I thought this information was interesting since I am an American.
The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) took an immediate liking to Oya stone, famously electing — against the advice of Japanese architects — to incorporate it into his design for the main building of the Imperial Hotel in the Hibiya district of Tokyo. Wright planned to use it extensively for the lobby and facing of the hotel and the architect sent his assistant to Oya-machi to arrange for the terms of purchase and how to transport the rock. He was told that, given the large quantity of material required, it would be better for the American to buy the entire “mountain.” Wright visited the village and the arrangements were made.
Regretfully, the hotel did not survive Tokyo’s postwar development, falling victim, like so much else in the capital, to the vulgar, money-driven pragmatism of city planners. Wright must have liked the stone though, he went on to use it very effectively for the outside base facing of the Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan, a private girl’s school that has been sensitively preserved in its original location in Tokyo’s Higashi-Ikebukuro district.
A 27 meter high Heiwa Kannon-zo Kannon Peace Statue cast of Oya stone in 1956.
There is a viewing platform where Marlon and climbed up and waved down at me.
We also walked from here to the Oyaji temple. We entered the main hall which is enclosed in a cave. When we walked in I saw the 1000 armed Oya Kannon goddess of mercy statue. The goddess is carved out of the Oyaishi rock which is thought to be the oldest stone cavern Buddha in Japan. She stands 4m in height. The Oyaji Temple was an amazing place to visit. Outside the cave was a beautiful Japanese garden.
Did a little shopping at the Oya gift shop.
I want to thank Yuji and Keiko and their oldest daughter for a wonderful fun filled day.
The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) took an immediate liking to Oya stone, famously electing — against the advice of Japanese architects — to incorporate it into his design for the main building of the Imperial Hotel in the Hibiya district of Tokyo. Wright planned to use it extensively for the lobby and facing of the hotel and the architect sent his assistant to Oya-machi to arrange for the terms of purchase and how to transport the rock. He was told that, given the large quantity of material required, it would be better for the American to buy the entire “mountain.” Wright visited the village and the arrangements were made.
Regretfully, the hotel did not survive Tokyo’s postwar development, falling victim, like so much else in the capital, to the vulgar, money-driven pragmatism of city planners. Wright must have liked the stone though, he went on to use it very effectively for the outside base facing of the Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan, a private girl’s school that has been sensitively preserved in its original location in Tokyo’s Higashi-Ikebukuro district.
A 27 meter high Heiwa Kannon-zo Kannon Peace Statue cast of Oya stone in 1956.
There is a viewing platform where Marlon and climbed up and waved down at me.
Keiko and Yuji's family.
