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Amidst the bustle of Hibiya, there is a place that quietly tells the story of former glory. This is the site where the “Rokumeikan” once stood, near the present-day 1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda Ward. This location is a symbolic place where Japan in the Meiji era began its path toward Westernization, and even now, the echoes of that history can still be felt.
In 1883, under the leadership of Foreign Minister Kaoru Inoue, the Rokumeikan was built, designed by British architect Josiah Conder. It was a two-story Western-style building made of brick. Its splendid balls and evening parties captivated the upper class and foreign dignitaries of the time, making it renowned as the center of Japan’s Westernization policy. However, behind this glamour, there were the struggles of people torn between Japanese tradition and Western culture.
Today, high-rise buildings line this area, and little remains of its former appearance. However, at the site of the former Rokumeikan, a monument called the “Site of Rokumeikan” had been erected. This monument was inscribed with the following: “This was formerly the site of the Satsuma clan’s costume mansion, and its black gate was a national treasure until before the war. Within it, the Rokumeikan was built in the 16th year of Meiji, becoming the birthplace of the so-called Rokumeikan era.” This monument was removed around November 2022 due to redevelopment, but its existence remains in the memories of many people. (visit-chiyoda.tokyo)
When visiting this area, one can feel the breath of the once-glorious era amidst the modern buildings. The greenery of Hibiya Park and the imposing presence of the Imperial Hotel serve as bridges connecting the past and present. Standing here, one can sense the moment when the future dreamed of by people in the Meiji era intersects with the path we walk today.
The history of the Rokumeikan is a symbol of the era when Japan adopted Western culture and sought its own identity. By standing on its former site, we can face the lessons of the past and find an opportunity to think about the path to the future. This place, standing in a corner of Hibiya, speaks to us across the flow of time.