The Former Second Higher School Main Gate: A Meiji-Era Brick Gateway on Tohoku University's Katahira Campus

Standing quietly along Katahira-chō Street within Tohoku University's Katahira Campus in Sendai, the Former Second Higher School Main Gate (旧制第二高等学校正門) is a striking reminder of Japan's pioneering era in modern higher education. Built in 1889, this elegant brick gate is one of the few surviving structures from the original Second Higher School — an institution that played a pivotal role in shaping the intellectual landscape of northeastern Japan. Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in October 2021, the gate stands today not merely as an architectural artifact but as a powerful symbol of educational legacy, alumni devotion, and community resilience.

Historical Background

The Second Higher Middle School (第二高等中学校) was established in 1887 (Meiji 20) as one of Japan's elite preparatory institutions for imperial universities. Located in the Katahira district of Sendai, the school was renamed the Second Higher School (第二高等学校) in 1894. Its main gate was designed alongside the wooden school buildings by Yamaguchi Hanroku and Kuru Masamichi, both architects serving as engineers in the Ministry of Education. The gate was completed by 1891 at the latest, as recorded in the Official Gazette (Kanpō) No. 2510, dated November 10, 1891.

Yamaguchi Hanroku (1858–1900) was a distinguished Meiji-era architect who studied at the École Centrale Paris in France and went on to design numerous educational institutions across Japan, including the former Fourth Higher School in Kanazawa (now the Ishikawa Shiko Memorial Cultural Exchange Hall) and the Hyogo Prefectural Government Office (now the Hyogo Prefectural Public Hall). Kuru Masamichi (1855–1914), a graduate of the Imperial College of Engineering under Josiah Conder, worked alongside Yamaguchi to create the architectural framework for Japan's first generation of higher schools from the First through the Fifth.

The Second Higher School remained at its Katahira campus until 1925, when the expansion of Tohoku Imperial University necessitated a move to the Kitarokuban-chō campus. The gate was subsequently relocated to serve as the entrance to the martial arts dormitory there. Following the devastating Sendai air raids of 1945, which destroyed the Kitarokuban-chō campus, the school moved once more to Sanjinmine, and the gate was carried there by the students themselves. After the school's dissolution in 1950 under postwar educational reforms, the gate was preserved in the grounds of the Sendai City Museum.

In 1968, the Shōshi Alumni Association arranged for the gate to be returned to the Katahira Campus, placing it approximately at its original location. Then, in 1996, to celebrate the school's 110th anniversary, the central opening was widened from 1.8 meters to 3.6 meters, restoring the gate to its original proportions. The surrounding area was landscaped as the "Second Higher School Katahira Memorial Garden."

Significance as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

The Former Second Higher School Main Gate was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) on October 14, 2021, as part of a group of nine heritage structures in Sendai. The registration recognizes the gate's dual value: as a historic structure that conveys the legacy of the former Second Higher School, and as a testament to the enduring affection of its alumni for their alma mater. Despite multiple relocations over more than a century, the gate has been carefully preserved and restored to its original appearance, making it a rare surviving example of Meiji-era educational architecture in Sendai, where most modern-era buildings in the city center were lost during wartime air raids.

Architectural Features and Highlights

The gate consists of four brick pillar columns — two main pillars and two smaller side pillars of the same design. Each pillar is constructed of ornamental brick masonry (化粧レンガ積み) in a square-column form, topped with a pyramidal capstone. The main opening spans 4.4 meters, while the smaller side pillars frame narrower passages on either side. True to its original design, the gate has never had conventional doors; instead, iron chains are strung between the pillars, creating an open and inviting aesthetic that reflects the school's spirit of accessibility and learning.

The simplicity and solidity of the design are characteristic of Meiji-era institutional architecture, where Western building techniques — particularly brick construction — were adopted as symbols of modernization. The warm red-brown tones of the aged bricks, combined with the geometric precision of the pyramidal caps, give the gate a dignified presence that harmonizes beautifully with the mature trees and green spaces of the memorial garden surrounding it.

Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the gate sustained damage. However, it was promptly repaired by the Shōshi Alumni Association as part of their 125th anniversary memorial project, which also included the renewal of the wooden signboard. This act of restoration underscored the deep connection between the alumni community and the preservation of their shared heritage.

Visitor Information

The Former Second Higher School Main Gate is located on the western side of the Katahira Campus, facing Katahira-chō Street, approximately 100 meters south of the main gate of Tohoku University. The campus is open to the public, and visitors are welcome to stroll through and view the gate and the surrounding Second Higher School Katahira Memorial Garden at any time. There is no admission fee.

The nearest station is Aoba-dōri Ichibancho Station on the Sendai Subway Tozai Line, about a 10-minute walk from the South 1 exit. Alternatively, Itsutsubashi Station on the Namboku Line is also about 10 minutes on foot. From JR Sendai Station's west exit, the campus is approximately a 15-minute walk. By bus, take a Yagiyama Zoological Park-bound bus from platform 11 at Sendai Station's west bus pool and alight at "Tōhokudai Seimon-mae" (Tohoku University Main Gate), which takes about 5 minutes.

Surrounding Attractions

The Katahira Campus itself is a treasure trove of Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa-era architecture. Within the campus, visitors can explore other Registered Tangible Cultural Properties including the Former Tohoku Imperial University Main Gate, the Lu Xun Memorial Lecture Hall (where the celebrated Chinese writer studied medicine), the Tohoku University Archives (housed in the former Imperial University Library reading room), and the Honda Memorial Hall. Together, these twelve registered heritage buildings form a fascinating open-air museum of Japan's modern academic history.

Just a short walk from the campus, the Hirose River offers a scenic promenade, particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season in spring and autumn foliage. The Sendai City Museum, located nearby in Aobayama Park along with the ruins of Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle), provides an excellent overview of the region's samurai history and cultural heritage. The bustling Ichibancho shopping arcade, Sendai's premier commercial district, is also within easy walking distance, offering a wide selection of restaurants featuring local specialties such as gyūtan (beef tongue) and zundamochi (edamame rice cakes).

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Q&A

QWhen was the Former Second Higher School Main Gate built?
AThe gate was built in 1889 (Meiji 22) as part of the construction of the Second Higher Middle School campus. It was completed no later than 1891, and was designed by Ministry of Education architects Yamaguchi Hanroku and Kuru Masamichi.
QWhy has the gate been relocated multiple times?
AThe gate followed the school through its various relocations: from Katahira to Kitarokuban-chō (1925), then to Sanjinmine after the 1945 air raids, to the Sendai City Museum after the school's closure (1950), and finally back to Katahira Campus in 1968. In 1996, it was further restored to its original proportions.
QIs there an admission fee to see the gate?
ANo. The gate and the Second Higher School Katahira Memorial Garden are located within the open campus of Tohoku University and can be visited freely at any time.
QWhat other heritage buildings can be seen on the Katahira Campus?
AThe Katahira Campus has twelve Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in total, including the Former Tohoku Imperial University Main Gate, the Lu Xun Memorial Lecture Hall, the Honda Memorial Hall, the Former Second Higher School Repository, and several former imperial university faculty buildings.
QHow do I get to the gate from Sendai Station?
AThe most convenient way is to walk approximately 15 minutes westward from the west exit of JR Sendai Station. You can also take the Sendai Subway Tozai Line to Aoba-dōri Ichibancho Station and walk about 10 minutes, or ride a bus to the "Tōhokudai Seimon-mae" stop.

Basic Information

Name Former Second Higher School Main Gate (旧制第二高等学校正門)
Designation National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building)
Date of Registration October 14, 2021
Year of Construction 1889 (Meiji 22)
Designers Yamaguchi Hanroku and Kuru Masamichi (Ministry of Education Engineers)
Structure Brick masonry, 4.4 m wide opening, with two flanking side pillar gates
Address 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
Owner Tohoku University (National University Corporation)
Access 10-minute walk from Aoba-dōri Ichibancho Station (Tozai Line) or Itsutsubashi Station (Namboku Line); 15-minute walk from JR Sendai Station
Admission Free (open campus)

References

旧制第二高等学校正門 - 文化遺産オンライン
https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/520267
旧制第二高等学校正門 - 仙台市の指定・登録文化財
https://www.sendai-c.ed.jp/~bunkazai/shiteidb/c03069.html
1.旧制第二高等学校正門 - 東北大学キャンパスガイド
http://campus.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/campusguide/bunkazai/bunkazai_01.html
東北大学登録有形文化財 - 片平
https://www.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/somu/bunkazai/kenzobutsu/
旧制第二高等学校 - 片平 - 東北大学キャンパスガイド
http://campus.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/campusguide/bunkazai/nikou/nikou.html
久留正道 - Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B9%85%E7%95%99%E6%AD%A3%E9%81%93
山口半六 - Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%E5%8F%A3%E5%8D%8A%E5%85%AD

Last verified: 2026.04.13