Tachū Naitō

nihongo|Tachū Naitō|内藤多仲|"Naitō Tachū"|12 June, 1886 - 25 August, 1970 was a Japanese architect, engineer, and professor from Yamanashi Prefecture, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi. He was a father of earthquake-proof design and built many broadcasting and observation towers, including the Tokyo Tower.

Biography

Tachū Naitō attended the Old System Kofu Middle School (presently Yamanashi Prefectural Kofu First High School), he passed high school, then attended the Tokyo Imperial University (presently the University of Tokyo). First naval architecture was his major, then he turned to architecture due to the shipbuilding depression after the Russo-Japanese War. He studied with Kino Toshikata, and graduated in 1910. In 1913 he became a professor at Waseda University.

In 1916 he went to America as an international student, where he devised his seismic theory of the earthquake-proof wall. While on the First Transcontinental Railroad he made observations about the movements of the luggage depending on the trains acceleration, after noticing the scattered trunks when the train made sudden stops. The lack of partitions in the luggage compartment and the disarray of the trunks led him to the structural idea of the earthquake-proof wall, [Kobe Shimbun,　正平調, 30 August, 2003. [http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/seihei/030830ln13330.html] ] effectively a shear wall.

Using the seismic structural theory that he devised, he engineered the Industrial Bank of Japan's main office which was designed by Setsu Watanabe. Three months after the building's completion in 1923 the Great Kantō earthquake happened. This structure withstood the damage and Naitō included this fact in his lectures as the effectiveness of his earthquake-proof design theory had been proven.

Other than the Industrial Bank of Japan, he worked on the Kabuki-za and the Okuma auditorium. Naitō designed many broadcasting towers, in 1954 the Nagoya TV Tower, in 1956 the Tsutenkaku, in 1957 the Sapporo TV Tower, and the Beppu Tower, and in 1958 the Tokyo Tower.

Tachū Naitō has held many positions and was recognized with many awards throughout his career. In 1938 he became the chairman of the welding academy, in 1941 the chair of the architectural academy, in 1954 a member of the Science Council of Japan, in 1960 a member of the Japan Academy, in 1962 he was awarded a distinction for cultural merit, and in 1964 he was awarded the second degree Order of the Rising Sun.

On August 25, 1970 at 9:05 AM Tachū Naitō died in the National Tokyo First Hospital, now the International Medical Center of Japan, at 84 years of age. His remains were buried in the graveyard of the Naitō family in Tamareien Cemetery. His epitaph is on the right side and a bronze statue and is on the left.

Gallery

Notes

References

* 『建築構造学』 "Architecture Studies", 1918
* 『架構建築耐震構造論』、早稲田大学出版会.　"Seismic Structural Theory", Waseda University Publications, 1924
* 『日本の耐震建築とともに』、雪華社. "Earthquake-proof Architecture of Japan", Yuki Hana Corporation, 1965
* 『建築と人生』、鹿島出版. "Architecture and Life", Kahima Publications, 1966
* 『内藤多仲博士の業績』、鹿島出版会. "The Achievements of Doctor Tachu Naito", Kashima Publications, 1967
* 『タワー　内藤多仲と三塔物語』、ＩＮＡＸ出版. "Birth of Towers: Tachu Naito and a Tale of Three Towers", INAX Publications, 2006

External links

* 神戸新聞　正平調（2003年8月30日） [http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/seihei/030830ln13330.html]
* 歴史が眠る多磨霊園　内藤多仲 [http://www6.plala.or.jp/guti/cemetery/PERSON/N/naitou_t.html]
* タワフル(TOWERFUL)　コラム　塔博士 [http://www2.odn.ne.jp/yoko-tower/column/tou-hakase/column-tou-hakase.htm]
* Hiro Satoshi Noguchi, Tachu Naito Exhibition in Ginza, 16 October 2006 [http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2006/10/16/320.html]
* Tokyo Art Beat review of "Birth of Towers: Tachu Naito and a Tale of Three Towers" [http://www.tokyoartbeat.com/event/2006/A94B] Persondata
NAME=Naito, Tachu
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Naito Tachu (Japanese order); 内藤多仲 (kanji)
SHORT DESCRIPTION=20th century Japanese architect and engineer
DATE OF BIRTH=12 June, 1886 -
PLACE OF BIRTH=Minami-Alps, Yamanashi
DATE OF DEATH=25 August, 1970
PLACE OF DEATH=Tokyo