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The Sempukan ( ja, 泉布観) is a historic building in
The Sempukan ( ja, 泉布観) is a historic building in Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...
, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
. It used to function as a guest house for the Japanese Mint Bureau. Designed by Thomas Waters
Thomas James Waters (17 July 1842 – 5 February 1898) was an Irish civil engineer and architect. He was active in Bakumatsu and early Meiji period Japan.
Biography
Waters was born in Birr, County Offaly, in Ireland in 1842, as the eldest s ...
, it is the oldest Western-style building in the city. The Meiji Emperor
, also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figure ...
stayed at Sempukan during his visit to Osaka in 1872.
Architecture
Using local materials and bricks, the building was constructed according to the Colonial Veranda style. The granite outer pillars are of Italian Tuscany design. Inside, it was beautifully decorated with high ceilings and chandeliers. The building was also equipped with western style toilets that use running water for flushing. All rooms on the 2nd floor are equipped with its own fireplace and a special throne room was constructed to accommodate the Emperor and other members of the imperial family during their visits.Current condition
Due to its age and state of deterioration, the Sempukan is currently undergoing renovation and closed to the general public.See also
*Japan Mint
The is an Independent Administrative Institution of the Japanese government, responsible for producing and circulating the coins of Japan. The agency has its head office in Osaka with branches in Saitama and Hiroshima. The Japan Mint does not pro ...
* Veranda
A veranda or verandah is a roofed, open-air gallery or porch, attached to the outside of a building. A veranda is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front and sides of the structure.
Although the form ''veran ...
References
* Buildings and structures in Osaka Houses completed in 1871 Important Cultural Properties of Japan {{japan-struct-stub