KOJI FUJII

Architect

Born in 1888. Residing in what is now Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, his family ran a merchant business called Kuroganeya that engaged in sake brewing, salt production, and finance and had continued for more than ten generations. Fujii was born as the second son of the family. In 1913, he graduated from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Imperial University. In the same year, he joined Takenaka Komuten. He was responsible for the design of the Asahi Shimbun Osaka Head Office (completed in 1916) and other projects. In 1919, he left Takenaka Komuten. In the same year, he embarked on a private 10-month study tour to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Upon his return in December 1920, he was appointed as a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering of Kyoto Imperial University, built a residence for himself in Kyoto’s Otsu district, and moved there. In the following year, 1921, he was promoted to associate professor, and in 1926 he became a professor. In 1928, he completed Chochikukyo residence. In 1937, he was diagnosed with rectal cancer and passed away in 1938 at the age of 49.