[Meiji Seimeikan and Seikado Bunko Art Museum]
If you have some free time near Tokyo Station, walk over to the Imperial Palace to visit Meiji Seimeikan. This masterpiece of Classical Revival architecture, which bore witness to critical moments in history, is open to the general public for free, with no reservations required.
Meiji Seimeikan was completed in 1934 (Showa 9) after a construction period spanning three years and seven months. It was designed by Shinichiro Okada, a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (currently Tokyo University of the Arts) and a prominent figure in the architectural community at the time. From the Taisho era through the early Showa era, he was a renowned architect who worked on numerous projects that generated significant buzz from the moment of their construction, including the Kabukiza Theatre, the restoration of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nikolai-do), and the Bank of Japan Otaru Branch. The primary design of Meiji Seimeikan is unified in a Classical Revival style originating from ancient Greece and Rome, and it is regarded as a representative structure that contributed to the development of modern Western-style architecture in Japan.
From September 12, 1945 (Showa 20) to July 18, 1956 (Showa 31), the building was requisitioned for use by the United States Far East Air Forces Headquarters. During this period, until 1952 (Showa 27), the conference room on the second floor of Meiji Seimeikan served as the venue for the Allied Council for Japan, an advisory body to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. General MacArthur himself is said to have attended meetings held at this venue multiple times. In 1997 (Heisei 9), following a proposal by the Council for the Protection of Cultural Properties, Meiji Seimeikan became the first building from the Showa era to be designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
I recently visited the building for the first time during a trip back to Tokyo, and the exterior is truly overwhelming. A row of giant Corinthian columns featuring "entasis"—a subtle swelling that tapers toward the top—stands tall, rising through all five stories. Upon stepping inside, an elegant, solemn space with high ceilings unfolds, and you can even enjoy tea at Meiji Yasuda CAFE Marunouchi located in the center. The view looking down from the second floor is also jaw-dropping in its gorgeousness and sheer scale. Sitting on a plush sofa while watching a documentary video, I immersed myself in thoughts of history, strolled through the conference rooms, reception rooms, and dining hall, and peered closely at the fine details of the marble and ornamentation. It was a thoroughly relaxing and deeply satisfying experience, making it hard to believe it was completely free.
My original primary objective for this visit was the exhibition gallery of the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, which relocated from Setagaya, Tokyo, to the first floor of Meiji Seimeikan in 2022. The Seikado Bunko Art Museum was established in 1892 by Yanosuke Iwasaki, the second president of Mitsubishi, and was later expanded by his son, Koyata Iwasaki, the fourth president of Mitsubishi. The quality and volume of this collection amassed over two generations are among the highest tier for private museums in Japan. It houses approximately 200,000 classic books and around 6,500 pieces of ancient Eastern art, including 7 National Treasures and 84 Important Cultural Properties. Among these is the National Treasure "Yohen Tenmoku" tea bowl, of which only three examples exist in the world, and I was able to see it safely. Many people might know it from the "nearly life-sized Yohen Tenmoku plush toy," which became a hot topic as one of the Seikado Bunko Art Museum's official museum goods.
Although it is located in a highly accessible spot, it remains relatively undiscovered. Whether you live in Tokyo or are just visiting, why not take the opportunity to experience it for yourself?
Meiji Seimeikan
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dvogCKhmGNHH9Hx88
Meiji Yasuda CAFE Marunouchi
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PA3w5M4PJGvanirv5
Seikado Bunko Art Museum
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bgd3jZ1maNqcJGj17
Ginza Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/ginza.html
References
https://www.meijiyasuda.co.jp/profile/meiji-seimeikan/
https://www.seikado.or.jp/
https://tabi.jtb.or.jp/res/130143-
https://artexhibition.jp/topics/news/20240405-AEJ1942190/
