CHRONICLE

1873-1945

A construction business to support Japan’s modernization

1872

Shimbashi Station

Tokyo
1873Foundation

1879

Miyagi Shujikan

Miyagi
1880

1883

Rokumeikan

Tokyo

1887

Imperial Place Throne House

Tokyo

1889

Osaka Tenjin Bridge

Osaka

The Rokumeikan—Taisei’s work that was depicted in nishiki-e

The Rokumeikan is a beautiful two-story brick western-style building based on the Neo-Baroque style. It was a highlight of the time as a social gathering place for honored foreign visitors as well as Japan’s nobility and high officials during the Meiji era. The architect Josiah Conder designed the Rokumeikan. He was an invited English professor at the Imperial College of Engineering (currently part of the University of Tokyo). At that time, Kihachiro OKURA extensively engaged in contracting work related to the government through Okura Gumi Shokai. He was in charge of the construction through the newly established Doboku Yotashi Gumi. The total construction cost was 140,000 yen. The Rokumeikan was dismantled in 1940. However, you can enjoy the splendid nostalgic atmosphere of the past through literature such as Ryunosuke AKUTAGAWA’S “A Ball” and Futaro Yamada’s “A Ball in Edo.”

1890

1890

Imperial Hotel - First Generation

Tokyo

1890

Lake Biwa Canal Sluice Gate (Lock Gate)

Shiga

1899

Head Office of Japan Kangyo Bank

Tokyo
1900

1909

Ministry of Communications Office Building

Tokyo

1909

Oji Paper Chitose River Daiichi Power Plant

Hokkaido
1910

1915

Okuragumi Main Building

Tokyo
1920

1923

The Wright Imperial （Imperial Hotel - Second Generation)

Tokyo

1924

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Oi Hydropower Plant

Gifu

1926

Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery

Tokyo

1927

Okura Museum of Art

Tokyo

1927

Gionkaku Tower

Kyoto

1927

Underground Railway Tokyo(Ginza line’s original enterprise) [Ueno - Asakusa segment]

Tokyo

“Do this job without depending on foreigner’s knowledge.”

In 1927, the Japan’s first subway (2.163 km) between Ueno and Kaminarimon (Asakusa) was opened. This is currently known as the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. Okura Doboku Kabushiki Gaisha, which was our predecessor, undertook the related contract work. Although technological difﬁculties were anticipated in the midst of the Post-World War I depression and economic chaos after the Great Kanto Earthquake, Kihachiro OKURA encouraged his employees to undertake this construction work. Moreover, he urged them to do it without relying on foreigner’s knowledge. For construction, the open-cut method was used. This is a way to create a tunnel by digging in the ground and then burying the results after completion. This was unprecedented construction work for them. However, they performed it by putting their whole souls into the work and completed it safely and soundly.