West meets east. It was a century-old story of Japanese history. The western-style architecture started flowing into Japan in late 19th century. That was the time when the Japanese government system changed dramatically. During the course of the cultural change, the new government encouraged to adopt western style and western system. To promote the change, the government hired many oversea advisors. They were the people who helped west meet east.
Oversea Advisors to Japanese Government
Such oversea advisors came to Japan from various countries. And they dedicated to transfer the knowledge and technology to Japan in the field such as education, legal system, art, medicine, civil engineering, architecture, military and so on.
Josiah Conder was one of such oversea advisors in architecture. He designed a number of architecture in Japan some of which still remain today. But he not only introduced western-style buildings to Japan but he also contributed to educate young architects in University of Tokyo. His apprentices included Kingo Tatsuno who built Tokyo Station.
Recently, I had an opportunity to visit one of them – Tsunamachi Mitsui Club. It was built in 1913 as a guest house of Mitsui family-run conglomerates. Luckily it escaped from the bombings during the war-time and now it is a member-only club of Mitsui Group.
Century-Old Details
The stained glass on the ceiling is the exactly same as the one in over 100 years ago.
Stained glass on the ceiling of Mitsui Club has never broken during the century-old history
West Meets East on the Fireplaces
Mitsui Club receives dinner parties and receptions if there are recommendations from the members of Mitsui Group. When I visited there, one room was prepared for the dinner meeting. The table setting was itself beautiful. But what was interesting more was the details of the furniture there.
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- Fireplace of Tsunamachi Mitsui Club
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- Japanese drum carved on the frame of the fireplace
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- Noh Mask on the frame of the fireplace
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- Japanese musical instruments “sho”, a kind of bagpipe
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- Noh Mask on the frame of the fireplace
There were fireplaces in the room which look the ordinary fireplaces. But when I came closer, I found the remarkable carvings on the frames. And they represented the Japanese culture – Noh Masks and Japanese traditional musical instruments. West met East about 100 years ago and they created the harmony.
The Only Japanese Room
Almost all the rooms in Mitsui Club are western style. But Conder reserved one Japanese room.
the Only Japanese-Style Room in Tsunamachi Mitsui Club
Well, I was told that this was the only Japanese room but there were lots of chairs which were definitely western-style. Anyway, the object at the end of the room is a home shrine which is of course Japanese.
This room seemed to receive the Emperor. Since the Imperial family especially the Emperor was in the highest rank, the wall paper in the room has golden clouds. Because people regarded the Emperor as a person in the high place such as over the clouds.
After the World War II, General Headquarters occupied Japan and they condemned properties throughout Japan for their use. Mitsui Club was also occupied by Americans and was used as Officers Club. It is said that General Douglas MacArthur loved this room.
West Meets East in the Garden
The garden spreads right after you go out of the main building. The moment you look, you can see that it is a typical English garden. At this time, many kinds of red, pink, purple and blue flowers were full in bloom.
Behind the English garden, there were steps and farther down the steps spreads the Japanese garden.
The stone steps connect the two different kinds of gardens and thus West meets East quite nicely.
Info on Tsunamachi Mitsui Club
Address: 3-7 Mita 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 8 min from Azabu Juban Station of Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Toei Oedo Line, 8 min from Akabane-bashi Station of Toei Oedo Line, 13 min from Shiba Koen Station of Toei Mita Line, 15 min from Mita Station of Toei Asakusa Line and 15 min from Tamachi Station of JR Yamanote Line and Keihin Tohoku Line
How to use: This is a facility for the members of the club who are the executive members, the board members or the former board members of the member companies. In order to have meetings and events here, you need to obtain recommendation letters from the members.
Walking or Biking: There is a dress code to use this property. Therefore, this is not a part of the walking and biking route.
Near from Here: You can walk to Tokyo Tower and Zojo-ji Temple.
Dear Madams and Sirs:
I am currently a Professor of Neuroscience at The University of Chicago and will be joining the faculty of Keio University as a Guest Professor on Sept 25-Nov 17. You have a beautiful club and gardens and I would like to know whether I would be able to join the Tsunamachi Mitsui Club as a member, or guest for this period. I would appreciate your response
Thanks very much
Professor Sisodia
Dear Prof. Sangram Sisodia,
Thank you very much for your enquiry. The Tsunamachi Mitsui Club is a guest house open to the member companies and you can use the facility through an introduction or invitation of the members. If you have any connection with Mitsui Group, there is a chance you can visit there.
https://tsunamachimitsuiclub.co.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/TunamachiMitsui_garden_en_1806.pdf
There are other architecture in Tokyo by the same architect Josiah Conder who designed Tsunamachi Club. Among them, Kyu-Iwasaki Tei Gardens and Kyu-Furukawa Gardens are worth visiting. They rent the space for the special occasions such as seminars and events, too. These two architecture can be visited without any reservations. Let me know if you need more information.