Asaka palace

Art Deco in Japan

Prince Asaka’s Art Deco palace in Meguro ,now the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

“One of the historic houses in Tokyo is the Asaka palace ,which was completed in 1933

Prince and princess Asaka spent more than two years in France in the mid-1920s and became enamored of Art Deco that they decided to build a new home on their Shirokanedai land, a home that would be dedicated to the Art Deco style they had both grown to love.

Construction of a residence of an imperial prince falls under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Agency. Fortunately, one of their architects, Yokichi Godo, had just returned to Japan after some years studying abroad, including attending the Paris Art Deco Exhibition, which had greatly influenced the tastes of Prince Asaka and Princess Nobuko. Godo was able to design a house suitable for an imperial prince while also heavily featuring Art Deco. It was the job of the Imperial Household Agency to ensure that the house was properly constructed.

Prince Asaka also engaged famed French interior designer Henri Rapin to help produce his Art Deco dream home, ensuring the authenticity of various decorative features of the palace. Other French Art Deco notables who contributed to the interior design were Ivan-Leon Branchot, who designed some of the wall reliefs, and Rene Lalique, whose sculpted figures fill the frosted glass panels of the front doors of the house, overpowering visitors as they exude Art Deco sensuality.

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In 1947, Prince Asaka lost his imperial titles and became a commoner.

The palace served as the official residence of the prime minister from1947 to 1950 and was a State Guest House from 1950 to 1974.

By 1983, the palace was the property of the Tokyo metropolitan government. It was designated an important cultural asset of the city and turned into the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum”

Japantoday com