Day 26 features Daiki Amagasaki, Doctoral Student at the School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo, who contributed to the architectural research and verification of Nara Prison.
At the beginning of 2024, about a year after entering the doctoral program, I began researching Nara Prison—a national project aimed at modernization—under the guidance of Professor Taisuke Yamazaki. As part of this research, I visited Western prisons built in the 19th century, just as architect Keijiro Yamashita once did. While the main gates of Western prisons are primarily functional, projecting authority, the main gate of Nara Prison features a unique, majestic, and ornate design. Furthermore, standing directly in front of the vast courtyard inside the gate is the administrative building, which can be described as exquisite, creating a cohesive sense of symbolism. Detailed explanations of these and other architectural features and charms of Nara Prison can be found on the exhibition panels in Block A of the museum. My findings on the Western prisons I visited are also part of the content, so please take a look.
Daiki Amagasaki belongs to the Yamazaki Lab, which specializes in architectural history. The lab has conducted extensive surveys, research, and conservation projects on historical buildings. Professor Taisuke Yamazaki himself has frequently surveyed Nara Prison and supervised the exhibition content in Block A for the opening of the museum.
Follow the series on Instagram: “The Exquisite Prison and the 30”
