Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library is a domed neoclassical building on the river island of Nakanoshima. Its stone façade and central hall reflect a philanthropic project to give Osaka a public home for knowledge.
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The columns and pediment give the library the presence of a classical temple, while the copper dome signals its civic purpose. Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library was built in 1904 with funds donated by Sumitomo Kichizaemon, a prominent Osaka industrialist.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- The library opened in 1904.
- The Sumitomo family funded the original building and later the wings.
- The main building and wings were designated Important Cultural Properties in 1974.
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