Speaking of Mitsubishi, it's "Marunouchi", but when it comes to Mitsui it's "Muromachi". Mitsukoshi is also a Mitsui group, and the head office of Toray was located in the place where "Coredo Muromachi 1" is currently located. Currently, we moved our headquarters to Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, but Toray doesn't have the name Mitsui, but it's Mitsui.
Actually, I would like to introduce the company I worked for because the head office was in the Mitsui Main Building before the war.
After the former Mitsui Main Building completed in 1902 was damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake, Mitsui Main Building ordered construction from James Stuart in the United States with the intention of building a highly earthquake-resistant building under the leadership of Takuma Dan, who was the director of Mitsui's joint company. Construction was completed in 1929. It is designated as an important cultural property of Japan.
The design is "splendid", "quality", and "simplicity", and is expressed by adding a Rome-style colint-style large order column to the American neoclassical design to the three sides of the building.
The exterior is made of granite, and the design is made of plenty of marble.
In addition, the interior is luxurious, and red carpets are laid on stairs and corridors.
In addition, the large space of the atrium with a doris-type cylindrical group on the first floor is also very luxurious.
In the basement, there is a large safe with a door of 90 cm wide and weighing 50 tons.
It seems difficult to break the safe with this.
In fact, the door of this safe was too heavy, and it was said that it was carried by boat without permission to pass over Nihonbashi.
There is an episode left.
The current Mitsui Main Building has been completed for more than 90 years, and Takuma Dan was shot by a blood member in front of the entrance.
After World War II, we have seen sad events such as being requisited by GHQ.
At present, the area around Muromachi is bustling, with Chored Muromachi opening, and Fukutoku Shrine being rebuilt finely.
The Mitsui Main Building will continue to monitor the transition of Muromachi.
(Inside photos were provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.)
