The Park Investigations of the Department of the Interior in Taisho Era

Abstract

The legislation of parks started in 1873 by the notification of the government. Since then many parks had been made in each prefecture.
The city planning act was legislated in 1919 so as to cope with the urbanization. After that, the city planning became to contain parks as city facilities.
In the same year the Department of the Interior first carried out the nationwide factfinding of parks. After two years the secondary fact-finding was done in full detail. Especially it had the effect to inspire each prefecture with the park concept.
According to these fact-findings in Kyoto prefecture, we can find out that many parks were set up in order to commemorate the Russo-Japanese War and the coronation of the Emperor Taisho.
In a sense we can understand that the parks became to be symbolic existence.