Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
{{Infobox building
| name = Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
| native_name = 岩手銀行赤レンガ館
| native_name_lang =
| image = 171103 Former Morioka Bank Head Office Morioka Iwate pref Japan01bs5.jpg
| image_size =
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| image_caption = Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
| map_type = Japan Iwate Prefecture#Japan
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| relief = 1
| former_names = Bank of Morioka
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| building_type = Bank
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| address = 2-20, Nakanohashi-dori 1-Chome
| location_city = Morioka, Iwate Prefecture
| location_country = Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|39|42|2.2|N|141|9|18.6|E|region:JP-18|display=inline, title}}
| current_tenants =
| start_date = 1906
| completion_date = 1911
| relocated_date =
| renovation_date = 2012
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| client =
| owner = Bank of Iwate
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| material = red brick
| size =
| floor_count = 2
| floor_area = {{convert|693|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| grounds_area =
| architect = Tatsuno Kingo
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| footnotes = {{box|background=white|align=center|wide=yes|border size=3px|border color=pink|text align=center|Important Cultural Property}}
}}
{{nihongo|Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building |岩手銀行赤レンガ館|Iwate Ginkō Aka-Renga kan}} is a former bank building located in the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The building is an example of Meiji period western style architecture in Japan, and is listed as an Important Cultural Property.{{cite web|url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/184246|title=岩手銀行（旧盛岡銀行）旧本店本館|work=Cultural Heritage Online|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 April 2020}} {{in lang|ja}} The building is now used as a museum.
Overview
The building was initially constructed as the head office of the Morioka Bank, and is located at the foot of Nakanobashi Bridge, which crosses the Nakatsu River in Morioka. Work began in May 1908 and was completed in April 1911. The Morioka Bank went out of business in 1933, and the building was acquired by the Iwate Shokusan Bank in 1936, and became its head office. The bank's name was changed to the Bank of Iwate in 1960. It continued to be used as the bank's head office until a modern building was completed in 1983. It continued to be used as a brand office of the bank even after the building's designation as an Important Cultural Property, until 2012. The interior of the building was repaired and restored to its Meiji period appearance, and the building was opened to the public in 2016.[https://www.iwagin-akarengakan.jp/redbrick/] Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building Official home page
The main architect of the building was Tatsuno Kingo, who also designed the head office of the Bank of Japan in Tokyo. This is the only one of his works in the Tohoku region of Japan. Tatsuno was assisted by Morioka-native Kasai Manji. The unique characteristics of the building is that it has an octagonal domed tower in the southeast corner, a square tower in the southwest corner, and Japanese-style irimoya-zukuri gable roofs protruding from the sides. The outer wall is made of red brick and with stripes of white granite. Inside, there is a corridor on the second floor surrounding the colonnade on the first floor. About 910,000 bricks from Iwate prefecture are used for building materials, and Aomori Hiba cypress wood is used for the interior. Although the building is distinguished by its use of red bricks, it was painted white from 1936 until 1958 and was called the "White Meijikan".
Current status
Currently, the interior is divided into a free "Iwate Bank Zone" and a paid "Morioka Bank Zone". The Iwate Bank Zone has a multi-purpose hall with refurbished business rooms and a library lounge that introduces the history of industry and commerce in Morioka. In the Morioka Bank Zone is a reception room and a safe room that has been used since the bank's opening. There is also a corner that introduces the financial history of Iwate Prefecture, and a theater that introduces the history and structure of the buildings.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Former Morioka Bank Head Office}}
- [https://www.iwagin-akarengakan.jp/redbrick/ Official Home page] {{in lang|ja}}
- [https://iwatetabi.jp/spot/detail/03201/1145.html Iwate Tani tourist information] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Important Cultural Properties of Japan
Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1911
Category:Buildings of the Meiji era
Category:Museums in Iwate Prefecture