Kamada Kyosaikai Local Museum (former Library)

Kamada Kyosaikai Local History Museum: A Taisho-Era Cultural Treasure in Sakaide

Standing proudly near JR Sakaide Station in Kagawa Prefecture, the Kamada Kyosaikai Local History Museum (Kamada Kyosaikai Kyodo Hakubutsukan) occupies one of the earliest full-scale reinforced concrete library buildings in Japan. Originally constructed in 1922 as the Kamada Kyosaikai Library, this striking white Western-style building was registered as a nationally designated tangible cultural property in 1998. Today, it serves as a museum housing approximately 60,000 artifacts related to the history and culture of the Kagawa region, offering visitors a rare opportunity to step into the elegant world of Taisho-era Japan.

The Legacy of Kamada Katsutaro and the Kamada Kyosaikai Foundation

The story of this museum is inseparable from the remarkable life of Kamada Katsutaro (1864–1942), a prominent industrialist, soy sauce brewer, and member of the House of Peers. Born into the Kamada family, whose soy sauce brewing business dates back to 1789, Katsutaro expanded the family enterprise while dedicating much of his wealth to social causes. In 1918, he established the Kamada Kyosaikai Foundation with the mission of promoting charity, education, and social welfare in Sakaide and beyond.

Under Katsutaro's leadership, the foundation built a library in 1922, opened the Local History Museum in 1925, and established a Social Education Hall in 1927. These institutions reflected Katsutaro's deep conviction that the profits from commerce should be returned to society through education and cultural enrichment. The Kamada Soy Sauce company, founded in 1789, continues to operate today and is renowned across Japan for its signature dashi soy sauce.

Architectural Significance: An Early Reinforced Concrete Masterpiece

The museum building was constructed in 1922 under the supervision of Fuji Seiichi, a technical engineer of Kagawa Prefecture, with design and construction carried out by the Takenaka Corporation (Takenaka Komuten), one of Japan's most prestigious construction firms. As one of Japan's earliest full-scale reinforced concrete library buildings, it holds exceptional value in the history of modern Japanese architecture.

The building is a three-story reinforced concrete structure with a total building area of 444 square meters, including a rooftop observation room. Its exterior features a number of distinctive architectural elements: semicircular arched windows that allow soft, natural light to enter the interior; stone-carved style joint finishes on the wall surfaces; and particularly noteworthy undulating curved surfaces on the second-floor parapet adorned with repeated semicircular and hemispherical decorative motifs. The pure white facade creates a striking presence in the Sakaide streetscape, and the building has long been recognized as a significant contributor to the historical landscape of the area.

Inside, visitors can admire original Taisho-era details including the elegant hanging light fixtures in the entrance hall, whose metal fittings date from the building's opening, though the glass shades have been replaced over the years to maintain their form. The high ceilings and spacious layout evoke the grandeur of early 20th-century public architecture in Japan.

Why It Was Designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

The building was registered as a tangible cultural property on December 11, 1998, under the name "Kamada Kyosaikai Kyodo Hakubutsukan (Former Library)." Its designation rests on two primary criteria. First, as a surviving structure of one of Japan's earliest private foundations, it provides invaluable evidence of how philanthropic organizations operated during the Taisho period. Second, as an early example of full-scale reinforced concrete library construction in Japan, it holds significant architectural and engineering value.

The building's transformation over the decades further enriches its historical narrative. After serving as the foundation's library, it was used as the Sakaide City Public Library from 1951 to 1979. In 1992, when the original museum building was demolished due to the JR Yosan Line railroad elevation project, the museum's collections were transferred to this former library building, which was then renovated to serve as the new home of the Local History Museum.

Highlights and Treasures: The Museum Collection

The museum houses approximately 60,000 items spanning historical manuscripts, antique books, maps, photographs, and archaeological artifacts related to the history of Kagawa Prefecture. The collection is displayed across three exhibition rooms, with exhibits rotated approximately every six months to showcase different aspects of the collection.

A Literary Connection: Haruki Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore"

The museum has an intriguing connection to contemporary Japanese literature. It has been suggested that the "Komura Memorial Library" featured in Haruki Murakami's celebrated novel "Kafka on the Shore" (2002) may have been inspired in part by this museum. In the novel, the fictional library is operated by a foundation established by the Komura family of sake brewers and features a painting gallery on its second floor — details that closely parallel the Kamada Kyosaikai Museum, which was established by the soy sauce brewing Kamada family and displays paintings and calligraphy. While Murakami himself has stated that the Komura Memorial Library is entirely fictional, the similarities have delighted fans and brought additional attention to this charming institution.

The Kamada Museum Complex: Exploring the Neighborhood

The museum is part of the larger "Kamada Museum" complex, which comprises three unique cultural facilities clustered around the Kamada Soy Sauce headquarters near Sakaide Station.

• Yotsuya Simon Doll Museum (Tanōsō) — Housed in the registered tangible cultural property Tanōsō, a 1936 Western-style residence originally built as Kamada Katsutaro's home, this museum displays 23 hauntingly beautiful ball-jointed dolls by the acclaimed artist Yotsuya Simon. The dolls are placed throughout the building, including unexpected spots like closets and safes, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
• Ozawa Tsuyoshi Sanuki Soy Sauce Painting Museum — Located in a former Kamada family shop building dating to the late Edo period, this museum showcases works by contemporary artist Ozawa Tsuyoshi, who has recreated famous masterpieces of Japanese art history using soy sauce as his medium. The playful and witty exhibitions offer a unique perspective on Japanese art and craft traditions.
• Kōfūen Garden — Adjacent to the museum, this elegant garden was originally the private garden of Kamada Katsutaro, landscaped between 1908 and 1910. It combines a traditional Japanese pond-strolling garden in its western section with a Western-style lawn garden in its eastern section, and has been designated as a Sakaide City cultural property.
• Kamada Soy Sauce Factory Shop — Located at the Kamada Soy Sauce headquarters, this shop offers the company's full range of products, including their famous dashi soy sauce and specialty items not available elsewhere, making for wonderful souvenirs.

Practical Information for Visitors

The museum is conveniently located just a five-minute walk west of JR Sakaide Station, making it easily accessible for travelers exploring the Kagawa region. Sakaide Station is served by the JR Yosan Line and is approximately 20 minutes by rapid train from Takamatsu Station. For visitors arriving from Honshu, Sakaide is one of the first stops after crossing the iconic Seto Ohashi Bridge.

Admission to the museum is free of charge, making it an exceptional value for travelers interested in local history and Taisho-era architecture. The museum is open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with last entry at 4:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays, national holidays, during the Obon period (August 13–15), and over the New Year holiday (December 29–January 4). A parking area with space for approximately 15 vehicles is available for those traveling by car.

The museum is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp at the entrance, wheelchair lending available, guide dog access permitted, and assistance services offered upon request.