Hi, everyone! I’m Shun.
Regretfully, although I glanced over the Frank Gehry’s buildings and admired them, they all looked like the same for me. So, I didn’t feel like introducing Gehry’s ones then chose a different architect.
Regretfully, although I glanced over the Frank Gehry’s buildings and admired them, they all looked like the same for me. So, I didn’t feel like introducing Gehry’s ones then chose a different architect.
Now, I would like to introduce Supreme Court of Japan that we usually call “Saiko-Saibansho”. I’m in the Department of Law and really interested in going over something that is related to my specialty. That’s why I chose this.
It is the only Japanese court explicitly empowered to review the constitutionality of laws, although it has held that lower courts also have power to interpret the constitution. In brief, it was made for a trial. And it was made of stone. The statute creating the Court was abolished in 1947, and the modern Supreme Court was formed that year under the constitution of 1946.The new court was first convened in May 1947 in the former Privy Council quarters of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. In 1974, the Supreme Court moved to its current five-story building at 4-2 Hayabusa-cho, Chiyoda, Tokyo. The building was designed by architect Shinichi Okada.
He was born in 1928 and He won the Architecture Institute of Japan Prize for Design for that architect. To my surprise, He also built the Metropolitan Police Department we call ”Keishicho” in 1980 and Gakushuin University High School & Junior High School in 1998. When I found out these facts, I was really astonished! I guess you all might know how I felt.
Anyway, let me go back to the Supreme Court. Personally, I love this architect so much. That appearance seems really solemn and dignified for us, not only for me. It has no extra part so looks stylish. However, beside my preference, there are some problems coming up from that one : the esrangement between us and judiciary.
We usually think that trials and judiciary are so heavy, solemn and sublime. It is totally natural for us to guess so because they took the most important role out of the national powers, that is to say, their activities are related to our life directly so the activities have to be conducted very carefully and solemnly. Then Supreme Court perfectly fits in and appear that kind of our thoughts and what the judiciary is. It means that architect shows the dignity. However, that concept is causing the estrangement between us and judiciary. That solemn atmosphere makes us keep away from the justice and court, I bet. So, in my opinion, this is the pain in the neck of this structure.
I wish milder and softer courts will come up in the near future.
I disagree with your the last opinion. In the court there are trials not only about civil case but also about criminal case. Offenders should feel fear when they enter the court. About also civil case, if the court looks like light, we cannot depend on the court to judge our important matter. So I don't care the court looks like hard to be near for me.
ReplyDeleteMotoki
He designed Japanese Supreme Court, too. I could not find that fact. As you said, Supreme Court looks solemn and heavy. This building is standing in Tokyo around the imperial Palace. I have been to the Supreme Court and I think it suits surrounding’s atmosphere. If the Supreme Court was softer and milder, I think it would not suit surrounding’s atmosphere. But if that building is the family court and is around our city, it should be softer and milder.
ReplyDeleteYuna
I think citizens have a slight involvement of politics or laws compared to other countries. If we promote education of laws (houkyouiku) citizens' views of watching the building might change differently.
ReplyDeleteSotaro
I have loved this supreme court before. When I first saw it, I also thought it looked very tidy, solemn, monochrome. So, when buildings are made, we meet demands of their use.
ReplyDeleteKako Furukawa
Hello, this is Lily.
ReplyDeleteI have been there. And I took a look of inside and it was simple but very gorgeous. When I visited there someone working there thought me about some imformation but I totally forgot. I only remember I admired. I did not know this building was so old because it looked so new. I think this building is suited for court.
Lily
Hi, Shun. Your choice is very nice. Both the Supreme Court and the Metropolitan Police Department have the similar atmosphere. I can feel a sense of justice from the architecture. I don’t know why I feel so, but maybe because of the shape and colour. The shape is square and the colour is gray, which shows us the faithful atmosphere. In addition, it’s surprising that Shinichi Okada designed Gakushuin too!! I’ve never seen the high school and junior high school, so I’d like to go and see them. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMarumi
I agree with Motoki's opinion - I think that court houses should look cold and unfriendly. In this sense, this building is very functional! It reminds me of the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Also, I recall the court house in the movie "12 angry men." In fact, all of the court buildings I can remember are gray stone or concrete, have sharp angles, big tall doors and sometimes a staircase. They are supposed to look scary, I guess, which makes them easy to identify. Anyway, I don't want them to have a fancy design that costs a lot of money, because they are built using tax payers' money!
ReplyDeleteMs. MacGregor
I was also surprised at the fact that the architect which built the Supreme Court and
ReplyDeletethe Metropolitan Police Department designed buildings in Gakushuin.I will look at the design
carefully.
By the way, You mentioned that solemn atmosphere makes us keep away from the justice and court.
I agree with your opinion.
juror system started in Japan two years ago.
In this situation, I think justice should be more
at hand.
Takuya