A Place Related to Sumitomo’s History ～Osaka②～
Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library
Sumitomo’s close relationship with Osaka dates back to the early Edo Period (1603–1868), when Tomomochi Sumitomo, the second head of the family, opened a copper refinery in Osaka to start a copper refining and smithing business. Ever since then, Sumitomo has developed its business, particularly in Osaka.
This article sheds light on Nakanoshima Library (Kita-ku, Osaka City), affiliated with the Sumitomo Group.
Completed in 1904, Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library is celebrated as a fine example of neoclassical architecture in the Greco-Roman temple style. The benefactor for Nakanoshima Library was Kichizaemon Tomoito Sumitomo, the 15th head of the Sumitomo family, who chose to donate the library rather than simply donate the funds for its construction. He donated not only 50,000 yen to fund the purchase of books but also imported encyclopedias and the Sumitomo Collection, comprising around 20,000 Western books on the natural sciences. This munificence reflected Tomoito’s wish to see the people of Osaka broaden their horizons.
The copper plaque displayed on the wall of the central hall bears the words of Tomoito: “Osaka, the largest city in Kansai, is home to one million people. In this city richly endowed with financial resources and goods, several educational institutions have been established and are engaged in friendly rivalry. However, Osaka lacked a library and the prefectural government wished to remedy this deficiency. I wished to contribute by donating a library as well as some books and an endowment.”
The construction of Nakanoshima Library took three years, making it a rather lengthy project for its scale, and the construction cost greatly exceeded the initial budget. Fulfilling Tomoito’s cherished desire, over 100 years since its completion, Nakanoshima Library still stands in all its dignity, having survived the vicissitudes of war.
