Kenkichi Yabashi
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was a Japanese
architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
and high-level official of
Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance. Lists of current ministries of finance Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Finance and Ec ...
, known as the person from the Yabashi family that has the known pedigree recordThe Family Tree of The Yabashis dating back to Emperor Saga
/ref> dating back to the Saga Genji (嵯峨源氏) and Minamoto no Tōru (源融) who is sometimes mentioned as the model for Hikaru Genji (光源氏) in important Japanese literary classic '' The Tale of Genji (源氏物語)'', a branch line of
Emperor Saga was the 52nd emperor of Japan, Emperor Saga, Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional order of succession. Saga's reign spanned the years from 809 through 823. Traditional narrative Saga was the ...
. He is known as the central figure who organised the construction of
National Diet Building The is the building where both houses of the National Diet of Japan meet. It is located at Nagatachō 1-chome 7–1, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Sessions of the House of Representatives take place in the south wing and sessions of the House of Councillo ...
.


Biography

Kenkichi Yabashi was born in
Akasaka-juku (Nakasendō) was the fifty-sixth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō connecting Edo with Kyoto in Edo period Japan. It is located in former Mino Province in what is now Akasaka neighborhood of the city of Ōgaki, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.Ibisoku Co ...
. He was from Sō-honke (the primary head family) of the Yabashis, a distinguished family that
Emperor Shōwa Emperor , commonly known in English-speaking countries by his personal name , was the 124th emperor of Japan, ruling from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito and his wife, Empress Kōjun, had two sons and five daughters; he was ...
in 1946Yabashi Marble Co., LTD.
and
Emperor Heisei is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who reigned as the 125th emperor of Japan from 7 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. He presided over the Heisei era, ''Heisei'' being an expression of achieving peace worldwide. Bo ...
in 1965 when he was crown prince officially visited. It is said that he loved fishing so much and so often went fishing to Kuise River near the house where he grew up, loved igo with the skill of first grade (sho-dan) because he studied igo under Hon'inbō, grand master of the game of go, loved
bonsai Bonsai ( ja, 盆栽, , tray planting, ) is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees in pots, developed from the traditional Chinese art form of '' penjing''. Unlike ''penjing'', which utilizes traditional techniques to produc ...
and reached to the level beyond amateurs regarding jōruri.Career of Kenkichi Yabashi
/ref> He married Suteko Watanabe, the second daughter of Itaru Watanabe, former
Samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They ...
of
Ehime Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,342,011 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 5,676 km2 (2,191 sq mi). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, T ...
, who was the former Director General of Nagasaki Customs (
Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance. Lists of current ministries of finance Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Finance and Ec ...
) whose building was designed and constructed by Kenkichi Yabashi as his 1st work after joining Ministry of Finance. Kenkichi graduated from Akasaka Elementary School, Akasaka Junior High School, First Higher School and Imperial University
Imperial College of Engineering The Imperial College of Engineering (工部大学校, ''Kōbudaigakkō'') was a Japanese institution of higher education that was founded during the Meiji Era. The college was established under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Works for ...
in 1894 where he studied under
Tatsuno Kingo was a Japanese architect born in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Doctor of Engineering. Conferred Jusanmi (従三位, Junior Third Rank) and Kunsanto (勲三等, Order of Third Class). Former dean of Architecture Department at Tokyo Imperia ...
and so on. He was the right-hand person of Tsumaki Yorinaka, called one of "Three Great Masters"Tsumaki Yorinaka, Handa City
/ref> in
Meiji Era The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
together with
Tatsuno Kingo was a Japanese architect born in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Doctor of Engineering. Conferred Jusanmi (従三位, Junior Third Rank) and Kunsanto (勲三等, Order of Third Class). Former dean of Architecture Department at Tokyo Imperia ...
and
Katayama Tōkuma was a Japanese architect who designed the original buildings for the Imperial Nara Museum as well as the Kyoto Imperial Museum and was significant in introducing Western, particularly French architecture into Japan. Coming from Chōshū, T ...
, who was the high-level official with supreme power in the Bureau of building and repairs of Ministry of Finance. Yabashi also held the position of professor in charge of freehand drawing and perspective drawing at Koshu Gakko (工手学校, lit. technicians school, now Kogakuin University) founded in 1887 by educator, politician, and president of Tokyo Imperial University, Koki Watanabe, and professors of Tokyo Imperial University and resigned in 1902. In 1902, he was appointed by
Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1881-1925. It was briefly recreated as the during World War II History The original Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce was created on April 7, 1881, initially under ...
as a member of Preparatory Committee for the US Expo, went to the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
in order to select the premises for
Louisiana Purchase Exposition The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair, was an World's fair, international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from April 30 to December 1, 1904. Local, state, and federal funds tota ...
in 1902 and came back to Japan in March, 1903. Again in 1908, he was ordered to make on an official trip in order to survey government buildings in western countries, firstly left for the US, Washington and state capitols, went to Europe such as
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,
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,
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,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
,
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
,
Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
after
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to study architectural history and the method of design and supervision. He came back to Japan in 1909. The survey result was submitted to
Katsura Tarō Prince was a Japanese politician and general of the Imperial Japanese Army who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1901 to 1906, from 1908 to 1911, and from 1912 to 1913. Katsura was a distinguished general of the First Sino-Japanes ...
, the then
Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", ...
. In 1910, the official system of the preparatory committee for constructing the Diet Building was promulgated and
Katsura Tarō Prince was a Japanese politician and general of the Imperial Japanese Army who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1901 to 1906, from 1908 to 1911, and from 1912 to 1913. Katsura was a distinguished general of the First Sino-Japanes ...
who was then
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
and
Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", ...
became the chairman of the committee and Yabashi was ordered to take charge of the secretariat of the committee. In 1913, Tsumaki Yorinaka with tremendous power who had been Yabashi's superior since Yabashi joined Ministry of Finance resigned his post for health reasons, which meant the opening of Yabashi's era. In 1916 when Tsumaki suddenly died at 58, the investigating committee for constructing the Diet Building was established, Otohiko Ichiki, Administrative Vice‐Minister of Finance, became the chairman and 12 persons including Yabashi and
Tatsuno Kingo was a Japanese architect born in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Doctor of Engineering. Conferred Jusanmi (従三位, Junior Third Rank) and Kunsanto (勲三等, Order of Third Class). Former dean of Architecture Department at Tokyo Imperia ...
, Yabashi's former professor at
Imperial College of Engineering The Imperial College of Engineering (工部大学校, ''Kōbudaigakkō'') was a Japanese institution of higher education that was founded during the Meiji Era. The college was established under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Works for ...
, became the members of the committee. On 25 March 1919,
Tatsuno Kingo was a Japanese architect born in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Doctor of Engineering. Conferred Jusanmi (従三位, Junior Third Rank) and Kunsanto (勲三等, Order of Third Class). Former dean of Architecture Department at Tokyo Imperia ...
with big influence on Japanese architect world suddenly died at the age of 66. In 1919, Yabashi received the degree of "Doctor of Engineering". On May 24, 1927, Kenkichi Yabashi suddenly died of intercerebral hemorrhage at his home in
Shibuya Shibuya (渋谷 区 ''Shibuya-ku'') is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. As a major commercial and finance center, it houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shinjuku Station (southern half) and Shibuya Station. As of April 1 ...
at the age of 58 without seeing the completion of
National Diet Building The is the building where both houses of the National Diet of Japan meet. It is located at Nagatachō 1-chome 7–1, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Sessions of the House of Representatives take place in the south wing and sessions of the House of Councillo ...
which was formally designed by the Bureau of building and repairs of Ministry of Finance based on prize competition design as advocated by
Tatsuno Kingo was a Japanese architect born in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. Doctor of Engineering. Conferred Jusanmi (従三位, Junior Third Rank) and Kunsanto (勲三等, Order of Third Class). Former dean of Architecture Department at Tokyo Imperia ...
and completed in 1936 over 17 years.kotobank
/ref> He was laid to rest in
Aoyama Cemetery is a cemetery in Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The cemetery is also famous for its cherry blossoms, and at the season of hanami, which many people would visit. History The cemetery was origi ...
. When Kenkichi Yabashi died, he was assigned to
Senior Third Rank The court ranks of Japan, also known in Japanese as ''ikai'' (位階), are indications of an individual's court rank in Japan based on the system of the state. ''Ikai'' as a system was originally used in the Ritsuryo system, which was the politi ...
and awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Second Class together with two volumes of white silk due to the merit while he was alive from
Shōwa Emperor Emperor , commonly known in English-speaking countries by his personal name , was the 124th emperor of Japan, ruling from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito and his wife, Empress Kōjun, had two sons and five daughters; he was ...
.


Honours

*
Senior Third Rank The court ranks of Japan, also known in Japanese as ''ikai'' (位階), are indications of an individual's court rank in Japan based on the system of the state. ''Ikai'' as a system was originally used in the Ritsuryo system, which was the politi ...
(1927) * the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Second Class (1927)


Gallery


See also

* List of University of Tokyo people *
Japanese architecture has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors (''fusuma'') and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to ...
* List of Japanese architects#Pre Meiji period, Meiji period (1868–1911), Taishō Period (1912–1925), Shōwa Period (1926–1945)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yabashi, Kenkichi Japanese architects University of Tokyo alumni People from Gifu Prefecture History of art in Japan 1869 births 1927 deaths