Kinjo Gakuin High School Eikokan

Introduction

Standing gracefully in the heart of Nagoya's prestigious Shirakabe district, the Eikōkan (Glory Hall) of Kinjo Gakuin High School is a striking testament to pre-war architectural elegance and enduring faith. Completed in 1936, this three-story reinforced concrete auditorium is distinguished by its American Spanish architectural style, featuring a vivid red Spanish tile roof set against pristine white stucco walls. Serving both as a lecture hall and a chapel, Eikōkan holds profound historical significance as the only building on the Kinjo Gakuin campus to survive the devastating Nagoya air raids of World War II. In 1998, it was officially registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Historical Background

The story of Eikōkan is inseparable from the history of Kinjo Gakuin itself. In 1889, American missionary Annie E. Randolph of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern) established a small private school for women in Nagoya, originally named Joshi Senmon Kibōkan. The school was renamed Kinjo Girls' School in 1890 and relocated to its present site in the Shirakabe district of Higashi Ward in 1900.

By the 1930s, the school had grown significantly, and the need for a large assembly hall where all students could gather became urgent. Faculty, students, alumni, the parents' association, and the Women's Board of the Presbyterian Church in the US all contributed donations to make the construction possible. In January 1935, a building committee was formed with architect Takeo Kido serving as chief engineer, and planning began in earnest.

Three architectural styles were considered: Gothic, American Spanish, and Modernist. After input from both staff and students through a vote, the American Spanish style was selected. Yoshio Eguchi, who had participated in the design of the Ōkuma Auditorium at Waseda University, was consulted for preliminary sketches. Professor Akira Satō of Nagoya Higher Technical School prepared the basic design, while Takeo Kido handled the detailed design. Construction was entrusted to Hirose Shōkai after competitive bidding among six firms including Takenaka, Obayashi, and Shimizu.

The cornerstone-laying ceremony took place on February 11, 1936, and the building was completed on December 11 of the same year. The dedication ceremony was held on December 22, during which Hymn No. 67 was sung. Principal Yoichi Ichimura named the hall "Eikōkan" (Glory Hall), inspired by the collective prayer "Let the glory of God be made manifest." The total construction cost was 295,795 yen.

Designation as a Cultural Property

Eikōkan's architectural and historical significance has been recognized through multiple designations. In 1993, the Nagoya city government designated it as a Nagoya City Important Urban Landscape Building, acknowledging its contribution to the character of the Shirakabe district. On December 11, 1998, exactly 62 years after its completion, Eikōkan was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property (architectural structure) by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. It was registered alongside other notable Nagoya educational buildings, including the Tōkai Gakuen Grand Auditorium and the Nanzan Gakuen Reiners Hall.

Eikōkan was recognized for its well-preserved Spanish-style exterior, its role as both a place of worship and assembly for students, and the communal spirit behind its construction. As a rare surviving example of pre-war school architecture in a city that suffered extensive wartime destruction, it provides invaluable insight into the educational and architectural heritage of the Shōwa era.

Architectural Highlights

The building is a three-story reinforced concrete structure with a total building area of approximately 800 square meters. Its most striking exterior features are the red Spanish clay tiles covering the roof and the white-painted stucco walls, creating a clean and elegant appearance characteristic of the American Spanish style. The maroon-colored window frames and doors provide a warm accent against the white facade, making the building a landmark in the Shirakabe neighborhood.

When it was first built, Eikōkan was equipped with modern amenities including steam heating, a rarity at the time. Remarkably, the rooftop housed an astronomical observatory, the only one in Nagoya at the time of construction. The third floor contained a prayer room with a memorial bronze plaque honoring Mrs. McIlwaine, who had taught English and the Bible at Kinjo Women's College until her passing in 1935.

In 1993, to celebrate the centennial of Kinjo Gakuin, a pipe organ was installed in the hall. French organist Michel Chapuis performed the inaugural recital on November 6 of that year. Major renovation work was also carried out in 1979 by Taisei Corporation, which updated the flooring, ceiling, walls, seating, and windows while preserving the building's essential character.

Surviving the War

During the Pacific War, the white walls of Eikōkan were painted black with tar as a camouflage measure against air raids. On the night of March 18–19, 1945, during one of the devastating Nagoya air raids, incendiary bombs rained down on the campus. Every building on the Kinjo campus was destroyed — except Eikōkan and the small gatehouse. Further bombings on March 25 and 30 caused additional damage to the building, but it remained standing. Emergency repairs were carried out in May 1945, and the building was pressed into service as a makeshift classroom so that instruction could resume.

On August 15, 1945, first-year high school students gathered in Eikōkan to hear Emperor Hirohito's radio broadcast announcing Japan's surrender, though heavy static reportedly made it nearly impossible to understand. After the war ended, the tar-blackened walls were restored to their original white, symbolizing a new beginning. Full restoration work began in December 1948 and was completed in April 1949.

Visitor Information

Eikōkan is located on the campus of Kinjo Gakuin Junior and Senior High School in the Shirakabe district of Nagoya's Higashi Ward. As it is an active school facility, general public access to the interior is limited. However, the building has been opened for special public viewings during events such as the "Aichi Registered Tangible Cultural Properties Special Exhibition" (Aitatemono Hakurankai), which has been held periodically since 2014. The exterior can be admired from outside the school grounds at any time.

The nearest stations are Higashi-Ōte Station on the Meitetsu Seto Line (approximately 10 minutes on foot) and Takaoka Station on the Nagoya Municipal Subway Sakura-dōri Line (approximately 12 minutes on foot). The Nagoya Sightseeing Route Bus "Me~guru" also serves the area, with the "Bunka no Michi Futaba-kan" stop nearby.

Surrounding Attractions

Eikōkan is situated within Nagoya's celebrated "Bunka no Michi" (Cultural Path), a district that preserves the atmosphere of the Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa periods. The neighborhood offers a wealth of historical sites to explore.

Bunka no Michi Futaba-kan is a former residence of Sadayakko Kawakami, Japan's first modern actress, and industrialist Toyota Sakichi. Now a museum, it showcases stained glass windows and the elegant interiors of the Taishō era. Nearby, Bunka no Michi Shumoku-kan is a former ceramics trader's mansion with Japanese and Western-style wings, a tea room, and a garden café where visitors can enjoy refreshments while admiring the architecture.

The Nagoya City Archives (Shiseishiryōkan), housed in the former Nagoya Court of Appeals building, is a stunning Neo-Baroque structure built in 1922 and designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It features restored courtrooms, a grand conference room, and beautifully maintained grounds that are especially popular during the early cherry blossom season. A short distance away, the Tokugawa Garden and Tokugawa Art Museum offer an immersive experience of Owari domain culture, with exquisite Japanese gardens and a world-class collection of samurai heritage.