Former Kato Shokai Building, Historical commercial building in Nishiki 1-chome, Japan.
The Former Kato Shokai Building is a three-story commercial structure in central Nagoya built during the 1930s with design features typical of that era's modern architecture. The facade displays narrow windows and subtle details characteristic of Japanese commercial design from the interwar period.
Built in 1931, the structure served as headquarters for a trading company and later as Siam's diplomatic office before World War II began. Its survival through Nagoya's intense wartime bombing makes it a rare remnant of the city's prewar urban landscape.
The name recalls the trading company that once operated here, reflecting Japan's commercial ties with Southeast Asia during the 1930s. Visitors today experience this cross-cultural link through the building's continued role in connecting Japanese and Thai cultures.
The structure can be viewed from the street, with its facade clearly visible to visitors interested in 1930s architecture. The interior is accessible during restaurant hours, allowing visitors to experience the space in its current use.
Despite its past as a diplomatic office, the building now operates as a working restaurant, bridging historical significance with contemporary daily life in the city. This dual role allows visitors to encounter history not as something separated from the present but as part of living urban culture.
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