Yurakucho: 1928–35
Yurakucho: 1928–35
Since its inception, Tokyo American Club has never been isolated from its surroundings or world events.
While today the Club is known for cultivating international friendships, there was tension in the air when the first Members walked through its doors on May 23, 1928. Four years earlier, the United States government had passed the Alien Exclusion Act, barring Japanese and other Asians from immigrating to the US.
In that awkward atmosphere, 51 American members of the prestigious Tokyo Club decided to form their own organization. It's said that the political ramifications of the Alien Exclusion Act didn’t breach the walls of the Tokyo Club and probably was not a factor in forming the American Club.
Whatever the case, the Americans who worked for major US companies had other reasons for what they did. According to reports at the time, they wanted to start a club as a place for expatriate American men to take their spouses or girlfriends for evening drinks.
The charter Members paid $500 each to start the Club and chose the top three floors of the well-known Iwamoto Building as their first home. It was just across the street from the old Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Imperial Hotel in Kojimachi and had a view of the Imperial Palace grounds.
Featuring the best in modern conveniences—including a heating system and a telephone—the first Club also boasted two restaurants, a general lounge, a ladies’ lounge, a ladies’ card room and a bar. Within months, membership hit 200 “active residents” and 75 “associate members.”
Tapping a larger-than-expected demand, the Club outgrew its facilities before long and, after just seven years, it was looking for new quarters.
While today the Club is known for cultivating international friendships, there was tension in the air when the first Members walked through its doors on May 23, 1928. Four years earlier, the United States government had passed the Alien Exclusion Act, barring Japanese and other Asians from immigrating to the US.
In that awkward atmosphere, 51 American members of the prestigious Tokyo Club decided to form their own organization. It's said that the political ramifications of the Alien Exclusion Act didn’t breach the walls of the Tokyo Club and probably was not a factor in forming the American Club.
Whatever the case, the Americans who worked for major US companies had other reasons for what they did. According to reports at the time, they wanted to start a club as a place for expatriate American men to take their spouses or girlfriends for evening drinks.
The charter Members paid $500 each to start the Club and chose the top three floors of the well-known Iwamoto Building as their first home. It was just across the street from the old Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Imperial Hotel in Kojimachi and had a view of the Imperial Palace grounds.
Featuring the best in modern conveniences—including a heating system and a telephone—the first Club also boasted two restaurants, a general lounge, a ladies’ lounge, a ladies’ card room and a bar. Within months, membership hit 200 “active residents” and 75 “associate members.”
Tapping a larger-than-expected demand, the Club outgrew its facilities before long and, after just seven years, it was looking for new quarters.
