ABSTRACT
Occupying a large lot in the heart of Takefu, the Kōkaidō Hall (KKD) has been a prominent feature on the city’s skyline. It has been an integral part of the many social changes that townspeople have lived through during the reign of the Shōwa Emperor (1926-1988). When the building opened in 1929 the KKD was a rare example of Western style public architecture in the valley. It is built of reinforced concrete, and its six-story tower, two main floors, and the basement total 1,287 square meters. It was listed in a 1988 national inventory of surviving examples of early Western style buildings, and its significance has only increased with time. By looking closely at the efforts of Takefu Renaissance (TR) to cultivate the town’s historical resources in this case study, it will be possible to see the ways in which the content and methods of the group’s community building activity is shaped by surrounding social conditions and is affected also by cultural values.
