Tour Report on 17 June 2017, Saturday

On that day we welcomed around 45 people from Australia, U.K., Singapore, USA, Canada, Chile, Spain, Hong Kong, India, Denmark, France, Phillipines, Vietnam, Argentina, and Switzerland. We divided into 7 groups. It was sunny and hot in the afternoon.

Recently, front square of Tokyo Station has become wide-open so we can have a better view of surrounding area including a white building just next to the Tokyo Station.

The building is central post office, which was established in 1931. It looks simple but that was advanced-garde style in that era. It is called modernism style like BAUHAUS in Germany. Compared to Tokyo Station established in 1914, it is very simplified. It may be said that this style is basis for modern architecture, which emphasises functionality rather than goergeousness with decoration. One can learn history of architecture by standing on the square.

The building was renovated in 2012 so that the white building is combined with high-rise glass building. Left side of the building turned to be shopping mall with stairwell from the ground to the top. The white building was preserved as a cultural heritage just as Tokyo Station building was.

From rooftop of the white building one can view the Tokyo Station from the above and its front square and Shinkansen (bullet trains) on platforms.

Speaking of 1930’s stuff, there was a great invention of fashion by Japanese in that era. In Hawaii, Aloha or Hawaiian shirt was invented by Japanese immigrants settled there. They made the shirts converted from kimono fabrics. Design of Kimono matched with Hawaii’s tropical atmosphere. Then it was developed to be more fancy and became common clothes in Hawaii and then one of the most popular fashion in the world. One of the guides wore revival of the very original Aloha shirt, which was reformed from the old time silk kimono. Comparing with kimono one of the other guides wore, one can learn kimono was basis of Aloha shirts.

EPSON MFP image

In this tour, guests can learn many of the old things which relate to current matters.  Past is in the past. But we are living in modern days that succeeded the old time matters. In Japanese, there is a saying Onko-chishin (温故知新), “Learn the past to have better forecasting of the future.”

We are providing such great opportunities. Please come and join us.

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