|
|
|
I went to see the Diet building yesterday after the TV broadcast on the Fukuoka International Marathon Race finished. The Imperial Diet opened on November 29, 1980 and so it is the 110 year anniversary, this year. By commemorating the anniversary, the diet building was opened to public for three days through yesterday. As it was announced that the closing time is 4:30 in afternoon, I went there before 3:30, expecting no much people would be waiting to enter the building. I was completely wrong. When I entered the plaza of building from the main gate, it was crowded with hordes of people. I was given a reference number card but also was told I had to wait at least two hours and a half. When a group who held No. 40 cards, including me, got together to enter the building, it was dark. Going forward, entering the front porch and moving inward through a magnificent dome, there was a rudder covered with thick red carpet.
Regardless of newly elected or old veterans, they enjoyed the utmost raptures when they climbed red carpeted rudder for the first time after the election.
|
|
|
|
The main assembly halls of both houses were constructed almost the same way. The location of Emperor's chair is different. The left picture is the house of Counselors, and the center is the house of representatives. Committees room is very narrow in width so that the government officials has to sit face to face against members of houses.
|
|
|
The cabinet room and a waiting room for ministers were built in the diet building. The drawing rooms of the speakers of both houses are very big and are decorated with many painted portraits of former speakers.
|
|
|
The design of the present diet building was finalized in 1917, its construction started in 1920. And it was completed in 1920, 16 years after. During its construction, the Japanese economy was suffered from big deflation, while military consistently demanded to increase budgets for arms. So it was not easy for the government to get budget for the construction of Diet. Although it was designed years ago, the diet building can accommodate many new diet activities within the building. I was impressed by its last long design.