Construction of the Old Building (Main Building)
At the time of its establishment in 1882, the Bank operated in a building by the Eitai Bridge. It was small and a little far from the center of Tokyo, hence the relocation to the current site was decided the following year after the Bank's establishment.
The Main Building was designed by Dr. Tatsuno Kingo, a prominent architect and professor at Technical College of the Imperial University (currently the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo). The building was designated an important cultural property on February 5, 1974.
Dr. Tatsuno also designed nine branches of the Bank, including in Osaka, Kyoto, and Otaru (currently the Otaru Museum), as well as the Tokyo Station Building and the former sumo stadium (Kokugikan) in Ryogoku.
Trivia about the Old Building
Why Nihonbashi Was Chosen as the Relocation Site
It is said that Nihonbashi was chosen as the relocation site for the Head Office mainly because of the following reasons.
The area was crowded with financial institutions since the Edo period (1603-1867), where there were many money-exchange businesses. As of 1880, there were 24 banks altogether in Tokyo, of which 20 were located in the former Nihonbashi-ku and 4 in the former Kyobashi-ku. In addition, the streets were busy with people and goods coming and going, making Nihonbashi the center of finance and commerce.
At that time, Nihonbashi had ideal access to the Ministry of Finance and its Printing Bureau (currently the National Printing Bureau), both of which were situated in Otemachi, the district on the other side of the Tokiwa Bridge.
Nihonbashi was a key transportation hub. It had waterways which allowed for the convenient transportation of construction materials needed to build the Main Building, and was also the starting point for major highways used during the Edo period.
At the time of its establishment in 1882, the Bank operated in a building by the Eitai Bridge. It was small and a little far from the center of Tokyo, hence the relocation to the current site was decided the following year after the Bank's establishment.
The Main Building was designed by Dr. Tatsuno Kingo, a prominent architect and professor at Technical College of the Imperial University (currently the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo). The building was designated an important cultural property on February 5, 1974.
Dr. Tatsuno also designed nine branches of the Bank, including in Osaka, Kyoto, and Otaru (currently the Otaru Museum), as well as the Tokyo Station Building and the former sumo stadium (Kokugikan) in Ryogoku.
Trivia about the Old Building
Why Nihonbashi Was Chosen as the Relocation Site
It is said that Nihonbashi was chosen as the relocation site for the Head Office mainly because of the following reasons.
The area was crowded with financial institutions since the Edo period (1603-1867), where there were many money-exchange businesses. As of 1880, there were 24 banks altogether in Tokyo, of which 20 were located in the former Nihonbashi-ku and 4 in the former Kyobashi-ku. In addition, the streets were busy with people and goods coming and going, making Nihonbashi the center of finance and commerce.
At that time, Nihonbashi had ideal access to the Ministry of Finance and its Printing Bureau (currently the National Printing Bureau), both of which were situated in Otemachi, the district on the other side of the Tokiwa Bridge.
Nihonbashi was a key transportation hub. It had waterways which allowed for the convenient transportation of construction materials needed to build the Main Building, and was also the starting point for major highways used during the Edo period.
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Summary
1882: Bank established near Eitai Bridge, moved to current site in 1883 due to distance from Tokyo center.\n
Main Building designed by Dr. Tatsuno Kingo, cultural property since 1974.\n
Dr. Tatsuno also designed other bank branches, Tokyo Station Building, and former sumo stadium.\n
Main Building designed by Dr. Tatsuno Kingo, cultural property since 1974.\n
Dr. Tatsuno also designed other bank branches, Tokyo Station Building, and former sumo stadium.\n