Niigata Prefectural Government Building Photo Collection: 50 Years with Prefectural Administration, Published June 1, 1985, Supervised by Niigata Prefecture / Edited and Produced by Niigata Prefecture Public Relations Council
[Introduction to Niigata Antiquarian Books] 🧐
"Niigata Prefectural Government Building Photo Collection: 50 Years with Prefectural Administration" 📷
Published June 1, 1985
Supervised by Niigata Prefecture / Edited and Produced by Niigata Prefecture Public Relations Council
With the words "50 Years with Prefectural Administration" in gold lettering on a navy blue cloth cover—opening it, the old main building of the prefectural government, completed in 1932, stands quietly in its final days before demolition. 📖
This commemorative photo collection was compiled by the Prefectural Public Relations Council in response to the voices of citizens mourning the loss of the old main building, which was slated for demolition following the relocation of the new prefectural office to Shinko-cho, Niigata City.
[Commentary on Contents, etc.] 🧐
⚫︎ The opening features a calligraphy piece titled "On the Publication" by then-Governor Takeo Kimi.
In his own words, the Governor describes how the building watched over the history of prefectural administration for half a century since its completion in May 1932, how it withstood the 1964 Niigata Earthquake despite its aging, and the process of passing the baton to the new office in Shinko-cho.
⚫︎ "50 Years of the Prefectural Government Building" is a detailed chronology covering the years from 1932 to 1985.
It records not only the history of the building itself, such as its completion and the opening of electric railways, but also parallel events in prefectural administration and the era, including the Niigata Great Fire, the Niigata Earthquake, the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen, and the designation of the prefectural tree, flower, and bird.
⚫︎ "Prefectural Government Building (Main Building) Floor Plans" compares the 1st to 4th floors at the time of completion (May 1932) with those as of 1985.
The transition of room layouts, such as the assembly hall, governor's office, and press room, can be read from the drawings, making this a page with high archival value that tells the story of how the building was used over half a century.
⚫︎ An aerial view of the entire prefectural office.
You can see the entire complex, including the main building, annex, and second annex, as well as the dense rows of houses in the Niigata city area, making it a valuable record of the urban landscape at the time.
⚫︎ Daily scenes of the building as a "place of work," including the garage, security office, bidding room, cafeteria, barbershop, and co-op store, are also carefully recorded.
The photos of the cafeteria with tablecloths and the store lined with miscellaneous goods capture the atmosphere of the lives of the staff who worked there.
⚫︎ Pages capturing the architectural design of the main building, such as the central staircase, stained glass, and decorative reliefs, are also worth seeing.
The marble staircase, geometric stained glass, and arabesque decorations on the capitals—the photos convey the high level of ornamentation characteristic of early Showa-era government architecture.
📖 The "Hall of Prefectural Administration" as told by paper—in 1985, the building that had watched over prefectural administration for half a century was demolished, leaving its image behind in this photo collection.
Fifty years of Niigata seen from the perspective of the center of administration.
This volume is a monument that gives form to the citizens' affection for the prefectural government building itself. 😌
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