In this article we use the term "Imperialism" rather than the currently more popular term "Empire" to characterize of recent American power. Imperialism implies an aggressive expansion of a country's influence on other countries. On the contrary, the term "Empire" suggests a stable state like that of ancient Rome. America cannot establish herself as such a stable state as a fundamental characteristic of the United States is one of dynamic expansionism. A feature of America's history from her British colonial days until today has been one of continual expansion of her influence over others. American Imperialism is the biggest disaster to affect all of the people of earth, not only for non-Americans but for Americans themselves. It destroys them through every aspect of life: culturally, economically, politically, socially and militarily. In other words, American Imperialism is often referred to as globalization. Globalization is no more than global Americanization. For non-Americans, Americanization ruins their lifestyles, just like those of the Native American Indians. In this article, a few aspects relating to the destructive character of Americanization are analyzed and discussed. From an economic perspective, the original sin in American history was rapid economic growth, mass production and its dynamic and speculative nature. From 1820 to 1979, America's annual economic growth was 3.8%. For the same period, the average annual growth rate for all advanced countries, including the United States, was 2.5%. Accordingly, America's growth rate is 50% higher than that of the advanced countries average! The cause of this difference comes mainly from its population growth. American population growth rate was double that of advanced countries average growth rate due to immigration from European countries and the importation of Africans as slaves; although many Native American Indians were killed. However, per capita growth is only slightly higher than that of the advanced countries' average. This was achieved because of American fertile resources supported by large tracks of land taken from Native American Indians when they were killed. Usually, economic growth is thought to be good for the whole of society. But, by my theory of mass excessive enrichment, rapid economic growth is a path to ruin for mankind, because of the destruction of the ecological environment, by exhaustion of natural resources and by distortion of human nature caused by merchandization in the pursuit of monetary gain. So, America is the leader in ruining the whole world by economic activity. Economic speculation is an important feature of the American economy. Generally speaking, speculation can be conducted in every monetary economy, but the tendency to speculate is especially strong in America. This comes from farmer's habit to speculate using the value of their land which they obtained for a pittance. Of course the land was the property of Native American Indians killed by the settlers. Land speculation and securitization instead of bank credit gave the American economy an unusual speculative character. American people want to expand this character to the whole world to make monetary gains by merchandizing every business enterprise in the world. This is the essence of globalization. Mass production represented by frequent model changes in the automobile industry played an important role of America's economic success. But the question is "are they aware of the fact that this production methods requires large tracks of cheap land for production and storage of industrial waste was achieved by killing Native American Indians? The question is how can people living in densely populated areas maintain their standards of livings and lifestyles when American production methods which cause large amounts of industrial waste are introduced due to

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　This paper reports on the visits Koji Fujii made to Europe and the United States from November 1919 to August 1920. Although it was already known that Fujii visited Europe and the United States during this period, the details were previously unknown. However, in 2016, Akira Matsukuma discovered numerous materials relating to Fujii and his residence, Chōchikukyo. It contains diaries, albums, passports, receipts, pamphlets, postcards to family and the like, during his time in Europe and the United States; these made it possible to see the whole picture of his visit. This paper— Part 1—examines his travel objectives and introduces an outline of his itinerary. All historical documents referred to in this paper are currently held by Takenaka Corporation in their Corporate Planning Office’s Historical Archives Group collection.

　The primary purpose of Fujii’s visit to Europe and the United States was to investigate western housing. At the time, various problems were being discovered with traditional Japanese housing; holding an awareness of these issues, Fujii visited Europe and the United States to overcome them, contemplating the improvement of Japanese housing through his research.

　The other purpose of Fujii’s visit to Europe and the United States was to investigate building services. Fujii took a post at Kyoto University’s Architecture Department in September 1920 for overseeing coursework in building services, and his position was unofficially confirmed by April 1919 at the very latest. At the time, there was almost no accumulated research on building services in Japan. Therefore, Fujii sought exposure to the latest building services in Europe and the United States, preparing to utilise these in his lectures. The above two points—that is, to research housing and building services—were Fujii’s objectives for visiting Europe and the United States.

　Fujii departed Yokohama on November 8, 1919. He arrived in San Francisco via Hawaii on November 24 and arrived in New York by train on December 1. It is worth noting that he spent about two months staying at the Amendola House in Montclair, New Jersey, until January 30, 1920. The experience of living in an ordinary American household is likely to have had a strong influence on Fujii’s subsequent residential designs. In February he continued visiting cities such as New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit. From late February to March, he returned to New York, visiting as many as 40 trade manufacturers and collecting architectural catalogues. It appears that Fujii’s objectives were primarily fulfilled by the time the above research was completed in the United States.

　Fujii then departed New York on March 6, 1920, and arrived in England on the 16th. From here, he travelled to France, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium. In Europe, Fujii primarily travelled studying traditional styles of architecture. Returning to England, he departed Liverpool for New York on July 3. He crossed the American continent and departed Seattle on July 30, arriving in Yokohama on August 14.