Didn’t Mitsubishi once have an office here? That’s right. We are standing before the Osaka Norin Kaikan. This building has quite the story. It stands as a testament to Osaka’s history. It is also a symbol of architectural preservation.
The Osaka Norin Kaikan was originally built in 1930. It served as the Osaka branch of Mitsubishi Corporation. The Mitsubishi group had its own building design department. So, the company replaced a wooden two-story western-style building with this concrete structure.
During World War II many Mitsubishi branches were seized. However the Osaka branch avoided that fate. Later the building was sold as part of the dissolution of the zaibatsu.
In 1949, veterans of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry invested in the building. Then the building became the Osaka Norin Kaikan. Initially it housed offices related to post-war food administration. This included the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Materials Adjustment Office.
From 1952 to 1980 the Osaka Sugar Exchange used the building as its meeting place. Gradually general businesses and shops replaced the initial tenants. By 2000 fashionable shops gathered here. These included domestic and international apparel brands.
The Osaka Norin Kaikan retains many of its original architectural features. The entrance hall boasts patterned tiles. Marble adorns the interior walls. An Abashiri-style clock sits next to the elevators. It is connected to clocks on each floor. Employees once synchronized their watches to these clocks every morning.
A mail chute remains in the entrance hall though it is no longer in use. The staircase features metal handrail decorations. These were offered during the war. Each floor’s elevator hall had chandeliers before the war. These featured bronze and opal decorations. The current chandeliers were added later.
Each room still uses boiler heaters. You can find former vault rooms on the second to fourth floors on the west side. The fifth floor once served as a dining hall and kitchen. It features a ceiling decoration of thin iron plates. They are decorated with pressed patterns.
The exterior walls feature stone on the first floor. Tile covers the upper floors. Large windows provide ample light. The Osaka Norin Kaikan was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2021. Its well-preserved architecture earned this recognition. In 2022, it was featured in the TV drama “Meikenchiku de Lunch.” This further highlighted its architectural significance.
Today the Osaka Norin Kaikan stands at the intersection of the Midosuji and Yotsubashi lines. Its northwest corner faces a crossroads. The former main entrance is now a shop entrance. The northeast entrance now serves as the main entrance. As you explore this building imagine its past. Consider its role in Osaka’s commercial history. Appreciate the blend of architectural styles.