{"id":54,"date":"2015-04-10T15:56:22","date_gmt":"2015-04-10T06:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.akarenga-h.jp\/en\/?page_id=54"},"modified":"2015-05-20T13:52:36","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T04:52:36","slug":"k-03","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.akarenga-h.jp\/en\/hokkaido\/kaitaku\/k-03\/","title":{"rendered":"Land of Engineers\u2013 Former Hokkaido Government Office Building Narrates"},"content":{"rendered":"

The development of Hokkaido required advanced technologies in the field of agriculture, architecture and civil engineering. Hokkaido brought these technologies from the world and trained many Japanese engineers. Thus, the Development Commission and Hokkaido Government Office served as the cradle that introduced technologies and engineers.<\/p>\n

Tales of Former Hokkaido Government Office Building<\/h2>\n

\"Picture

Picture of the main building of the Hokkaido Development Commission
This drawing was depicted by N.W. Holt. (from \u201cHokkaido in the Meiji and Taisho Era\u201d)<\/p><\/div>The main building of the Hokkaido Development Commission and the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building were constructed in the Meiji era with the pick of the latest technologies of those days in Hokkaido.<\/p>\n

The main building of the Hokkaido Development Commission was constructed in 1873. That stately building with an octagonal dome at the center was influenced by the American-Baroque style. It had been believed for a long time that the designer was N. W. Holt, an American engineer invited by the Development Commission. It was however later found that Yoshiyuki Adachi , a goyogakari official of the Development Commission, designed this building.<\/p>\n

Adachi was born in Edo in 1827. He worked as a master-carpenter. When he turned 44, he was selected to the Building and Repairs Section, Accounting Bureau, Ministry of Engineering of the Meiji government. When he worked for the Development Commission, he was in charge of designing Hoheikan (Historical Guest House) and the Sapporo Clock Tower. We were surprised to learn how fast Japanese people in the Meiji era were absorbing Western architecture.<\/p>\n

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Main building of the Hokkaido Development Commission in Sapporo
The main building was photographed to commemorate its completion on October 29, 1873 (from “Hokkaido in the Meiji and Taisho Eras”)<\/p><\/div>The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building was constructed in 1888 after the main building of the Hokkaido Development Commission had been destroyed by fire. Seijiro Hirai, an engineer in the Hokkaido Government Office, designed the office. He was a talented man, who was chosen as the first overseas student under the Ministry of Education, and studied at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the U.S. After entering the Development Commission, Hirai engaged in construction of the Horonai railway. When he was only 32, he was selected to design the Former Hokkaido Development Government Office Building.<\/p>\n

The bricks used for the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building were burnt at Suzuki Brick factory and other brick factories operating in the suburbs of Sapporo called Shiroishi Village (current Shiroishi ward, Sapporo), where people found suitable soil for bricks. Flemish-bond brick laying, consisting of alternate laying of stretchers and headers produced its beautiful appearance. The Development Commission also adopted the Red-star mark image of the polar star as their symbol, and used it for decoration all over the building.<\/p>\n

Seijiro Hirai later engaged in the construction of the Hakodate waterworks. After leaving Hokkaido, he actively participated in railway technology and assumed the position of the president of the Imperial Government Railways. <\/p>\n

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Hoheikan (Historical Guest House), designated an important cultural asset by the national government
Hoheikan built as a hotel under the direct management of the Development Commission in 1880 has been designated an important cultural asset by the national government. It was designed by Yoshiyuki Adachi who also designed the first Hokkaido government building, and construction was undertaken by Sukeemon Okawa. It is basically American\/Western style, but Japanese motifs are incorporated throughout the building. (Photo courtesy of Sapporo City)
\n*It will be closed for conservation and repair works until March 31, 2016. (Estimated date)
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\"Motomachi

Motomachi Water Distribution Station
It was established in 1889 as the second waterworks facility in Japan after the one in Yokohama. The construction was supervised by Seijiro Hirai, who had designed the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building. (Photo courtesy of Hakodate Film Commission)<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

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Time travel to Hokkaido in Meiji era!<\/div>\n

Historical Village of Hokkaido<\/h4>\n

Buildings displaying the history of lifestyle and industry, economy, and culture during each stage of Hokkaido development were relocated, restored and conserved in this outdoor museum. Scenes from the development era are reproduced and exhibited so that visitors can become familiar with the history of Hokkaido development.<\/p>\n