Imagine being at the very heart of Japan’s political machinery. That’s Kasumigaseki 1-chome. It is a district brimming with government ministries. Kasumigaseki’s name is now synonymous with the Japanese bureaucracy itself.
Kasumigaseki 1-chome faces the Imperial Palace to the north. Hibiya Park is to the east. Nagatacho lies to the west. Most government ministries are located here. Nagatacho refers to the elected government. It is also the legislative branch.
Let’s talk history. The name “Kasumigaseki” has several origin stories. One legend says Prince Yamato Takeru established it. It prepared for battle against eastern people. Its name suggests a place to ward off many people. From the Heian period, it appeared in waka poems. It became known as a place with poetic ties. Before the Edo period, it was a station. This station was on the Ohsu road out of Edo now Tokyo. In the Edo period, Kasumigaseki was a hill name.
In 1872, it officially became a town. In 1967, place names changed. The town of Kasumigaseki transformed. It became today’s Kasumigaseki and Nagatacho.
Standing here, it’s hard to miss the Kasumigaseki Building. This skyscraper is a landmark. Completed in 1968, it’s considered Japan’s first modern office skyscraper. Before this, building height was restricted. The Building Standard Law limited buildings to 31 meters until 1963. The law changed to a Floor Area Ratio limit instead.
The Kasumigaseki Building is owned by the Kasumi Kaikan. This association consists of former kazoku high nobility descendants. The land once belonged to the Kazoku Kaikan. This earlier association changed after World War II.
Several notable organizations have called the Kasumigaseki Building home. The Asian Development Bank Institute has its head office on the 8th floor. The Asian Development Bank also has its Japan offices there. The Children and Families Agency’s head office is also in this building. All Nippon Airways once had its headquarters here. So did Mitsui Chemicals.
Adding to the area’s architectural landscape are the Kasumigaseki Common Gate twin towers. These buildings stand adjacent to the Kasumigaseki Building. You can also find the New Kasumigaseki Building nearby.
Interestingly, the spelling of Kasumigaseki has evolved. Before 1967, it was spelled with a small “ke”. Now, it uses hiragana. The Tokyo Metro station uses a large “ke”. All three spellings appear throughout the district.
Kasumigaseki 1-chome holds a significant place in Japanese history and governance. From ancient legends to modern skyscrapers, it embodies Japan’s evolution. As we conclude our visit to Kasumigaseki, remember that you’ve walked through a district that shapes Japan’s present and future.