Takahara Building

The Former Takahara Building: A Living Witness to Tokushima's History

Standing on Higashi-Senba Street in the heart of Tokushima City, the Former Takahara Building (旧高原ビル) is a remarkable survivor of early Showa-era architecture and one of the most historically significant structures in the city. Completed in 1932, this reinforced concrete building has weathered nearly a century of history, including the devastating Tokushima Air Raid of 1945, earning it the poignant title of "living witness to the ravages of war." Registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1997, the Takahara Building stands as an enduring testament to the resilience of Tokushima and the craftsmanship of Japan's early modern architects.

Historical Background

The Takahara Building was commissioned by the former Takahara Shoten, a wholesale dealer in petroleum and edible oils that later became Takahara Sekiyu (Takahara Oil Co., Ltd.). Construction began in 1931 and was completed in March 1932. At the time, reinforced concrete buildings in Tokushima City were limited to government structures such as the prefectural office and city hall, along with banks and department stores. The Takahara Building was the first privately owned reinforced concrete building in the city, marking a significant milestone in Tokushima's urban development.

The building was designed by Suzuki Teiji (1870–1941), a distinguished architect regarded as a pioneer of modern architecture in Nagoya. A graduate of the Imperial University's Department of Architecture, Suzuki studied in England and France before becoming a professor at what is now the Nagoya Institute of Technology. Over his career, he designed approximately 80 buildings, with 44 concentrated in Nagoya, earning him the title "the architect who built Nagoya." Notably, Suzuki was also the brother-in-law of the celebrated novelist Natsume Soseki, as their wives were sisters.

The building's most dramatic chapter came during the Tokushima Air Raid on July 4, 1945, when over 100 B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs on the city, destroying approximately 62% of the urban area. While the surrounding neighborhood was reduced to scorched earth, the Takahara Building miraculously survived, largely thanks to its German-made hexagonal wire-reinforced fireproof window glass — a rare and advanced feature for the time. Although the first floor sustained partial damage, the upper floors remained intact, and the building's original decorative elements were preserved.

After the war, the building continued to serve as the headquarters for Takahara Oil until the company ceased operations in 2007. In 2008, ownership transferred to Kokusai Inc., a Tokushima-based construction company, and the building was renamed as part of the Kokusai Higashi-Senba 113 Building. A new five-story wing was added on the riverside in 1998, creating a unique complex that juxtaposes a historic prewar structure with a modern glass-fronted addition.

Why It Was Designated as a Cultural Property

The Takahara Building was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) on July 15, 1997, under registration number 36-0007. The designation recognizes several key values of the structure.

As a street-facing reinforced concrete building from the early Showa period, it represents an excellent example of Western-style architectural design in a small-scale urban commercial building. Its scratch-tile exterior walls, ornamental parapet, and decorative window surrounds on the tower-like third-floor section exemplify the design vocabulary of 1930s Japanese urban architecture. The building also holds significant historical value as a survivor of the 1945 air raid, with its cracked and heat-damaged window glass serving as a tangible record of the wartime destruction that engulfed the city.

In 2010, the building was further recognized as a Tokushima Citizen Heritage (とくしま市民遺産), acknowledging its importance to the local community as both an architectural landmark and a memorial to the city's wartime history.

Architectural Highlights and Things to See

The Takahara Building is a three-story reinforced concrete structure with a building area of 87 square meters and a total floor area of 194 square meters. The design features a partially raised tower-like section that extends to three stories, while the remainder of the building is two stories, creating a distinctive and asymmetric silhouette on the streetscape.

The exterior is clad in scratch tiles — a popular material in early Showa architecture characterized by their textured surface created by scraping the clay before firing. The parapet along the roofline features elegant decorative motifs, and the window surrounds on the tower section display Romanesque-inspired ornamentation that adds a refined European character to the facade.

Perhaps the most moving feature of the building is its original window glass. The German-made hexagonal wire-reinforced panes still bear the heat cracks and fracture lines caused by the intense firestorm of the 1945 air raid. These windows have been deliberately preserved in their damaged state as silent witnesses to the horrors of war, offering visitors a visceral connection to the events of that devastating night.

The second floor of the old building now serves as the Shinmachigawa Cultural Gallery (新町川文化ギャラリー), a public space used for exhibitions, solo shows, and cultural events. The gallery space retains the raw structural character of the original building, with exposed concrete and the original framework visible, creating an atmosphere that blends historical authenticity with contemporary gallery use.

Visitor Information and Access

The Takahara Building is located at 1-13 Higashi-Senba-cho, Tokushima City, along the Higashi-Senba Street. The building is easily accessible on foot from JR Tokushima Station. Walk straight south along Shinmachi-bashi Street, cross the Shinmachi Bridge over the Shinmachi River, and you will find the building on your left along Higashi-Senba Street. The walk takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

The exterior of the building can be viewed at any time from the public street. The interior, including the Shinmachigawa Cultural Gallery on the second floor, is accessible during building hours, though gallery availability may depend on ongoing exhibitions. The first-floor passageway connects the Higashi-Senba Street side with the Shinmachi Boardwalk along the riverside, allowing visitors to walk through the building and experience both the historic and modern wings of the complex.

On the riverside, the Shinmachi Boardwalk provides a pleasant waterfront promenade along the Shinmachi River, with cafes and shops in the new wing of the building. Visitors can enjoy the riverside scenery while appreciating the contrast between the historic Takahara Building and the modern glass-fronted addition.

Surrounding Attractions

The Takahara Building is situated in the Shinmachi district, a historically significant area of Tokushima that served as the city's primary commercial quarter during the Edo period. Several notable attractions are within easy reach.

The Shinmachi Boardwalk, directly adjacent to the building along the Shinmachi River, is a popular waterfront promenade that hosts weekend markets and seasonal events. Mount Bizan (眉山), Tokushima's iconic mountain, rises just south of the city center and offers panoramic views from its summit, accessible by ropeway. The Awa Odori Kaikan, located at the base of Mount Bizan, provides year-round performances of Tokushima's famous Awa Odori dance and houses a museum dedicated to this centuries-old tradition.

The Tokushima Prefectural Museum of Culture (徳島県郷土文化会館), visible from the Boardwalk area, showcases the region's cultural heritage, including exhibits related to the Tokushima Air Raid. Tokushima Central Park and the ruins of Tokushima Castle are also within walking distance, offering green spaces and historical sites for further exploration.