Josiah Conder was a Tokyo builder

Kyu-Furukawa built by Josiah Conder
One of Conder's creations, the Kyu-Furukawa mansion.

Josiah Conder (1852 – 1920) is one of my favorite Tokyoites. You have probably already guessed he wasn’t Japanese. He came from England. The Meiji government hired him to teach at the Imperial College of Engineering. Later, he joined the Ministry of Public Works. He was one of the builders of Tokyo. 

Josiah Conder grave
Josiah Conder grave at Gokokuji temple.

Conder taught design theory, architectural history, drawing, and technical draftsmanship at the college. His students included Sone Tatsuzo, Shimoda Kikutaro, Tatsuno Kingo, and Katayama Tōkuma. These men went on to become very important architects in their own right.

It was this tutoring that proved most influential. Conder’s students gained the knowledge and ideas to create modern buildings. They pushed Tokyo into a new era of construction, design, modernity, and new ideas.

Japanese plaque about Josiah Conder life
The plaque in front of Conder's grave.

Conder devoted a large part of his life to Japan. He died in 1920 and now lies in the cemetery at Gokokuji, a temple near Ikebukuro. The grave is relatively small, typically Japanese, and under a shady tree. His wife, who died ten days before he passed away, was buried next to him.

In front of the grave is a plaque. It gives a brief commentary on his life in Japan. Unfortunately, it is in Japanese only.

During his life, Conder designed some important buildings himself. They include:

  • mansions at Kyu-Iwasaki and Kyu-Furukawa Gardens
  • Holy Resurrection Cathedral
  • Ministry of the Navy in Kasumigaseki (no longer standing)
  • Rokumeikan (no longer standing)
  • Christ Church in Yokohama
Kyu-Iwasaki mansion
Another of Conder's mansion. This one is at Kyu-Iwasaki Gardens.

I’ve photographed many of his buildings. But it was only in the summer of 2018 I finally visited his grave at Gokokuji Temple. That was a great thrill. It was my chance to meet a person who played a role in the development of my favorite city, Tokyo.

The cemetery of Gokokuji is beautiful. Azaleas and cherry blossoms make the grounds come alive in spring. He has a great resting place.

To read about places in this article, look at:

External links about Josiah Conder

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