🌹✨ Yamagata Trip Part 2: The Old Saiseikan Main Building ✨🌹

Greetings, everyone. The 'Old Saiseikan Main Building' located in Kajo Park in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, is a truly precious structure that conveys the history of medicine and architecture from the Meiji era to the present day. It was built in 1878 (Meiji 11) as the Yamagata Prefectural Hospital. It was brought to life through the efforts of Michitsune Mishima, the governor of Yamagata Prefecture at the time, and it housed not only a hospital but also a medical school for those studying medicine. The building is characterized by its three-story tower, reminiscent of a foreign castle, and its beautiful corridors. It is an example of 'Giyōfū' architecture, a fusion of Western-style design and traditional Japanese woodworking techniques, making it a highly significant site for understanding early Meiji architectural culture. After its role as a hospital ended, the building was preserved and designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1966 (Showa 41). It has since been relocated within Kajo Park and is now open to the public as the 'Yamagata City Local History Museum.' Inside, you can also view materials related to medicine and the history of Yamagata. Gazing at the beautiful building while reflecting on the era when people in the Meiji period began to embrace modernization is a wonderful experience.🌷 Please look forward to Part 3 of my Yamagata trip~