The Kawabun (河文) is Nagoya's oldest ryōtei (traditional restaurant), located in Marunouchi 2-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya.[2]

Main gate of the Kawabun
The Momiji room, the only tatami room in the restaurant with a horigotatsu—sunken seating with a garden view.[1]
Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu welcoming U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan at the Kawabun during the G20 summit in November 2019

History

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Founded during the Edo period (1603–1867), the Kawabun became a successful business that was patronised by the Owari Tokugawa rulers. In the Meiji period (1867–1911), successive politicians such as Ito Hirobumi also visited. The Kawabun was established as a company in October 1912. It was heavily damaged during the bombing of Nagoya in World War II, and was rebuilt after the end of the war.[3] The Kawabun served as host for a dinner in November 2019 for the foreign ministers of the G20 Aichi-Nagoya Foreign Ministers' Meeting.[4]

The ryōtei specialises in serving kaiseki.[5]

Buildings

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In 2005, the main building, front gate, wall, wakimon gate, shinyotei, corridor, yoryotei, and kitchen were registered by the authorities as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties.[2]

The Mizugami-no-Naka room was designed by Yoshirō Taniguchi in 1973.[3]

The tsubo garden was created by the 10th generation Matsuo-ryu iemoto Matsuo Sogo (Fusensai).[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Meal | Kawaraga (KAWABUN) - A well-established restaurant in Nagoya".
  2. ^ a b "国指定文化財等データベース". kunishitei.bunka.go.jp.
  3. ^ a b "河文【芸術性と革新性】". 愛知の公式観光ガイド AICHI NOW.
  4. ^ "Foreign Ministers' Dinner and Gift to Heads of Delegations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
  5. ^ "Private room | Kawabun (KAWABUN) - Renting in Nagoya".
  6. ^ "茶房 | 河文 (KAWABUN) - 名古屋の料亭".
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  Media related to Kawabun at Wikimedia Commons