The National Diet of Japan: An Architectural Masterpiece

***originally published in the April Issue of Pinoy Gazette

Also published on Pinoy Gazette`s official blog: pinoygazetteofficial.blogspot.jp

Kung mapapadaan ka sa Nagatacho District sa Chiyoda City, agaw pansin ang isang malaking gusali na may kakaibang arkitektura – hindi kasi ito tradisyonal na Hapon. Kapansin-pansin ang malaking impluwensiyang banyaga sa istilo ng pagkakagawa nito, may mataas na tower, makakapal at matitibay na bato na parang hindi kayang yanigin ng kahit anong lindol, napapaligiran ito ng malalaking puno at malalapad na daan, at may estatwa ni Ito Hirobumi, ang unang Prime Minister ng Japan, na bumabati sa harapan. Ito ang National Diet ng Japan – maituturing na pinakamakapangyarihang institusyong pang-gobyerno ng bansa.

Ang dalawang sangay ng National Diet

Sa Pilipinas, ang Congress ay binubuo ng mataas at mababang kapulungan. Ang Senate ay may 24 miyembro na may terminong anim at tatlong taon (depende sa taon ng pagkakahalal) at ang House of Representatives ay may 289 miyembro na may terminong tatlong taon. Ang Congress ay tumutukoy sa dalawang kapulungan, pero sa Pilipinas, mas karaniwang ginagamit ang salitang “congress” para tukuyin ang House of Representatives.

Ang National Diet ang katumbas ng Congress of the Philippines. Dito sa Japan, binubuo ito ng House of Councillors (katumbas ng Senate) na mayroong 242 miyembro na may terminong anim at tatlong taon at ang House of Representatives na may 480 miyembro na may terminong apat na taon. May kapangyarihan itong gumawa at magpasa ng batas, magtakda ng national budget, magpatibay ng mga kasunduan sa ibang bansa, pumili ng Prime Minister at mag-revise ng Saligang Batas.

Hindi lamang mahalaga ang gusaling ito sa Japan dahil sentro ito ng pagpapatakbo ng bansa. Itinuturing din ito na isang architectural masterpiece, isang work of art! Ginamit sa pagtatayo nito ang pinakamagaganda at pinakamatitibay na materyales. Halos lahat ng materyales dito ay mula sa Japan, tulad ng mga perlas mula sa Okinawa at marble mula sa Shizuoka. Ang tanging inangkat lamang mula sa ibang bansa ay ang mga ginamit na salamin dito.

Ang pagtatatag

Sinimulang gawin ang gusaling ito noong Enero 1920 at natapos lamang makalipas ang 17 taon. Dalawang taon bago nagsimula ang pagtatatag nito, nagkaroon ng isang malawakang kumpetisyon para sa magiging disensyo ng gusaling itatayo. Ang kanang bahagi nito ay inookupahan ng House of Councillors at ang kaliwang bahagi naman ay sa House of Representatives. Ang buong compound ay may sukat na 103,001 square meters samantalang ang building naman ay may floor area na 53,466 square meters.

Isang silip sa loob ng National Diet building

Dahil sa kakaibang arkitektura nito, isang magandang pasyalan din ang National Diet. Sa lobby ng House of Councillors, makikita ang iba’t ibang makasaysayang bagay na ginamit sa mga sesyon noon tulad ng lumang listahan ng mga dating miyembro at kopya ng imperial decree, mga apparatus na ginamit para sa pagboto, ang trono ng emperador na ginamit noong 1868-1912 at mga replica ng mga upuan ng mga miyembro ng kapulungan. Kung makakapamasyal sa loob ng gusali, ito  ang ilan sa mga magagandang makikita sa loob:

Central Entrance. Ang bronze na pinto sa central entrance ng gusali ay binubuksan lamang para sa emperador ng Japan kung siya ay dadalo sa opening ceremony ng Diet. Binubuksan din ito para sa mga mahahalagang bisita mula sa ibang bansa at para sa mga bagong halal na miyembro ng kapulungan sa unang araw ng sesyon. Sa may Member’s Entrance naman matatagpuan ang attendance board na siyang pinipindot ng mga miyembro para itala ang kanilang pagdalo sa sesyon. 

Central Hall. Sa gitna ng gusali matatagpuan ang Central Hall. Mayroon tatlong bronze statue na matatagpuan dito – sina Ito Hirobumi, Okuma Shigenobu at Itagaki Taisuke. Nagkaroon sila ng mahalagang kontribusyon sa pagtatatag ng parliamentary system ng Japan. Ang ikaapat na pedestal ay bakante bilang simbolo na mayroon pang mga mabubuting tagapaglingkod sa bayan ang darating sa hinaharap.

Chamber of the House of Councillors. Dito ginaganap ang mga plenary session ng House of Councillors. Sa gitna nito matatagpuan ang podium, sa taas nito ay ang upuan ng president ng House of Councillors na nakaharap sa 460 upuan ng mga miyembro na nakapwesto sa isang semi-circle. Sa likod nito nakapwesto ang trono ng eperador kung saan siya umuupo kapag dumadalo sa opening ceremony ng sesyon. Mayroong dalawang row ng upuan sa kaliwa at kanang bahagi nito. Ang unang row ay para sa mga Ministers of State at ang unang upuan ay nakalaan para sa Prime Minister. Ang pangalawang row naman ay para sa mga staff ng House of Councillors. Mayroon ding public gallery kung saan maaaring manood ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan kung gusto nilang live na masundan ang mga nagaganap sa loob ng plenary.

Emperor’s Room. Ito ang isa sa pinakamaganda at pinakaespesyal na kwarto sa loob ng gusali. Gawa ito sa pinakamahal at pinaka-grandiyosong materyal sa buong Japan – may perlas, ginto, carpet at silk. Mayroong kahoy na lamesa at isang pulang upuan sa gitna nito. Dito naghihintay ang emperador tuwing dadalo siya sa opening ceremony ng National Diet. Dito niya rin tinatanggap at kinakausap ang president at bise-presidente ng House of Councillors at ang speaker at vice-speaker ng House of Represetnatives.

             

Hindi lamang isang pang-gobyernong institusyon ang National Diet, mayaman din ito sa kasaysayan at pambihirang arkitektura. Sulit din ang pagpunta dito dahil hindi lang nakakamangha ang ganda ng lugar, marami pang mga bagong bagay ang matututunan.

Bukas sa mga bisita ang gusali mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes, alas-otso ng umaga hanggang alas-singko ng hapon. Maaari ring sumali sa libreng guided tour sa loob ng gusali. Mayroon ding nabibiling mga souvenir tulad ng mga notebooks, keychains, folders, calendars at espesyal na biskwit na may mukha ni Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Poltical Memorabilia at the National Diet of Japan

 

            The National Diet of Japan is not only a building that houses Japan’s prime organ of state power. It is also a building that is rich in art and history. The National Diet is open for visitors from Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. There is also a free guided tour around the building that is worth joining. Visitors can enter the Visitors Gate at the Annex of the House of Councillors.

            Before the tour, the visitors will first be asked to wait at the House of Coucillors Visitors Lobby where several important memorabilia are on display. This is the only place in the whole building where visitors are allowed to take pictures. Once the visitors enter the main building, taking pictures is then prohibited.

            Some of the interesting items on display are the following (explanation are based on the flyer distributed to visitors of the National Diet):

            Imperial Decree for the first Imperial Diet Opening Ceremony. The first Imperial Diet convened in November 25, 1980 and the Opening Ceremony was held on the 29^th. The document displayed in the Visitors’ Lobby is only a reproduction of the original decree which, was issued to the members by Emperor Meiji.

            Register of Members of the House of Peers. The House of Peers was then composed of members of the Imperial family, men from notable families and important people especially appointed by the Emperor. This document is a list of these important people who are noted for their distinguished service to the nation.

        Apparatus for deciding group membership by lot. When the session of the House of Peers began, it was necessary to determine the group to which each member belonged. Group membership was decided by lot and the election of members of several standing committees and the allocation of members’ lobbies were based here.

            The apparatus was used from 1904 to 1936. To use the apparatus, balls with the name of each member are placed inside. When the central rod is removed, the balls fall into nine partitions, thereby determining the group to which each member belong.

            Apparatus for anonymous voting. To vote, each member places a ball in one of the two designated slots. White balls signify a positive response and a black one indicate a negative on. When all members finish putting the balls, the apparatus is opened and the scales inside indicate the numbers of votes cast.

            Ballot box and devices for counting the results of the open ballots. Ballot slips with the member’s name is distributed before the voting takes place. There ballots are dropped in a ballot box on the podium. After all the members finish voting, the ballots are divided and placed side by side in the apparatus. The sales marking the inside of the box, it is possible to calculate the number of votes in a quicker manner.

Models of the Diet Building and the Chamber of the House of Councillors. There are models that are prepared for the visually impaired so visitors are free to touch them.

The Throne of his Majesty the Emperor. The throne made of gold was in the chamber of the House of Peers from 1868-1912. It was used by the Emperor during the opening ceremonies of the Diet.

            
Replica of Members’ Seats. Visitors can sit on this replica press the push-button voting device.

 Replica of the gavel. This is a replica of the gavel used by the president of the House of Councillors to call for order at the opening of the plenary session.

            For people who want to explore more about Japan beyond the Cherry Blossoms and the Shinto Shrines, the National Diet is a good place to start.

A Peek Inside Japan’s Center of Power: The National Diet Building

The facade of the National Diet Building

            Who would have thought that this Greco-Roman-inspired cream-colored building in Chiyoda City, Tokyo is Japan’s highest organ of state power? The Japanese, despite their faithful adherence to their traditional culture and strong claim to homogeneity, have embraced the influences of the West during the Meiji Period (1968-1912). This piece of architecture, which was designed in 1918 but was finally finished in 1927 is a reflection of this change. The compound occupies 103,001 square meters of land while the building has a total floor area of 53,466 square meters.

The Two Houses

            This building houses the Upper House and the Lower House of the National Diet. The House of Councillors has 242 members, 96 of whom are elected by proportional representation system and 146 from 47 prefectural constituencies, who have a term of office of six and three years. In contrast, the House of Representatives is composed of 480 members, 180 of whom are elected under the proportional representation system and 300 from single-seat constituencies, who have a term of office of four years.

Functions of the National Diet

            The National Diet, according to the Constitution of Japan, which was enacted in 1947, shall be “the sole law-making organ of the State” (Article 41). It can draft and pass laws, decide on the national budget, approve treaties made with other countries, choose a Prime Minister and amend the constitution. It can also conduct investigation regarding matters of significance for the country.     

The National Diet Building

            The materials used to build the Diet building mostly come from Japan like the pearls from Okinawa and the marble from Shizuoka. The only important material are the glass used in the ceilings and the windows which came from abroad. Inside the building are several interesting spots that are worthy of seeing because of their capacity to instigate awe from their spectators. The following information came from the official pamphlet handed to visitors of the building.

            Central Entrance. The Bronze doors of the Central Entrance are opened only for His Majesty the Emperor on the day of the Opening Ceremony, for State Guests on official visits, and for newly-elected members of the Diet on the first day of the Diet session following their election.

            Members’ Entrance and Attendance Board. At the Members’ Entrance stood a board where the members press their name-buttons to indicate they are present.

Central Hall. This lies directly under the central tower. The ceiling and windows are made of stained glass and the marble floor is accented with a beautiful mosaic. Three bronze statues of notable men who contributed to the founding of the parliamentary system in Japan are placed in the three corners of the hall. These three men are Ito Hirobumi, Okuma Shigenobu and Itagaki Taisuke. It can be observed that the fourth pedestal on one corner is vacant. It is left that way to remind the people that Japan will give birth to more notable statesmen in the future. The floor area of the hall is 267.65 square meters and the ceiling is 32.62 meters high.

Chamber of the House of Councillors. This is one of the most important rooms in the whole building because this serves as the venue for the plenary sessions. At the center of room stand the podium and the seat of the president of the House of Coucillors that face the 460 seats of members arranged in a semi-circle. Above this seat is the throne of His Majesty the Emperor, which he uses whenever he attends the Opening Ceremony of the Diet.

There are also two rows on both sides of the president’s seat. The first row is allotted for the Ministers of State, the first seat is for the Prime Minister, and the second row is for the secretariat of the House of Councillors. The ceiling is adorned by Arabesque-patterned stained glass. The chamber is 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, while the ceiling is 13 meters high. There is also a public gallery for citizens and press people to observe the plenary sessions.

Emperor’s Room. One of the most beautiful rooms in the building. This room is made with the best materials – most expensive, most beautiful and with the highest quality. This is the holding room of his Majesty the Emperor whenever he attends the Opening Ceremony. This is also where he receives the President and Vice President of the House of Councillors and the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives. There is also a grand staircase that leads to the Emperor’s Room in the third floor from the Central Hall. This Central Staircase is only used by His Majesty the Emperor.

There are also other rooms in the building such as the Office and Reception Room of the President of the House of Councillors, and several Committee Rooms for various committee hearings.

            The National Diet is open for visitors from Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. There is also a free guided tour around the building that is worth joining. Visitors can enter the Visitors Gate at the Annex of the House of Councillors. To view the displays at the House of Councillors Vistors' Lobby, please see this post Political Memorabilia at the National Diet.

            There are also interesting souvenirs that you can purchase at the stall at the exit of the Diet. There are keychains, notebooks, folders, calendars, fans, pens, ID laces and a special biscuit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's face.