The former villa of Shigenobu OKUMA, two-time Prime Minister and founder of 'Waseda University'



Shigenobu OKUMA (1838-1922), born in Saga Prefecture, was the 8th and 17th Japanese Prime Minister, and founder of Waseda University. He purchased and renovated this building in 1897 and used it as a villa.

In 1901, the house was given to the businessman Ichibei FURUKAWA, founder of the FURUKAWA Zaibatsu conglomerate. Several original parts of the house from OKUMA's time remain, including the Jindai-no-Ma (room) and Fuji-no-Ma (room).
The Jindai room, used by OKUMA as a study, features a ceiling and sliding doors made from a valuable Japanese cedar called Jindai-sugi. The Fuji room, was used a reception room where OKUMA, a renowned socialite, often held banquets for his many guests.
It comprises a series of Japanese-style rooms almost all with glass doors.
Lawns and azaleas comprise the mixed Japanese-Western style garden, believed to be broadly unchanged since the time of FURUKAWA. There is a small Goemon bath, in which OKUMA, who was a large man, could only have used by shrinking his body!! In August 2020, the bath was designated as a Tangible Cultural Property by the town of Oiso.