Josiah Conder and Japan Exhibition
eThe Father of Japanese Modern Architecturef

??????		 As part of Japan-UK 150, a series of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of relations between Japan and the UK, this exhibition outlines the life and works of British Architect Josiah Conder in Japan and his important role in the development of architecture in the country.

 Josiah Conder started his career under the tutelage of famous Victorian architect William Burgess and shortly afterwards, was awarded the Soane Prize.

Josiah Conder c Mitsubishi Estate Co. LTD

He then accepted an invitation from the Japanese Government to lecture in the Architecture Department at the Imperial College of Engineering (which is now the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo) as well as advising on educational affairs to the Ministry of Engineering and designing public buildings and private residences.
eLondon Blockf, Marunouchi, Tokyo Courtesy of the Ishiguro Collection
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Text Box: Exhibition Details Date: 1-29 October 2009, Monday to Friday 0930-1730 Venue: The Embassy of Japan in the UK, 101 - 104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT Organiser: The Embassy of Japan in the UK Supported by Mitsubishi Estate Co. LTD Assisted by Japan Society, Architectural Institute of Japan and Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation In cooperation with the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association, NYK Line, Mitsui Fudosan Group, Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei With academic support from Hiroyuki Suzuki (Aoyama Gakuin University), Prof. Toshio Watanabe (Chelsea College of Art and Design), Dr Tetsushi Okamoto (Doctor of Engineering, Urban Planning) and Simon Conder (Architect) Produced by Total Media Development Institute Co., LTD
 

 



The original Mitsubishi Ichigokan Building cMitsubishi Estate Co. LTD

 

???????????????? The development of the Marunouchi area of Tokyo into a business district began with Mitsubishi Corporationfs acquisition of land in the area and Conder played a leading role in this development with his designs which resembled the three-story redbrick buildings of London. One of his prominent designs was the Mitsubishi Ichigokan building which was completed in 1894 and was the first office building in the Marunouchi area. Later, those who studied under Conder at Mitsubishi Corporation oversaw the continued development of Marunouchi. For his role in nurturing many young Japanese architects, Conder become widely known as the gfather of modern architectureh.
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This exhibition will also outline the restoration of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan and its rebirth as the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, which is due to open in April 2010. The project aimed to faithfully reconstruct the original building of the Meiji and Taisho periods by using portions of the plans and materials from those days.

c Mitsubishi Estate Co. LTD
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Should you have any enquiries, please contact The Embassy of Japan by telephone 020 7465 6589 or by e-mail exhibition@jpembassy.org.uk or else visit www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp