William Merrell Vories ウィリアム・メレル・ヴォーリズ
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William Merrell Vories is one of the most famous historical figures in Shiga. His legacy remains in physical form in many places through former bank buildings, post office branches, schools, and Christian churches. MAP
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During Oct. 3 to Nov. 3, 2009 in Omi-Hachiman, they held an exhibition of Vories buildings. For 1,000 yen, we were able to enter a few of the buildings normally closed to the public. MAPThe starting point was this Hakuunkan Hall (not Vories-designed).
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Hakuunkan's 1st floor had a registration desk for exhibition visitors. Pay 1,000 yen and you receive tickets to enter a few Vories buildings and a map. The 2nd floor had a panel exhibition introducing Vories.
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Poster for the Exhibition of William Merrell Vories in Omi-Hachiman. The map showed a walking route to see all the Vories buildings.
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A short walk from Hakuunkan was the first Vories building on the map, the former Hachiman Post Office. 旧八幡郵便局舎
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Former Hachiman Post Office in Omi-Hachiman, designed by William Merrell Vories. Built in 1921 and served as a post office until 1960. MAP
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We could also see the 2nd floor which had a panel exhibition of Vories buildings.
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Unfortunately, photography was not allowed inside any of the buildings, which is puzzling since photography is allowed in other Vories buildings open to the public in Shiga.
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The former post office had a crystal glass doorknob on the postmaster office's door.
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An NPO called Hitotsubu no Kai (一粒の会) has an office inside and they work to renovate the building.
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Next was Shuyukan, a former sake warehouse (not Vories-designed) now serving as an exhibition space and restaurant. The exhibition featured photos of Vories buildings in the summer resort of Karuizawa, Nagano Pref. 酒游舘
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The largest Vories building on this tour was the Hyde Memorial Building at this school called the Omi Kyodaisha Gakuen (Omi Brotherhood Schools). 近江兄弟社学園ハイド記念館（旧淸友園幼稚園）.
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On the right is the Hyde Memorial Building designed by William Merrell Vories. 近江兄弟社学園ハイド記念館（旧淸友園幼稚園）
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The Hyde Memorial Building was built in 1931 to serve as Seiyuen Kindergarten run by Hitotsuyanagi Makiko, Vories' wife from 1919. MAP
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Statue of Vories.
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The construction of the kindergarten building was financed by the wife of Albert Alexander Hyde, the founder of The Mentholatum Company. This building was thus named after Hyde.
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Vories acquired the rights to sell Mentholatum products in 1920, and his Omi Sales Company sold the product in Japan as, "Menturm." It was a good source of income to finance his activities.
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Hyde Memorial Building.
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Other side and entrance to the Hyde Memorail Building. Inside were panel exhibitions related to Vories' medical and educational activities.
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Entrance to Hyde Memorail Building.
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Education Building called Kyoiku Kaikan. 教育会館
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Kyoiku-kan is attached to the Hyde Building. 教育会館
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Omi Kyodaisha Gakuen is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed.
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Display of posters of past Vories exhibitions.
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We were also allowed to see the chapel in the school's main building here. The chapel was on the 5th floor. This building was completed in March 2007. 学園本館
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Vories Memorial Chapel on the 5th floor of the Omi Brotherhood Schools main building. ヴォーリズ平和礼拝堂
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Near the school is this residence where Vories and his wife Makiko lived during the latter half of their lives. The house is normally not open to the public. Sometimes you can see inside the house if you make an appointment. ヴォーリズ記念館
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Although this was Vories' residence, he did not own the house. He did not believe in having private assets. We could see the large living room full of pictures, books, etc., and the Japanese-style room for Makiko. ヴォーリズ記念館（旧ヴォ
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Name plate at the front gate of the Vories residence, called the Hitotsuyanagi Memorial House. It is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Shiga. MAP
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About the former Vories residence. It is owned by the Omi Brotherhood Co. The house was originally built in 1931 as a dormitory for teachers at the kindergarten, but it was turned into a residence instead. A Japanese-style room was also added.
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The Vories residence has three chimneys. Web site: http://vories.com/
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Map of the tour route.
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The Omi Brotherhood Corporate Group is involved in education, medicine and welfare, architectural design, and health-care products.
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Matsuoka Residence. 村岡邸
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Built in 1933, the Matsuoka Residence was designed by William Merrell Vories. This house was not open to the public.
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Next was the Andrews Memorial Hall, the first building designed by William Merrell Vories. It was formerly the Hachiman YMCA. アンドリュース記念館（旧八幡YMCA会館）
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Back view of the former Hachiman YMCA, the first building designed by William Merrell Vories in 1907. Inside is quite modern, except for one room. MAP
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About the Andrews Memorial Hall. Web site: http://www.vories.or.jp/fukushi_no_sato/andrews.html
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The current Andrews Memorial Hall building was reconstructed and moved 12 meters from the original location in 1935. Thus it is not the original building, but very similar.
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Side view. This building served as the Hachiman YMCA until 1987. It was left unused and dilapidated for 20 years until Omi Brotherhood Co. renovated it in 2007 to mark the building's 100th anniversary.
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The building is now used to care for the elderly and handicapped and for missionary activities. There is also a meeting room for rent. It is next to a church.
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Next to the Andrews Memorial Hall is the Hachiman Church built in 1983. The original church, which was lost in a fire, was designed by William Merrell Vories in 1924. 八幡教会
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Hachiman Church Pastor House, designed by William Merrell Vories. It is right across the church. 八幡教会牧師館（旧地塩寮） MAP
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Hachiman Church Pastor House
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Hachiman Church Pastor House is not open to the public.
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Hachiman Commercial High School designed by William Merrell Vories in 1935. 八幡商業高等学校 MAP
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Hachiman Commercial High School was where Vories taught English when he arrived in 1905. However, he was dismissed after two years due to his Bible study group seen as a disturbance. By hiring Vories as the architect, the school made peace with Vories.
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Vories still felt greatly indebted to the school, nicknamed "Hassho."
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Next was this neighborhood called Ikeda-cho with three Vories-designed homes along this street. MAP
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Built in 1913, this Yoshida Residence was designed by William Merrell Vories for Yoshida Etsuzo who was a former student and partner of Vories for the Omi Mission. This house is still occupied and not open to the public. 吉田邸
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The neighboring house, the Waterhouse Memorial House, was built in 1913 for Paul B. Waterhouse, who was an English instructor at Waseda University before becoming a missionary with the Omi Mission. Designed by William Merrell Vories. ウォーターハウWaterhouse and his wife Bessie lived here for six years. He was also a yachtsman and used a boat on Lake Biwa to visit lakeside villages for missionary work. After he returned to the States, the house was used for Omi Mission cooking classes and later as a girls' school in Omi Brotherhood.
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Owned by Omi Brotherhood Co., the Waterhouse house remained closed to the public until March 2023 when it was converted into a lodging facility. Up to seven people in the same family or group can lodge in this three-story Vories house. The 1st floor has the kitchen, living and dining rooms and toilet. The 2nd floor has three bedrooms, meeting room, and bath/toilet. (The 3rd floor is closed.) Lots of windows make it bright and warm. Wi-fi, towels, toiletries, TV, and kitchen appliances provided.
At ¥132,000 per night to rent the entire house for up to 7 people, it's not cheap. Make reservations with the official website's contact form (in Japanese): https://waterhouse-kinenkan.com/
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About Ikeda-cho in English and Japanese.
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This third house in Ikeda-cho is the former Omi Mission Double House that was used to house the Omi Mission's American staff. 旧近江ミッション・ダブルハウス
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Former Omi Mission Double House was built in 1920 and large enough for two families. Vories' parents from the US and an American architect were the first occupants.
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Former Omi Mission Double House designed by William Merrell Vories. Today, two families still live in the house. Not open to the public. 旧近江ミッション・ダブルハウス
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The arrow points the way to the next Vories building in Omi-Hachiman.
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This local municipal museum was originally the Hachiman Police Department built in 1886. In 1953, it was renovated by Vories and continued to house the Omi-Hachiman Police Department. In 1974, it was converted to the museum it is today. 近江八幡市立
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Inside the municipal museum.
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My last stop was OMI Corp. which started out in 1920 as the Omi Sales Company.（株）近江兄弟社 MAP
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The lobby of the OMI Corp. displayed their early products and current products. Their main product was Menturm. I asked if they still had the original product that the company first made. They didn't.
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The company sells a large variety of skin-care products.
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Common chapstick.
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Monument commemorating the sister city relationship between Omi-Hachiman and Leavenworth, Kansas, birthplace of Vories. This is next to the statue of Vories and a student offering him flowers.
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Imazu Vories Museum in Imazu, Takashima, a former bank building designed by William Merrell Vories. Now a coffee shop and exhibition space. MAP
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Inside the former bank building in Imazu. A nice place to rest. Exhibition panels explain about Vories.
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One panel shows the location of buildings in Shiga designed by Vories. The blue dots indicate buildings which no longer exist, while the red dots indicate buildings which still exist.
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Imazu Church, designed by William Merrell Vories. This is next to the former bank building. MAP
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Samegai Museum in a former post office designed by William Merrell Vories, in Samegai, Maibara, Shiga Pref. MAP
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Inside the former Samegai post office designed by William Merrell Vories.
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Minakuchi Christian Church designed by Vories and built in Nov. 1930. In Koka, Shiga. MAP
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Minakuchi Christian Church
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Former Minakuchi Public Library designed by William Vories and built in 1928. It is next to Minakuchi Elementary School in Koka. 旧水口図書館 MAP
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Entrance to the former Minakuchi Public Library has Romanesque columns.
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Staircase inside former Minakuchi Public Library.
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Inside former Minakuchi Public Library. Now it is sometimes used as an art gallery.
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Designed by William Merrell Vories, the old Toyosato Elementary School building was built in 1937. MAP
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Toyosato Elementary School was renovated and reopened in May 2009.
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This rabbit sculpture and turtle sculpture represents the famous Aesop's fable, the race between the turtle and hare.
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