Kanban Architecture: Creative Commercial Architecture Born in Tokyo After the Great Kanto Earthquake

Introduction

Kanban architecture is a unique style of commercial architecture that developed primarily in urban areas, especially Tokyo, from the late Taisho to early Showa periods. Born during the special historical context of the reconstruction period after the Great Kanto Earthquake, its appearance, which combined traditional Japanese architectural styles with Western design elements, can be considered a valuable heritage that conveys the lives and culture of people at that time to the present day. This paper will explain in detail the definition of kanban architecture, the background of its development, design characteristics, representative examples, highlights of existing buildings, and future research perspectives.

Definition of “Kanban Architecture”

Kanban architecture (kanbankenchiku) is a term proposed by architect and architectural historian Terunobu Fujimori in 1975, referring to a form of wooden architecture that combined shops and residences, built extensively in Tokyo and surrounding areas during the reconstruction period after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Its main characteristic is that while having a wooden structure, the front of the building (facade) is flat and covered with fireproof materials such as copper plates, mortar, and tiles. This flat facade looks like a signboard (kanban), which is how this architecture got its name.

The outstanding feature of kanban architecture is the combination of its structure and appearance. Many were based on the form of traditional nagaya (row houses) or machiya (traditional wooden townhouses), with narrow frontage and deep plots, which responded to the long, narrow site shapes created by post-earthquake land readjustment. The front was covered with fireproof materials such as copper plates, mortar, tiles, and slate to serve the practical purpose of preventing the spread of fire.

Furthermore, this flat facade increased freedom for decoration, and various designs were employed. In addition to traditional Edo komon patterns and geometric patterns, elements of Western architectural design such as column capitals, pediments, cornices, medallions, and Art Deco-style decorations were incorporated, expressing a unique aesthetic that blended Japanese and Western styles. Another characteristic was the parapet that rose to hide the roof, with various shapes that accentuated the individuality of the buildings. Additionally, mansard roofs (gambrel roofs) were often used to effectively utilize narrow sites, which was a technique to maximize living space within building regulations.

Thus, kanban architecture can be considered a unique architectural style born from the fusion of practical demands for recovery from fire, admiration for Western culture, and the free expression of common people. Its name not only indicates the characteristics of its appearance but also suggests the function of stores, in that the facade also played the role of advertisement.

Establishment of Kanban Architecture: Historical Background and Reasons for Development

The biggest reason for the development of kanban architecture lies in the historical context of reconstruction from the devastating damage caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (Taisho 12). The earthquake and subsequent fires turned large areas of Tokyo into scorched fields, and many traditional wooden commercial buildings such as degeta-zukuri and kura-zukuri collapsed or burned down. Following this unprecedented disaster, the reconstruction of the imperial capital became an urgent issue, and there was demand for buildings with superior earthquake and fire resistance.

After the earthquake, land readjustment resulted in many shop sites being redistributed into narrow-frontage, deep rectangular plots. To effectively utilize such sites, a technique was developed to flatten the front of buildings by eliminating eaves. Also, to prevent the spread of fire, large quantities of fireproof building materials, especially copper, were used. Copper gained popularity due to its ease of processing and unique appearance, and various decorations were applied to it.

During this period, movements such as the Barrack Decoration Company established by folklorist Wajiro Kon, which beautifully decorated temporary shops called barracks, are thought to have influenced the design of later kanban architecture. The desire of people to make the heavily damaged streets more vibrant may have been the driving force behind the creation of distinctive facades.

Furthermore, within the trend of Westernization and modernization since the Meiji Restoration, Western architectural techniques and designs had entered the Japanese architectural world, giving rise to what was called giyōfū architecture, which imitated Western styles. Kanban architecture can be said to have inherited this trend of giyōfū architecture while developing designs based on freer ideas at a more common level.

The Urban Building Law enacted in 1920 (Taisho 9) also promoted fire prevention measures for wooden buildings and encouraged the spread of kanban architecture. This law made fireproof architecture mandatory along major streets, while quasi-fireproof architecture was allowed along smaller streets, and kanban architecture, which covered the front of wooden structures with fireproof materials, was widely adopted as meeting these requirements.

Economic factors cannot be overlooked either. For individual stores without the funds to build reinforced concrete buildings, kanban architecture, which enhanced fire resistance while being based on wooden structures, was a practical choice. Also, the relatively low worldwide price of copper at the time is cited as one reason for the prevalence of copper-plated kanban architecture.

Thus, kanban architecture is an architectural style symbolic of the era, born from the complex intertwining of various factors such as reconstruction from the unprecedented disaster of the Great Kanto Earthquake, changes in urban planning, Western cultural influences, fire prevention regulations, and economic constraints.

Design Methods and Aesthetics of Kanban Architecture

A major characteristic of kanban architecture design is its freedom, not conforming to uniform styles. This is thought to be because many were created by carpenters, building owners, or local painters reflecting their own ideas and preferences, rather than professional architects.

The facade played an important role as the “face” of the store, like a signboard. The flat wall surface became an excellent canvas for decoration, and various designs were applied using materials such as copper plates, mortar, and tiles. In the case of copper plates, traditional patterns such as tortoiseshell and wave patterns, as well as arrow feather patterns that evoke Edo tastes, can be seen. Mortar could be freely molded with a trowel to create reliefs, and techniques such as artificial stone washing were sometimes used to create a substantial feel like imitation stone. Tiles were used to express geometric patterns and characters by utilizing their colors and shapes.

The parapet set above the roof is one of the important elements characterizing the appearance of kanban architecture. Its shapes varied widely from linear to curved to stepped, and some decorative parapets evoke palaces or churches. Parapets played a role in emphasizing the height of buildings and giving unique expressions to facades.

Also, many kanban architecture buildings adopted mansard roofs. This was a technique to use the attic as living space, reflecting the wisdom of people trying to maximize the use of limited sites within the building regulations of the time. The mansard roof is said to have been devised by the 17th-century French architect Mansart, and it is interesting to note that such Western architectural styles were incorporated into individual shops in early Showa-period Japan.

The intrigue of kanban architecture design lies in the coexistence of Western-style designs and traditional Japanese elements. For example, while the front features decorations similar to Western architecture, the sides and interior of the building retain the style of traditional wooden architecture. The coexistence of these two different styles creates a unique charm.

The design of kanban architecture strongly reflects the sensibilities of common people such as building owners and carpenters, rather than designs by architects. Therefore, while imitating Western architectural styles, they exhibit humorous and free expressions that do not conform to patterns. This may be the greatest charm of kanban architecture.

Representative Kanban Architecture and Architects

Since many kanban architecture buildings were built by people who were not architects, there are not many cases where specific famous architects were involved. However, among the surviving kanban architecture, there are several noteworthy examples due to their elaborate designs and good state of preservation.

Examples in Tokyo:

• Okasho Uraji Button Shop (Chiyoda Ward): This building along Yanagihara Street in Akihabara is characterized by copper plate decorations. The storage boxes for the rain shutters on the second floor feature patterns of woven work and tortoiseshell, and diamond-shaped patterns are arranged vertically at the top of the building, with designs elaborated down to the details.
• Ebihara Store (Chiyoda Ward): Also located along Yanagihara Street, it is currently used as a gallery space. The tiled exterior features the Roman letters “E BI HA RA” and the characters “Ebihara Shoten” expressed three-dimensionally, giving a modern impression. The curves of the eaves over the first-floor entrance and the delicate decorations are also highlights.
• Café Lafresca (Chuo Ward): This building in Nihonbashi is characterized by its Western-style mortar exterior. The green of ivy and the green/light green striped tent create a retro atmosphere, with the stepped-up parapet and weathervane being impressive.
• Kanban architecture relocated and preserved at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum: This outdoor museum in Koganei City houses representative kanban architecture that once existed in various parts of Tokyo, such as Takei Sanshoudo (stationery store), Hanaichi Flower Shop, Maruni Store (hardware store), and Uemura Residence (precious metals merchant), preserving their appearance from that time to the present. Particular highlights include the Japanese-style patterns of chrysanthemum, cherry blossoms, and paulownia on the copper plates of Hanaichi Flower Shop, the medallion at the top, and the verdigris finish of the Uemura Residence.

Examples in other regions:

• Nakagawa Butcher Shop (Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture): This building, known as a filming location for movies and dramas, is also featured on the cover of “Kanban Architecture Picture Book.” While the front appears to be a magnificent building with mortar finish, it has an interesting structure in that the back side is wooden when viewed from the side.
• Gofuku Street (Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture): This shopping street, which was also a filming location for the movie “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” has many surviving kanban architecture buildings. Many became kanban architecture by cutting the eaves and then repairing them, and while the exterior is Western-style, when you enter, you find Japanese houses from before the Taisho era. Buildings with reliefs like the plasterer’s art of the hat shop are noteworthy.
• Noguchi Store (Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture): This building, also on Gofuku Street, has a design that seems to incorporate Art styles, and when viewed from the side, it is clear that it was a mansion with a irimoya-zukuri (hip-and-gable roof) style with a storehouse.
• Former Shionoyu (Akita Prefecture): This building, which was once a public bath, has a Western atmosphere with stained glass, but the owner apparently liked Toyotomi Hideyoshi, so a gourd motif was adopted in the shop name section.
• Inagaya Hardware Store (Koenji, Tokyo): Known as a distinctive kanban architecture, it has a frame-like construction around the building with tiles, the second floor front is finished with mortar, and the central window frame is also tiled.
• Small Restaurant Kameya (Tsukiji, Tokyo): This building, which was renovated taking advantage of the characteristics of kanban architecture, has very well-preserved bronze plate decorations on the front and copper plates under the eaves.

As seen in these examples, kanban architecture shows various expressions depending on the region and the period when it was built.

Highlights of Existing Kanban Architecture

When visiting existing kanban architecture, it is important to carefully observe the entire exterior. First, notice how the flat facade differs from surrounding buildings. Then, by looking closely at how materials such as copper plates, mortar, and tiles are combined and what kind of decorations are applied, you can feel the techniques of the craftsmen at that time and the particular attention of the building owners.

For copper-plated buildings, the distinctive blue-green rust called rokusho might tell the history of the building. Also, pay attention to traditional patterns or geometric patterns embossed on the copper plates. For buildings with mortar finishes, you can enjoy reliefs drawn with a trowel or the texture of imitation stone. For tiled buildings, it is also interesting to observe the patterns created by the colors and arrangement of the tiles.

The shape and decoration of the parapet set above the roof is also a point not to be missed. There are various designs such as Japanese style, Western style, and geometric, and sometimes unique motifs are used. Also, it is good to carefully observe parts that are difficult to see from the front, such as the sides of the building, as elements of traditional Japanese houses may remain.

While the interiors of kanban architecture that can be toured are limited, if you have the opportunity, looking at the floor plan and interior decoration is a good opportunity to learn about the living spaces of that time. Many have a composition with the store on the first floor and residence on the second floor, but the layout and decoration reflect the history and story of each house.

In Tokyo, relatively many kanban architecture buildings remain in Kanda, Jimbocho, Akihabara, Nihonbashi, Tsukiji, and Koenji. Examples also exist in old downtown areas of regional cities such as Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, Ishioka City in Ibaraki Prefecture, and Takahashi City in Okayama Prefecture. Multiple kanban architecture buildings have been relocated and preserved at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, allowing for efficient viewing.

Kanban architecture should be recognized anew and cherished not just as old buildings, but as valuable cultural heritage that conveys the lives, culture, and strong desire for reconstruction of people at that time to the present day.

Conclusion

Kanban architecture is a valuable heritage in the history of modern Japanese architecture, born from the condensation of people’s lives, culture, and creativity during the special era of the reconstruction period after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Its form, which fused the practical purpose of fire resistance, innovative designs incorporating Western design, and above all, the free ideas of common people rather than architects, continues to fascinate us to this day.

However, due to urban redevelopment and building deterioration, the number of kanban architecture buildings is decreasing year by year, and their preservation and inheritance have become important issues. Efforts to relocate and preserve valuable kanban architecture, such as at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, are important, and various forms of effort are required to convey their value to the present day and connect them to the future.

Reexamining kanban architecture from a contemporary perspective should provide many suggestions not only for understanding past Japanese architecture and culture but also for considering modern urban landscapes and architectural design.