Former Senkyo Elementary School Building

Overview

The former Senkyo Elementary School building, located in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, is a wooden schoolhouse built during the Meiji era. Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, its historical significance is immense as a unique example of Western-style architecture from the late Meiji period, when Japan's school building design standards were established. Designed by Saburoha Egawa, the building, completed in 1907 (Meiji 40), features a central section comprising an entrance hall, staff room, and auditorium, flanked by symmetrical classroom wings. Its distinctive features include a mansard roof, gables on either side of the entrance, and a dormer window at the center of the facade. The interior is equally impressive, showcasing meticulously selected materials and exquisite craftsmanship, such as the double-layered coffered ceiling in the auditorium, knot-free hinoki (Japanese cypress) boards, thick pine beams, and knot-free sugi (Japanese cedar). The building reflects the passion and advanced technology dedicated to education at that time. Once a place of learning for children, this building is now open to the public as a cultural facility, sharing its history and culture with many. It's also frequently used as a filming location for movies and dramas, playing a crucial role in conveying the atmosphere of the era, appearing in works such as "ALWAYS: Sunset on Third Street" and "Carnation." The former Senkyo Elementary School building is a precious place where you can learn about history and culture while imagining the context and daily lives of people from that time.