Piercing the sky to the left is a clock tower. It stands tall beside the magnificent Okuma Auditorium. This is not just any auditorium. It is a landmark of Waseda University. The Okuma Auditorium is officially known as the Waseda University Okuma Memorial Hall. It is a Tudor Gothic masterpiece in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Okuma Auditorium’s story began with a vision. Okuma Shigenobu, the founder of Waseda University, passed away in 1922. The university decided to honor him with a grand auditorium. Before its construction, ceremonies took place in tents.
The university launched a public design competition in 1923. They aimed to raise ¥2,000,000. However, tragedy struck. The Great Kanto earthquake halted the project. Funds were diverted to earthquake relief and library construction.
In 1925, Waseda revived the project. President Sanae Takada commissioned Kōichi Satō, Takeo Satō, and Tachū Naitō. These architects designed the auditorium in the Gothic style. Construction began in 1926. The TODA Corporation completed it in 1927. The Okuma Auditorium was opened. It commemorated the 45th anniversary of Waseda University’s founding.
The Okuma Auditorium features a large hall. It seats over 1,100 people. A smaller basement hall accommodates about 300. Lectures, concerts, and university events fill its halls. The clock tower chimes six times each day.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government recognized its importance in 1999. They designated Okuma Auditorium as a historic building. In 2007, it became an Important Cultural Property.
The seven-story clock tower is about 38 meters tall. This height symbolizes Okuma’s belief in a life of 125 years. Ragnar Östberg’s Stockholm City Hall may have influenced the design. Some say it resembles Kronborg Castle in Denmark. Others see similarities to Carfax Tower and Magdalen Tower in Oxford.
The bells in the tower came from Baltimore. The MacLean Company shipped them across the Panama Canal. It marked the first use of four bells together in Japan. These bells still chime. They create the same harmony as the Palace of Westminster.
Look closely at the roof. Oval-shaped transom windows represent the Sun, Moon, and planets. They symbolize the harmony of the universe.
Many important events happen inside the Okuma Auditorium. Waseda University holds entrance and graduation ceremonies here. In 1946, a retirement ceremony was held for sumo wrestler Katsuichi Kasagiyama.
The Okuma Auditorium has hosted national leaders. Bill Clinton, Jiang Zemin, and Junichiro Koizumi have all lectured here. Hu Jintao and Yoshihiko Noda also spoke here. The Okuma Auditorium stands as a testament to Waseda’s legacy. It is a place of history, culture, and inspiration.