Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch, Renaissance bank building in Otaru, Japan.
The Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch is a steel-framed reinforced concrete building completed in 1927, designed by the Sone Nakajo architectural office and built by Takenaka Corporation. Its exterior walls are clad in North American granite, and the structure incorporates seismic technology learned from the Great Kanto Earthquake. It stands in Otaru's Ironai district, once called the "Wall Street of the North".
Completed in 1927 for Mitsui Bank, the building was designed by the Sone Nakajo architectural office and built by Takenaka Corporation. It served as a bank branch under successive names, from Mitsui to Imperial Bank, Sakura Bank and finally Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, until it closed on 15 November 2002. It was the last city bank branch still operating in Otaru into the 21st century.
The building's name changed with each bank merger: Mitsui, Imperial Bank, Taiyo Kobe Mitsui, Sakura Bank and finally Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, which closed the branch on 15 November 2002. It was the last city bank branch still operating in Otaru into the 21st century, and Sumitomo Mitsui remains one of the city's designated payment agents.
The building is located near Otaru's harbor district and is easily reached on foot from the town center. Visitors should take time to observe the architectural details both outside and inside, as the structure offers much to appreciate for those interested in early 20th century design.
The building was sold to Ishii Seika in 2002, and although night lighting continued, it went unused for years. In 2016 furniture retailer Nitori acquired it, planning a museum of modern Japanese painting that never opened; as of 2022 the plan was effectively shelved. It was designated a national Important Cultural Property in 2022.
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