EVENT HISTORY

This Former Residence of the Maeda Family was built in late 1920s by Marquis Toshinari Maeda, who was the sixteenth head of the Maeda Clan, one of the largest feudal lords known as Kaga Domain*¹ under the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo Period. Also known as the Kaga Hyakumangoku, Kaga Clan was regarded as one of the top feudal lords of the period, having paid 1 million koku of rice*² to the Shogunate. The residence is a typical mansion-type building of its time and is designated as an important cultural property of Japan. The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) hosted a showcase event by utilizing this historical and prestigious mansion as one of the unique venues and invited a total of fifty people from companies, the dignitaries from embassies and international organizations in Japan, and the members of the press/media.

*1 Located in the Hokuriku Region of current Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures.

*2 Koku of rice or Kokudaka is a system for determining land value for taxation purposes under the Tokugawa shogunate. One 'koku' (approx. five bushels) was generally viewed as the amount of rice
equivalent to feed one person for a year.

The event was staged on the ground floor of the Western-style home, which was an important venue for holding social gatherings such as dinner parties, while inviting the diplomatic corps and the royal family when the mansion was first built. Visitors were welcomed to the salon next to the entrance, where wines and Japanese Sake made in Tokyo were served. After that, a sit-down dinner replicating a dinner party of the early Showa Period (approx. 1926-1945) was served in the dining hall and guest hall. Guests enjoyed their meal in an atmosphere that recreated the grandeur and sophistication of the time.

　

On the day of the event, the venue was filled with a solemn air and warm illuminations including the entrance hall and outdoor sidewalks, where lanterns of bamboo gathered from the woods in Tokyo were featured.

The event was well received by the guests, who commented "The arrangement of the event using the historical cultural properties is simply wonderful" and "I was deeply moved to imagine that hospitality and socializing were normally conducted here, on a daily basis".

TCVB's Unique Venue One Stop Office is here to support those who are considering holding special events at the historical Former Residence of Maeda Family, so if you are interested in such events, feel free to contact us for a consultation.

[Event Outline]

Date: December 3, 2019 (Tue), 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Participants: 50 (Including global corporations, embassies in Tokyo, and members of the press/media)