160301-0010 - Diet Building, Tokyo

An unusual image of Japan’s National Diet Building (国会議事堂 Kokkai-gijido) in Tokyo with Mount Fuji in the background. This can not be seen anymore today because tall buildings obstruct the view of the sacred mountain.

The Japanese Finance Ministry sponsored a public design competition in 1918 (Taisho 7) that was won by Japanese architect Fukuzo Watanabe (渡辺福三,1870-1920), who became the principal architect of the building.

The construction of the Diet began in 1920 (Taisho 9) and was completed in 1936 (Showa 11).

Because of the halftone printing process used for this postcard, this image doesn’t look good beyond postcard size.