TOKYO (Japan) – St. Mary’s Cathedral

THE CATHEDRAL by KENZO TANGE

Like many ancient Christian churches, this cathedral is built in the form of a cross. The arms of the cross measure 55.5 and 40 meters respectively. However, contrary to what is seen in the West, architect Tange depressed the cross raising each of the arms of the cross to a height of 39.4 m.

The plan layout is a diamond, the sides of which are joined to the vertices of the cross using 8 curves called hyperbolic paraboloids. The tendency of the architect to develop monumental buildings using concrete and steel structures with such curves is also present at the National Gymnasium for Tokyo Olympics of 1964, designed more or less at the same time as the cathedral. In fact this technique had been previously used by Le Corbusier in buildings such as the Legislative Assembly of Chandigarh .

To this sculptural structure wrapped in stainless steel, which symbolizes the “light of Christ shining upon the world and the hearts of men”, the architect added other small cubic volumes, such as the baptistery.

Access to the lateral nave is reached by one of these added volumes. In fact you might think of it as a transitional space between the profane and the sacred, a kind of liminality, something which was also used by the Filipino master Leandro Locsin, a modern architect and a contemporary of Tange.

But while the exterior facade catches the eye due to its metal tones, especially glaring on a sunny day, the interior captivates with its grim tones and unfinished texture, just like the Japanese concept of wabi sabi , that is the aesthetic pleasure of unfinished things , also used in works by other architects, such as the famous Church of Light by Tadao Ando.

The exposed concrete also symbolizes a biblical concept: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress in whom I take refuge …” ( Psalm 18:2 ). Hence, the architect wants to express strength and at the same time levitation through sculptural form.

These concrete walls provide a dramatic spectacle in their contact with light, which seeps through the studied openings located in the zenith, or through the elongated windows on the sides of the cross (the reader can find a similar use of light in the Cathedral of Los Angeles by Rafael Moneo).

The biggest attraction of the church is the space, modeled, sculptured and monumental. In some occasions, a light and musical show is featured, providing the visitor with a mystical and theatrical experience.

THE ORGAN

Tokyo cathedral is a monument of our time, built in the early 60s as per the vision of the architect Kenzo Tange.
The organ is a worthy completion of its interior. Located on the balcony above the main entrance, it is one of the few instruments in Japan on which a broad repertoire of organ music is playable, but in a context outside the concert hall. Hence it remains sacred and spiritual.

The sounds are clear and transparent, designed to resonate in the large acoustics of the church. The instrument, too, reflects time-proven organ building traditions but is yet modern and flexible, conceived for both liturgy and concert use.

Special care was taken in the design and voicing of the traditionally Italian stops. Those on the ‘Positive’, for example, are based on pipe-scales by Antegnati. And despite the instrument’s dimensions, the key-action remains light, allowing absolute control at all times.

The slightly unequal temperament (5 pure fifths, 5 fifths 1/6 of a comma narrow, 2 fifths 1/12 of a comma narrow) gives beauty and colour to the overall sound, yet allowing the use in all keys.