Welcome to the Former Kishi Residence

E n tra nce h a l l

玄関ホール

in Higashiyama, Gotemba

Modern materials such as vinyl chloride and aluminum

The Former Kishi Residence in Higashiyama was built in

Di n i n g room

are used in places.

1969 as a private residence for the prime minister at thetime, Nobusuke Kishi.

食堂

The shoji screens, glass doors, mosquito screen doors andshutters can all be slid into shutter boxes inside the wall

Th i s b e au t i fu l r e s i d e nc e wa s c ompl e te d b y famou sso that nothing stands between the room and the garden

architect Isoya Yoshida in his later years. It is in thein front.

traditional sukiya style and features a tea ceremonyarbor, but also performs the functions of a modern house.
In short, the Former Kishi Residence highlights theperfection of Yoshida s architectural style.

L i v i ng r o o m

居間There are no shutter boxes inside the wall for the shoji
screens* 1 , and their lower parts can be opened andEnjoy your visit to this historic Gotemba site.

closed : when they are open , glass-fitted screens allow thegarden to be viewed. The latticework of shoji screens isnotable in that there are fewer frames on them than
trad itional ones.
J a p a n e s e - st yl e r o o m

和室The absence of tsurizuka* 2 and decorative parts on thetransom windows gives the tatami rooms a very
simple and stylish look.
Ga rd enOwner : Nobusuke Kishi (1896 ‒ 1987) 岸 信介

庭園

A stream runs through the Japanese-style garden, whereBorn in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Nobusuke Kishi was one of the mostinfluential statesmen of the Showa era.
A f t e r g r a d u a t i n g fro m To k y o I m p e r i a l U n i v e r s i t y ( n o w t h e
University of Tokyo), he entered the Ministry of Agriculture andCommerce. Before World War II, he worked for the Manchukuo
administration, then came back to Japan and entered the Tojo

Prime Minister Kishi used to entertain VIPs and foreign
guests.
*1

Paper sliding screens.

*2 Short pendant pillars used to lift lintels and support the ceiling.

Cabinet as Minister of Commerce and Industry. After the war, hewas accused of war crimes and was arrested and imprisoned, but
was not indicted. He reassumed his position in the political world
and was instrumental in the formation of the Liberal Democratic
Party, becoming its first chief secretary. Finally, he was elected as
prime minister of the 56th and 57th cabinets and worked hard forthe revision of the Japan-US Security Treaty and legislation for thenational pension law.
In 1970, at the age of 70, he moved to Higashiyama in Gotemba City
to spend the later part of his life, and lived there for 17 years.

Architect : Isoya Yoshida (1894 ‒ 1974) 吉田 五十八
Born in Tokyo, Yoshida is considered the pioneer of modernsukiya-style architecture. He was named Isoya (meaning58)

because his father, Nobuyoshi Ohta (the founder of well-known
pharmaceutical manufacturer Ohtas Isan) was 58 years old when hewas born. Yoshida studied architecture at the Tokyo Fine Arts School〈 Architectural information 〉 〈建築データ〉(now Tokyo University of the Arts) before gaining experienceA r ch i t e ct

through travel to Europe and America. During these trips, he realized

Construction manager : Mizusawa Koumuten Inc.

the need to concentrate on modernizing the Japanese architecturalLandscape gardener : Iwaki Zouen Corporationstyle and began to study modern sukiya architecture.
He designed for various clients, and his work included the residenceof Japanese novelist Nobuko Yoshiya and that of artist Kiyokata
Kaburagi, the villa of publisher Shigeo Iwanami, the Yamato

Site area: 5,669.17 ㎡

Total ﬂoor area

: 567.66 ㎡

Structure: wooden building, partial RC,

Completed: 1969

two floors above ground

Bunkakan Museum, the Japan Art Academy Hall and Naritasan
Shinshoji Temple . In 1964, he was awarded Japan s Cultural Medal.

: Isoya Yoshida