TOKYO — Carefully chosen furnishings plus a Steinway piano still grace the interior of a pioneering music critic’s workspace in the capital’s Suginami Ward.
Sunlight pours in on a chair carved with chrysanthemums at the former Motoo Otaguro residence’s Western-style building in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward on Jan. 17, 2025. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)=Click/tap photo for more images.
Nestled within Otaguro Park, not far from Ogikubo Station, stands a building with serene coloration. It is the former Otaguro family residence’s Western-style building, completed in 1933 and now serving as the park’s memorial hall. It was built by Motoo Otaguro (1893-1979), a pioneering figure in Japan’s music criticism, as his personal workspace.
The two-story wooden structure was originally an annex to Otaguro’s home. Its exterior is simple and refined. The upper section features a steep gabled roof with Japanese tiles, creating a blend of Western and Japanese architectural styles. Inside, a spacious first-floor room retains furnishings from the era, reflecting Otaguro’s meticulous attention to detail. The intricately carved chairs and round table, adorned with chrysanthemum and dragon motifs, are particularly striking. The wallpaper, in soft hues of pink and purple, combined with the light streaming in from outside, envelops the room in warmth.
The ceiling is finished with plaster, and the floor is laid with parquet. A grand piano made in 1900 by Steinway & Sons, exuding gravitas, was apparently imported by Otaguro from London. Even today, concerts are held here several times a year, filling the space with beautiful sound.
The building was designated as a national registered tangible cultural property in 2016.
(Japanese original by Akihiro Ogomori, Photo and Video Department)
The exterior walls in a bricklike color harmonizes with Japanese roof tiles at the former Motoo Otaguro residence’s Western-style building in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward on Jan. 17, 2025. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)=Click/tap photo for more images.
* * *
The Japanese version of this article was originally published on Feb. 16, 2025.
* * *
This series explores Japan’s architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.
Retro Japan in Photos: Ex-workspace of pioneer music critic Motoo Otaguro in Tokyo
AloJapan.com