Tokyo Metropolitan Selected Historic Buildings Top 100, No. 16 Komazawa University's Koun-kan is now the Museum of Zen Culture and History. Free admission. Reservation required. The Museum of Zen Culture and History "Koun-kan" is on the Komazawa University campus and is a facility open to the public. It's a 2-story building where you can see both permanent and special exhibitions. You can see the instruments sounded in Zen, the living spaces of monks in training, explanations of its origins, and more, so you can learn about Zen and experience its spirit. The building was designed by Sugawara Eizo, a leading figure in Wright-style architecture, built as reconstruction architecture after the Great Kanto Earthquake, and opened as a library in Showa 3 (1928). Since Heisei 14 (2002), it has been open to the public as the Museum of Zen Culture and History. The fixtures from its opening are still in use as they were, making it a very rare surviving example of a post-earthquake-reconstruction library. Featuring "the fusion and harmony of architecture and nature," its lightning-bolt-shaped walls and central atrium are breathtaking.

+3

A wonderful retro building. Designed by Sugawara Eizo, who designed Ginza Lion. Sugawara Eizo wasn't actually a disciple of the great master Frank Lloyd Wright, but went by the self-styled title of art architect (美術建築師, not 士), and designed several Wright-style buildings. This building was completed in 1928 (Showa 3). The details that cleverly combine straight lines and the Frank Lloyd Wright-style approach with heavy use of scratch tiles are wonderful. That said, although it was originally built as a library, apart from the central atrium there are only a few very small rooms, so in terms of function as a library, I think the floor plan put the exterior first and was very hard to use. Function was probably secondary; they likely wanted to build it as a spiritual sanctuary. It's basically open on weekdays, and you can get in free without a reservation. On weekends it seems to be open only on the 3rd Saturday. When I went, there was an exhibition of student research presentations.

+3

Judged as architecture: it's just like a folding screen. I visited while an exhibition commemorating its registration as a cultural property was being held. I checked with the security guard directing traffic on the student walkway from Komazawa-daigaku Station to the university, and it was OK to walk straight onto campus without signing in or anything. Many new school buildings have gone up, but they weren't built in a way that blocks the full view. You can see the whole thing from near the convenience store. Its exterior, like a board bent at 90 degrees and stood upright, is just like a folding screen. I'd heard it was Frank Lloyd Wright-like because it uses geometric-patterned terracotta and scratch tiles, but it doesn't feel all that Wright-like. It was designed by Sugawara Eizo, who left a record of being bothered by being called a Wright imitator. The parts have a Wright feel, but there are more striking highlights, so it didn't look like an imitation to me. The highlight is the stained glass in the ceiling. It has a splendor that seems out of place for the library of a Zen Buddhist university. Compared to a domed ceiling it's flat, so it can easily feel closed-in, but it overcomes that and creates a solemn atmosphere.

+3

Every time I went to Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome, I'd wanted to see the former Komazawa University Library, which the designer completed 6 years before this hall. Like the beer hall, I'm impressed by how truly sturdy this building is. Both have had various modifications for modern use, but they still stand splendidly and are actually in use. Wonderful. By the way, I found myself absorbed in the exhibits on the "culture" and "history" of "Zen." I knew the word "Zen," but I'd never looked into it before. I'm really glad I got to learn about "Zen" in depth, which I'd only vaguely pictured as something like this. Wonderful.

+2

Located on the Komazawa University campus. You can go in even if you're not affiliated with the university. A museum about Zen. Free admission. However, compared to paid facilities, the exhibits may (naturally) feel a bit lacking. The building feels historic and stylish ◯. The Great Nirvana painting on display was large and very impressive. I could see it up close, so it was great to be able to observe the details.

+3