Thomas Waters and the Paper Money Factory Project of Meiji Japan

Abstract

This paper deals with the plans of a paper money factory built in Tokyo in 1876, and considers the development of the architectural practice of one of the prominent Oyatoi engineers, Thomas Waters. The project of the paper money factory, which highlights the prominent brick-made western architecture in the early Meiji period, was thought to have originally been designed by T. Waters and then succeeded by Charles Boinville, although the detail of this has until now remained unclear. Other than the floor plans and elevation with the signature of T. Waters, the author has found some plans of the paper money factory, and as a result can clarify the detailed process of the project. In addition, the author makes use of the various plans of the paper money factory and has made a restored CAD copy of the factory in order to analyze the particulars of T. Waters′ plans. Further to this, it is compared with the plans of another project connected to him, thus T. Waters′ significant influence is considered as to the secure control of goods and labor circulation.

Keywords

• thomas waters
• charles boinville
• oyatoi engineers
• paper money factory
• meiji architecture