The Historical Significance of the Itazu Discovered at the Residence of Seiju Tateishi

This paper reports on Itazu (wooden panels with drawings) discovered at the residence of master carpenter Seiju Tateishi, who built many Gi-Yofu (Imitative Western-Style) buildings during the Meiji era, and discusses their historical value. A total of 11 Itazu were identified, containing 23 drawings on 21 surfaces. By comparison with documents related to Seiju Tateishi, 18 drawings could be associated, and in 16 cases the depicted buildings recognized. These Itazu elucidate the details of the works unknown from documents alone and provide valuable sources for understanding the sequence of design changes.