World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Historic Tokyo building now serves as a culture center in Kita Ward park
The Kita Ward Chuo Park culture center stands in a green park in Tokyo, about a 15-minute walk west of Oji Station.
It was built in 1930 as the headquarters of the Tokyo First Army Arsenal, then a weapons factory.
The building survived the Pacific War and was later used by the U.S. military before the property was returned to the Japanese government in 1971.
It opened as a cultural center in 1981 and is now used by local people for recreation and learning.
Its three-story concrete structure has a U-shaped plan, symmetrical sides and rows of semicircular arches.
Its historic design sits in a tranquil park setting, where birdsong can be heard.
The Kita Ward Chuo Park culture center in Tokyo is housed in a building constructed in 1930 as the headquarters of the Tokyo First Army Arsenal.
The building survived the Pacific War and was requisitioned by the U.S. military after the war.
The property was returned to the Japanese government in 1971, and the building opened as a cultural center in 1981.
The three-story reinforced-concrete building has one basement level and a U-shaped floor plan.
Today, it is used by local people for recreation and learning in a park setting.
- Who
- Local people use the Kita Ward Chuo Park culture center for recreation and learning.
- What
- A historic building now serves as a cultural center.
- When
- It opened as a cultural center in 1981.
- Where
- Kita Ward Chuo Park, Tokyo, Japan.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The building was constructed as the headquarters of the Tokyo First Army Arsenal.
The U.S. military requisitioned the building.
The property was returned to the Japanese government.
The building opened as a cultural center.
- Original construction
- 1930
- Original use
- Headquarters of the Tokyo First Army Arsenal
- Return to Japanese government
- 1971
- Opened as cultural center
- 1981
- Building
- Three stories with one basement level