Crafts Gallery

　The Tokyo Station Building and the Main Building for the Ministry of Justice are famous for its beautiful Western-style red brick architecture in Meiji period. This building which houses Crafts Gallery is of a kind and an annex of the National Museum of Modern Arts, in Tokyo.
　The building was originally designed in 1910 of Meiji period by Yasushi Tamura, a military engineer, as the Headquarters of the Imperial Guards. In 1966, following the decision of a plan to restore the entire Kitanomaru district around the imperial palace, it was to be taken down, however, there were calls to preserve its architectural worth as a typical example of Western-style brick architecture of Meiji period and as the remains of a government office. Finally, this building was transferred to present site and preserved as an annex of the National Museum of Modern Arts, and was designated as Important Cultural Assets to Japan in 1973. This Gothic-style red brick building is a remnant of the Western-style Architectures in the Meiji Period and is of great importance in the history of Japanese architect.