government guests. Here, too, met Japanese who had lived abroad. Moreover, elaborate banquets were given with menus in French. Then there were garden parties and charity bazaars. In the ball- room of the first floor was dancing to the latest tunes.

The reactions of Western guests were divided. Pierre Loti, who came to Japan in 1886 and participated in a " ball in Edo " ( "Un bal a Yeddo " ), felt in his " Japoneries d' Automne " (1889 ) is reminiscent of a mediocre casino in a French seaside resort. His compatriot Georges Bigot published in the satirical journal TOBÄ (1887 ), the toxic caricature of a Western- fashion more bad than good dressed Japanese couple, which is reflected from the mirror monkey type. Also from conservative Japanese circles were critical voices.

1887 the Meiji government decided to let build a top class hotel in the western style. Among the promoters we find again the Foreign Minister Inoue, to the politician Okuma Shigenobu and the entrepreneur Shibusawa Eiichi came. This opened in 1890 adjacent Imperial Hotel ( Teikoku hoteru ) has quickly become the new social center of Tokyo. In the same year the Rokumei pavilion was sold. As a result, the building served under the name Kazoku - kaikan (华 族 会馆, " noble hall " ) as a gathering of the nobility ( kazoku ). Beginning of 1891 was held after the first firing of the provisional Imperial Diet Building is the upper house of the Imperial Diet ( Kizokuin ), for a short time in the Kazoku - kaikan, moved for reasons of space but later in the Imperial Hotel has to offer. 1927 went to the insurance company Nippon Chohei Hoken (later Yamato Seimei Hoken ) over. In 1940 it was finally demolished. At the same place today is the 1984 built as the headquarters of the insurance company Yamato Seimei Hoken NBF Hibiya Building (NBF日比谷 ビル), where a memorial plaque to the Rokumei pavilion recalls.

Artistic processing

The Rokumeikan appears in Japanese narratives, in a play, in movies and also in manga.

• Chijin no ai. 1924 ( " Naomi or an insatiable love"). Novel by Tanizaki Jun'ichirô
• Butōkai. 1920 ( " The Chrysanthemum Ball" ). Short story by Akutagawa Ryunosuke, who used Lotis descriptions
• Rokumeikan. In 1956. Vierakter of Mishima Yukio