Building Exterior 360-degree Guide

Early-modern
traditional Japanese
architecture

Early-modern traditional Japanese architecture

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan successfully modernized by taking in foreign technology and culture. Buildings like this that were constructed during the Meiji Era are called Early-modern Japanese architecture because they were based on traditional Japanese design while also incorporating Western, Eastern, and foreign design elements and early-modern technology.
Roof
- Hafu (bargeboard)
  
  Hafu (bargeboard)
  
  Triangular section on the side of the roof. This building’s bargeboard has corner members assembled in a lattice shape that combines the building’s design and ventilation underneath the roof.
- Sankawarabuki
  (base tile)
  
  Sankawarabuki (base tile)
  
  These structural members protect the building from rain. Due to deterioration, the base tile was replaced during the restoration and repair completed in 2019.
Entrance roof
- Karahafu (undulating bargegoard)
  
  Karahafu
  (undulating bargegoard)
  
  A covering against rain above the entrance. As the face of the building, it is adorned with beautiful undulating curves. It also demonstrates the skill of the carpenters who made it.
- Dobuki
  (copper roof)
  
  Dobuki(copper roof)
  
  The copper roof complements the curves of the karahafu. Brilliant and shining when first built, the copper sheets have faded to a beautiful greenish-blue over time.
- Onigawara
  (decorative tiles)
  
  Onigawara (decorative tiles)
  
  The decorative tiles (onigawara) from when the building was first built. The characters for Shibaura are visible and show that the tiles were made specifically for the building.
Entrance area
- Gegyo (decorative wooden board)
  
  Gegyo
  (decorative wooden board)
  
  A decorative member placed at the peak of the roof in order to hide beams and other structural members. The design varies depending on the style and era. The Western-style plant motif shows the grandeur of the kagai.
- Kaerumata
  (frog-leg strut)
  
  Kaerumata (frog-leg strut)
  
  The kaerumata supports the roof. Designed to complement the gegyo, the kaerumata also has a Western-style plant motif. Visitors are greeted by a three-dimensional carving.
- Hafujiri (lower end of barge board)
  
  Hafujiri
  (lower end of barge board)
  
  The barge boards are carved all the way to the tip on each end in the manner of shrine and temple architecture. A style of carving called "eyou", the design varies depending on the style and era.
- Taruki (rafter)
  
  Taruki (rafter)
  
  A structural element that supports the eaves. Typically, they are set at regular intervals, but here two thin pieces are assembled together to give the tip of the eaves a light appearance.
- Ranma (transom) and funahijiki (boat bracket arm)
  
  Ranma (transom) and
  funahijiki (boat bracket arm)
  
  The transom above the entrance is a delicate design of evenly spaced vertical timber bars. Both upper ends have funehijiki and curved to accommodate them, so the lattices are of varying lengths. The design required considerable time and effort.
Exterior walls
- Shitami-itabari
  (weather boards)
  
  Shitami-itabari
  (weather boards)
  
  The typical exterior wall finish. They are an outdoor element for preventing wind and rain entering the interior. Especially damaged sections were replaced during the 2019 restoration and repair.
- New and old materials
  
  New and old materials
  
  Since this building is a Minato City designated cultural asset, original materials are preserved whenever possible while materials showing signs of deterioration are replaced. The difference between new and old materials can be discerned by looking at the color of the bark.