Abstract
With the buildings of the former Japanese Army facing the prospect of demolition, there are increasing calls for their historical significance to be assessed and for ways be found to reuse or preserve them. This is especially true of the officers' mess halls, the distinctive buildings that were most characteristic of Japanese military architecture. This thesis establishes mess hall typology.
1. The officers' mess hall first appeared in Meiji 19.
2. There was a standard mess hall layout.
3. Construction was initially funded by the government, but subsequent funding came from private sources.
Some mess halls were built in a special style or embellished differently to honor members of the imperial family visiting bases.
