Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture is one of the oldest modern municipalities in Japan. As this city survived the fierce air-raids during the Second World War, many old buildings remain in the heart of the city. The former municipal library in Hirosaki built in 1906, three-storied wooden building featuring two towers on both sides, is one of them. In order to take the external light into the reading rooms, this library is designed to have as many windows as possible. This was the first full-scale public library in Hirosaki. Five local benefactors, who made fortunes through the business for the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905 as well as for the army division there, contributed toward the construction of this elegant building. Horie Sakichi, a local master carpenter, designed and constructed this. After studying Western-style architecture in Hakodate and Sapporo in Hokkaido, he left the great masterpieces across Aomori Prefecture, mainly in Hirosaki. This library is opened to the public now.
Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久。
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