In the window of the billiard room built in the garden, there was a reflection of a mother and son walking close together

Windows of the billiard room — Billiard room at Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden

On a hill by Shinobazu-no-ike Pond, there is an elegant western-style building. It is the former Iwasaki Residence. It used to be the main residence of the Iwasaki family, who founded the Mitsubishi Group, and was built by Hisaya Iwasaki, the third generation of the Iwasaki family, who commissioned Josiah Conder, who designed the Rokumeikan and other buildings, to build it.

The lavishly built structures still look amazing even after 100 years. It seems that for a time after the war, the building was confiscated by GHQ. It is interesting to note that not only is there a Western-style building, but also a Japanese-style building based on the Shoin style next to it.

Even though the winds of civilization were blowing and some people were beginning to live in a Western style, it was still not something that Japanese people were comfortable with. It is said that the mansions built during the Meiji era often had a Western-style building and a Japanese-style building side by side, with the Japanese-style building used for daily living and the Western-style building used for public entertaining. Here in the Iwasaki residence, it seems that the Japanese wing was used for daily life while the Western wing was used as a guest house. The people of the Iwasaki family built a Western-style house to show off their wealth, but they did not want to live their entire lives in the Western style. It is interesting to note that they lived in a Western style on the outside, but in a Japanese style on the inside, which seems to be the true intention and the tatemae.

Next to the Western-style building that served as a guest house, there was also a billiard room. When I tried to peek inside, I saw the reflection of a mother and son walking happily in the window.

Comment via

日本語