The Mitsubishi Ichigokan

The Mitsubishi Ichigokan was designed in 1894 by the English architect Josiah Conder at the invitation of the Japanese government not long after the country had ended a long period of national seclusion. The structure, erected by Mitsubishi as the first Western-style office building in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, makes use of the Queen Anne style of architecture that was popular in England in the late 19th century. In addition to housing the banking department of Mitsubishi’s headquarters, the three-story building, linked by stairs, was rented out for use as office space. Having aged significantly, the original structure was torn down in 1968, and now, some 40 years later, it has been reconstructed on the same lot according to Conder’s original plans. As part of the restoration project, along with a review of the Meiji-era blueprints and survey maps dating from the building’s dismantling, extensive surveys of various documents, photographs, and extant structural components were conducted. In addition to reusing some of the building’s interior components, such as the handrails for the staircases, the structure was reproduced as faithfully as possible down to the use of specific building methods and architectural techniques. The Mitsubishi Ichigokan, symbolizing the modernization of Japan in the late 19th century, has been reborn as the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, an icon of Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, in 2010.

History of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum

January 1892

Work starts on the original Mitsubishi Ichigokan building.

December 1894

The building is completed. (The first part was completed in June.)

1968

The building is demolished.

2003–2004

Study by the City Planning Institute of Japan

2005

Study by the Architectural Institute of Japan

June 1, 2006

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. announces it will rebuild the Mitsubishi
Ichigokan in the Marunouchi district for use as an art museum.

October 2006

Akiya Takahashi is appointed director of the Museum.

February 1, 2007

Mitsubishi Estate outlines its plans for the Museum.

February 5, 2007

Work starts on the Mitsubishi Ichigokan building.

April 1, 2007

Mitsubishi Estate establishes a Museum Pre-Opening Office
in the Area Brand Management Department.

June 11, 2008

Mitsubishi Estate announces the Museum logo.

April 8, 2009

A sister museum agreement is signed with the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
in Albi, southwestern France.

July 1, 2009

The reconstruction of Mitsubishi Ichigokan is completed.

September 3, 2009

Mitsubishi Estate announces its management plan for the Museum.
The exhibition “Iccho London and the Marunouchi Style” is held
in the building to commemorate its completion (until January 11, 2010).

April 1, 2010

Mitsubishi Estate establishes a Museum Management Office.

April 6, 2010

The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum officially opens.
The inaugural exhibition “Manet and Modern Paris” is held until July 25.

November 2011

The Museum receives the Culture Promotion Award of the Western Art Foundation.

Institution guide

• The original Mitsubishi Ichigokan building at the time of its completion in 1894.
• A corridor on the south
  side of the second floor
  (circa 1965)
• The company’s
  banking department
  in the Meiji era.

• Upper right :The Mitsubishi Ichigokan,
  which was restored and completed in 2009.
• A corridor on the south
  side of the second floor
• Former Banking Hall now
  operating as a café.

• 3F Exhibition Room
• Central Stairs

• 3F Exhibition Room
• Attic Space and Brick Wall
• Steel Stairs

General Information

• Lightning Rod / Rod Point : Copper Sheet / Forged
• Ornaments on the Ridge of the Roof : Cast Iron
• Chimney : Ceramic
• Roof : Natural Slate
  Roof Truss : Timber Truss
• Dormers : Copper Sheet over Wood Caving
• Eave-end Support : Copper Sheet
• Cornerstone : Emochi-ishi (Andesite)
• Window Frame Stone : Emochi-ishi (Andesite)
• Balcony Railing : Wrought Iron
• Glass (Glass from Former Shin-marunouchi Building)
• Wooden Fixtures: Canadian Cedar
• Bricks : Bricks Produced in a Mold Made in China
• Podium: Kitagi-ishi (Granite)
• Lattice Windows: Cast Iron
• Seismic Isolator
• Tower Wing Structure
• Ichigokan Foundation Structure