The Gateposts at a Glance
The Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts (Former Awashima Seamen's School Gateposts), 粟島海洋記念館門柱 in Japanese, are a pair of stone gateposts made in 1920 on Awashima island in Takuma-cho, Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture, and were registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 7 June 1999.
They mark the school's main entrance, standing as 2 posts directly in front of the Main Building. They are cut from locally quarried granite and stand 109 centimetres high. The national register counts the pair as 1 set and classes it as an other structure rather than a building. Registration number 37-0024; owner Kagawa Prefecture.
Why They Were Registered
The criterion is their contribution to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs judges that the design of the Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts captures the spirit of the Taishō period well.
Two details carry that design. Each post has broad sloping chamfers cut into its four corners, and the top is finished in a rounded, ball-like form at the centre. Straight bevels and a sphere, nothing more: a pared-back geometric ornament typical of Japanese building in the 1920s.
Made in the same year as the school buildings and set squarely before the Main Building, the gateposts still fix where the school's front door was and how formal it was meant to feel. That they are made of island stone adds to the local character.
What to Look For
Notice the height first. At 109 centimetres they reach roughly between an adult's waist and chest; this is not a towering gate. The low pair frames the Main Building's facade beyond, acting more like a picture frame than a barrier.
If you can get near enough, look at the chamfered corners and the rounded tops. The sloping faces change brightness as the light moves, and on a clear day each corner shows a band of light and shade. Up close, you can also see the coarse grain of the granite.
Seeing the Gateposts
The museum has been closed for renovation since 24 December 2021, and the Mitoyo tourism bureau lists the closure as running until 31 March 2027 (checked September 2026).
The Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts stand at the entrance to the site, directly in front of the Main Building, so they are in plain view from the road that runs from Awashima port past the museum. Of the five registered structures, they are the closest to the road. Photographs are limited to that view, and the posts themselves and the grounds are off limits. Ferry details and the museum's overall visiting conditions are on the Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum page.
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Q&A
- When were the Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts made, and when were they registered?
- They were made in 1920 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 7 June 1999, under registration number 37-0024.
- What are the Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts made of?
- Locally quarried granite. They stand 109 centimetres high.
- What is distinctive about the design of the Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts?
- Each post has broad sloping chamfers at its four corners and a rounded, ball-like top. The Agency for Cultural Affairs regards this geometric design as typical of its time.
- How many Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts are there?
- There are 2 posts standing in front of the Main Building. The national register counts them together as 1 set.
- Can I see the Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts now?
- Yes, from outside. The museum has been closed for renovation since 24 December 2021, but the gateposts stand at the entrance and are clearly visible from the road in front.
Basic Information
| Name | Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum Gateposts (Former Awashima Seamen's School Gateposts) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1541 Awashima, Takuma-cho, Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1999/6/7 (Heisei 11) |
| Quantity | 1 set (2 gateposts) |
| Dimensions | Stone (local granite), height 109 centimetres |
| Owner | Kagawa Prefecture |
| Public Access | Closed for renovation (scheduled 2021/12/24 to 2027/3/31); viewable from the road in front |
References
- Cultural Heritage Database (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Gateposts
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00001144
- Cultural Heritage Database (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Main Building
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00001140
- Mitoyo City: Awashima
- https://www.city.mitoyo.lg.jp/kakuka/seisaku/sangyo/14_1/2434.html
- Mitoyo City: Registered Tangible Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.mitoyo.lg.jp/kakuka/kyouikuiinkai/shogai/3_1/history_bunnkazai/13938.html
- Mitoyo Tourism Bureau: Awashima Maritime Memorial Museum
- https://www.mitoyo-kanko.com/facility/awashimamuseum/
Last verified: 2026.09.25
