Okurayama Memorial Hall: A Blend of East and West

Okurayama Memorial Hall, located in Yokohama's Kohoku Ward, stands as a testament to the vision of Kunihiko Okura, a businessman and president of Toyo University. Built in 1932 as the central building for the Okura Institute for the Study of Spiritual Culture, the hall's architecture uniquely blends Eastern design principles with pre-ancient Greek Western styles. Architect Uheiji Nagano brought Okura's vision to life, aiming to express the human ideal of a pure mind, strong will, and abundant intellect through the building's form.In 1981, the building was donated to Yokohama City and, following extensive renovations, reopened in 1984 as the Okurayama Memorial Hall. It has since been designated as a tangible cultural property of Yokohama City in 1991, recognizing its architectural significance. The three-story structure was designed with symbolic intent: the central building, chapel (now the hall), and cloister (now the gallery) represented the 'mind,' while the East and West Wings, housing the library, symbolized 'intellect'. The entrance, once called the 'room of the mind', features sculptures of a lion and eagle.Today, the Okurayama Memorial Hall serves as a vibrant community center, hosting events like the Okurayama Autumn Art Festival, children's festivals, and Christmas celebrations. Its halls, galleries, and meeting rooms are available for public use, and the building is a popular location for film and television shoots, with its Greek temple-style piloti and Showa-era meeting room providing unique backdrops. While some areas are not always accessible to casual visitors due to their use as local facilities, the entrance and common spaces remain open for exploration.