Kyūkyoryūchi 38 Ban-kan, American Renaissance building in Akashi-machi, Japan
The Kyūkyoryūchi 38 Ban-kan is a building in American Renaissance style defined by symmetrical facades and detailed ornaments. The structure combines classical Western design principles with solid construction, and its original exterior features remain intact.
This building was designed in 1929 by architect Merrell Vories Hitotsuyanagi during a period of increasing Western influence on Japanese architecture. The project emerged when Japan was actively shaping its modern urban areas.
This building shows how Western architectural ideas entered Japanese cities and mixed with local building traditions. Visitors can still see today how this style shaped the development of this neighborhood.
The building is located in Akashi-machi and maintains its original exterior form while serving modern uses today. Visitors should know that this is a place integrated into the town's daily life and activity.
This building is one of only a few remaining examples of this architectural style in Japan's former foreign settlement areas. Its presence documents a piece of the cultural exchange history of these places.
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