Kantei
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The Sōri-daijin Kantei (総理大臣官邸), also known as the Sōri Kantei (総理官邸) or simply the Kantei (官邸), is the principal workplace of the Prime Minister of Japan. Located at 1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, it is diagonally adjacent to the National Diet Building. The new Kantei went into service in April 2002[1] and replaced the former Kantei, built in 1929. The former Kantei is now known as the Sōri Kōtei (総理公邸), the official residence of the Prime Minister. The term Kantei is used as a metonym for the office of the Prime Minister of Japan and for the Prime Minister's advisors and administration in general.
In addition to the Kantei being the principal office of the Prime Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Deputy Cabinet Secretaries perform their daily duties, it is also the place where important Cabinet meetings take place, where foreign leaders are welcomed and entertained, and is also the location of a national crisis management center.[2]
[edit] History
With the evolution of a national Parliament after the Meiji Restoration and the establishment of the post of "Prime Minister of Japan" in 1885, the need for an official Prime Ministerial residence was felt. On the encouragement of Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi, the first Kantei was completed on 18 March, 1929. It was a two-storied mansion designed by Muraji Shimomoto, of the Ministry of Finance[3] and was heavily influenced by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Indeed, Prime Minister Giichi is said to have exclaimed, "This is just like a café, isn't it?"[4], upon seeing the Art Deco style of the building.
By the 1990s, the 5,200m2 building was deemed cramped and insufficient, and a new five-storied Kantei was built in 2002 next to the old, with 2.5 times the floor space.[5]. Installed with solar panels and a rainwater storage system, the new building has been designed to minimize environmental impact.[6]
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Overview of the Prime Minister's Official Residence". Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/vt/main/01/photo01_1.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Support staff at Kantei". Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/vt/main/04/photo04_1.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "An Overview of the Prime Minister's Official Residence". Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/vt2/main/00/photo-zentai02.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "The Entrance Hall". Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/vt2/main/01/photo-genkan01.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "An Overview of the Prime Minister's Official Residence". Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/vt/main/01/photo01_1.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Environmental measures and barrier-free environment". Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/vt/main/04/photo01_1.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
[edit] External links
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