Abstract
Edmond Morel, a chief engineer in railway construction of the Meiji Japan, proposed the foundation of a board called KENCHIKU-kyoku to the government in April 1870 to promote various construction projects for the public convenience. The proposed board was to consist of three sections; administration, accounting and education, and should be controlled by a minister. This paper argues the origin of this board referring to Morel's career, British and its colony's situation. During the 1850s-60s, the British government challenged to reformation of public works in the British India for effective development and administration, and founded technical school to train civil engineers. Morel had chance to learn this effort, and might propose that the Meiji Government should found a government body in charge of public works. Although Kenchiku-Kyoku had to be the Board of Public Works for Morel and his followers, its function was turned to more engineering based industrialization when the Board was officially formed by the government councilors as Kobu-Sho. Yozo Yamao, a government technocrat tried to realize an idea of public works by adding survey and education departments, with assistance of Colin Alexander McVean.
