There was a benefit too.
Until now, Suga's previous idea was mostly: The decision to select Takenaka
to the constructor was made by Kanematsu Company, the donator of the whole
expense for the auditorium, and Takenaka requested the design to Chuta
Itoh.
The answers for both of Suga's preconceptions were different.
The staff of Takenaka with thick glasses says nervously.
"Our company was chosen as a constructor strictly by a bid. It was
not the appointment by Kanematsu Company. I don't know further, but you
can see the fact in the document. The contents of the building would probably
have been done well by any main constructors, and the Japanese Government
was involved in the whole construction of the campus anyway. Therefore
wasn't the bid suitable in any case, even Kanematsu donated the whole money?"
Noticing Suga's suspicious eyes, the staff gives a definite answer though
a little in a hurry.
"Kanematsu is located in Kansai district like the same with us, but
as far as this auditorium is concerned, it seems to have persisted in its
belief that Kanematsu would donate all of the construction expenses but
it would not be involved in anything else."
Now he is fluent.
"The designer is said to have been selected at the time of the decision
of the constructor. I suppose it was not by a bid or competition, but the
school side might have directly asked Dr. Itoh."
Suga is not against at this point. His talk is a little awkward.
"I didn't think Dr. Itoh was involved in from when the construction
took shape by the donation of Kanematsu Company. I certainly assumed it
was through the connection of your company. ..."
Suga continues, crossing his legs again.
"Your company was selected as a constructor by a bid, was it true?
I didn't think of it. So, you say the cooperation of your company and Dr.
Itoh was realized by chance, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," the staff answers positively.
Seemingly thinking it is useless to stick more to the background, Suga changes the topic, while the attendants have no space to cut into the discussion.
Suga says, "By the way, concerning the relationship between your company
and Chuta Itoh, I checked they already had a considerable link before.
Besides this auditorium they seem to have made several buildings in the
list of Japanese construction history, am I right?"
"Yes, you are. I have a document."
He cheerfully hands out a paper to each attendee and talks.
Koji Fujii, a pupil of the professor Chuta Itoh at Tokyo Imperial University,
worked with Takenaka Corporation for six years after the graduation. Then
he became a professor of Kyoto Imperial University, and there established
"the architectural environment study". His experimental building
"Choh-Chikkyo" cottage has the name in the modern architectural
history.
During his days with Takenaka Corporation, the company designed and built
the famous Shinshu-shinto Life Insurance building with Dr. Itoh. The decoration
in Hankyu Building in Osaka was also by their cooperation two years after
the completion of Kanematsu Auditorium.
I suppose the relationship between them was so-called "good friends
and understanding each other easily". Therefore though I don't think
Dr. Itoh had any advice, he might have been pleased when Takenaka was selected
to be a constructor of Kanematsu Auditorium. |
|
Kitani, general manager of Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei (MJS), follows the talk
with a laugh.
"For us in the construction world, Chuta Itoh is not only the great architect and designer, but also he never stops stimulating our interest. He is a strange person. The whole day would not be good enough if we talked about him. Anyway with this and that Chuta accepted a responsible architect of Kanematsu Auditorium..., but isn't it something abrupt?"
Comparing it with the many achievements, the motive that Dr. Chuta Itoh
took on the auditorium does not seem to appeal to the general manager.
It was truly the fact, but he is tilting his head with such a look that
he still cannot have smooth understanding. Moreover he says,
"It is also a mystery to me why Chuta was singled out."
The attendants of Kitani's side are all nodding.
Kitani continues.
"The caricatures and sculptures of Dr. Itoh are famous all right...,
but concerning Kanematsu Auditorium, I don't feel like considering that
he ran for its construction from his own will."
Kitani now tells his opinion.
"He must not have been able to neglect the duties of a professor of
Tokyo Imperial University (TIU) and of the important role in the architectural
world, as well as he was involved in various National buildings. At least
I cannot suppose your college was an inevitable subject to him. Even admitting
the wish of your college matched with Dr. Itoh's intention, I wouldn't
like to believe your college definitely needed his proper and so-called
stubborn style. It is a jigsaw puzzle to me."
His opinion is limited up here. He seems irritated fingering the dark-brown
tie. He cannot stop expressing his repressed indignation.
"First of all, how was the construction plan of Kanematsu Auditorium
informed of to Chuta Itoh? Even if any strong request had been given to
him from the sure sources, would it have had even a slight motive to drive
him to enthusiasm while being a professor of TIU and the authority of the
architectural world? Besides, sorry to say, TCC was then lower-ranking
than his university TIU, and TCC treated TIU as an enemy, didn't it? And
more, the place. Musashino wilderness (presently Kunitachi city) was too
far! Even now JR Kunitachi station is considerably far from the center
of Tokyo, more than one hour by rapid train on Chuo Line from Tokyo station.
In fact it was what happened 80 years ago. At that time the surrounding
area was called <the palace of raccoon dogs of the wilderness>."
Suga and his people agree to Kitani's opinion. So, they also feel like
getting lost in a maze much more. They seem to be caught between a rock
and a hard place.....
Their only emortional support is "Dr. Itoh, no doubt, accepted the
design of Kanematsu Auditorium and even performed the duty responsible
for the construction."
Kitani, general manager of MJS, declares this matter was all settled by
the result that Dr. Itoh finally accepted it, but he doesn't have clear
evidence on a chain of interactions. In spite of this situation, thinking
this point is a core, Suga presses Kitatani.
"What do you think about such things as who thought of entrusting
Chuta Itoh? What consensus was done and who approached to him?"
Kitani looks at a loss with nothing coming up in mind, and says.
"I don't have any clue, to be honest. As you know Dr. Itoh is an authority
in the architctural world. Therefore the person who can directly ask him
about it has to be a somebody involved even in the Government..... I know
Dr. Itoh was such a person who stuck to his opinion no matter what anyone
said once he decided."
Suga is staring at a point faraway, listening closely to Kitani's inarticulate
talk.
The silhouette of Eiichi Shibusawa, a businessman called as a founder of
the Commercial Law Institute, flashed through his mind.