Josiah Conder was a Tokyo builder

Josiah Conder tombstone
Josiah Conder's tombstone.

Tokyo is a city of sleek skyscrapers and bustling neon streets. But it was built on the dreams of visionaries from around the world. One of the most influential was Josiah Conder. He was an Englishman whose designs and teachings paved the way. Buried under the shade of a tree in Gokokuji Cemetery, his legacy lives on. Let’s take a closer look at his life.

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.

Josiah Conder designed Kyu-Furukawa mansion
Josiah Conder's mansion at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens.

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.

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.

Kyu-Iwasaki mansion
The Kyu-Iwasaki mansion.

Some of the buildings Josiah Conder designed

A Brief Timeline of Josiah Conder’s Life

1852 Born in London, England

1873 Joins architecturally firm of William Burges 

1876 Wins the Soane Medallion

1877 Arrives in Tokyo at the invitation of the Japanese government

1881 He becomes a student of the Japanese painter Kawanabe Kyosai

1883 Designs Rokumeikan in Tokyo

1888 He starts an architectural design office

1890 Conder becomes an advisor to Mitsubishi. He oversees the building of a modern business district in the Marunouchi

1893 He marries Maenami Kume

1894 Awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasures

1915 Tokyo Imperial University awards Conder an honorary doctorate

1920 Dies in Tokyo

Conclusion

I’ve photographed many of Josiah Conder’s 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 someone who played a role in developing 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