This article aims at analyzing the financial crises in the Fukushima region, especially remedy-loan dealings between the 107 Bank and the Fukushima branch of the Bank of Japan (BOJ).
Following the 1920 crisis, the BOJ branch gave relief to 107 Bank in the form of remedy loans. But it aimed at helping the silk-reeling and sericulture industries rather than the bank.
In addition, it ascribed risks to 107 by securing a guarantee from its owner-managers. By using 107, BOJ checked and screened silk-reeling and sericulture companies. Through these procedures, BOJ was able to guarantee its loan-withdrawals. In 1923, the great Kanto earthquake occurred, and the finance of Fukushima region was also damaged. Thus 107 Bank and silk-reeling and sericulture industries asked BOJ for assistance. It once again helped those same industries. But it ascribed risks to 107 and warehouse companies more stringently than in 1920.
A management crisis apparently occurred when the 1927 financial crises spread to Fukushima. BOJ was afraid of a widespread financial crisis throughout the region and helped it without avoiding risks by implementing the government compensation law to avoid the collapse of Fukushima's financial system. A feature of BOJ's assistance was high-speed remedies without screening. Thus we see how eager BOJ was to avoid 107's bankruptcy and a bank-run there, although this wish was in vain.
In looking at the 1920s financial crises and the Fukushima branch of BOJ, we note how BOJ was caught between providing assistance and maintaining its credibility. But step by step it came to believe that assistance was more important and consequently sacrificed its credibility. However, it considered loan-withdrawals important too and was eager to guarantee withdrawals to avoid a decline in its credibility-its banknotes-as much as possible.

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 The history of bank buildings in Japan commenced with the establishment of the First National Bank in 1872. To date, only minimal research on the historical changes in the bank buildings constructed between 1872 and present day has been conducted.
 Focusing on building exteriors, this study aims to examine the common architectural elements in the bank buildings constructed between 1890 and 1929. This study serves as an introductory account of the historical changes in the bank buildings constructed between 1872 and present day. The Western European-style architecture introduced by the Meiji-period policy belonged to the 19th-century European eclecticism.
 Therefore, no building in that period was constructed in a unified architectural style.
 This eclectic architectural style was possibly not appreciated by the Meiji-period society. It can be presumed that people who looked at bank buildings did not look at the architectural style but rather appreciated distinct parts of the buildings' exterior.
 Therefore, this study extrapolates the architectural elements of the exteriors of the buildings constructed in the classical style and contrasts these elements with examples of such bank buildings.
 Thereafter, on the basis of the results, this study discusses the common architectural elements in the bank buildings constructed between 1890 and 1929.
 The buildings of the five major banks in Japan (Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Yasuda, and Daiichi) constitute the research subjects of this study. The period chosen ranges from 1890 (when commercial banking started) to 1929 (after the Order for Enforcement of the Banking Act). Herein, 20 different architectural elements related to the exteriors of 121 individual buildings were examined and the architectural elements common in the exteriors of various buildings were analyzed.
 The results reveal that corner lots, window grilles and railings, exterior stone, basements, perrons, architectural orders, cornices, reliefs, and flat roofs are found in over 60% of the buildings.
 Considering the understanding of historical design and trends that it offers, this study can serve as a guideline for the construction of future bank buildings with new, creative designs.

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