The IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings are being held at Tokyo International Forum from the 9th through the 14th — Japan's first time hosting since 1964, 48 years ago. The central theme is how nations can coordinate to stabilize the world economy. Alongside the main sessions, there is a Japanese government exhibition corner.
It contrasts historic technological products from Japan's long history with advanced infrastructure technology. Among the displays are a model of the "Edo Castle Kan'ei-Era Keep" (63 cm high, 45 × 60 cm base) provided by the certified NPO aiming to rebuild Edo Castle, shown alongside models of Horyuji Temple's five-story pagoda and Tokyo Skytree. The message: flexible-structure and seismic-control techniques from Edo Castle and the pagoda live on in Skytree, a landmark of modern architecture.
The Edo Castle caption (originally in English) reads: "Edo Castle — The Culmination of Japanese Wooden Architecture The keep of Edo Castle, destroyed in the great fire of 1657, was one of the world's largest wooden structures, rivaling the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji. Built with traditional joinery alone — no nails or metal fittings — columns, beams, and purlins were connected so that powerful earthquake energy was absorbed as slight movement at the joints, converted into small amounts of friction heat. Rather than resisting seismic force, the structure yielded — anticipating today's base-isolation philosophy." Unfortunately, the general public cannot enter this exhibition corner; we introduce it here in photos.
In connection with the IMF–World Bank meetings, the certified NPO is also exhibiting at the EDO ART EXPO "Aesthetics of Edo" at Tokyo Station Yaesu Underground Center Spot through the 16th of this month — including a model of the Edo Castle keep set against the surviving keep foundation in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, a restoration drawing based on the sole surviving "vertical ground plan," and CG images (also shown on DVD).
With Tokyo Station's restoration also drawing visitors this October, many from across Japan have come to see the displays. Comments such as "If Edo Castle were rebuilt, it would become a symbol of Japan" and "It is wrong that there is no keep in the Imperial Palace — rebuild it as soon as possible" have poured in. Models of Inuyama Castle, Hikone Castle, Matsumoto Castle, Tsuruga Castle, and others are also on display, delighting castle enthusiasts.