The Kobe Newspaper Hall, which held the title of "Hall of Culture," also had various other facilities and stores. (3) summarizes some of the memories. A place for the presentation of lessons, leisure activities that were ahead of their time, and cultural activities. Collections.... Many of you have found it to be an oasis of life.

[On the big stage]

Piano recital during summer vacation, a thrilling day for me to shine!

Rie YAMAMOTO (Tarumi, age 62)

The last Sunday of August, the last day of summer vacation, was the day of the piano recital at a large newspaper hall in downtown Sannomiya, the center of Kobe, for me as an elementary school student. It was a special day for me to feel like a cool adult.

Fuji" in the mural as you approach the center.

When I finally looked up at the huge structure from my feet, I began to feel nervous that I was in the "best" place in Japan, and that I would now be at the Budokan! I was so thrilled and excited that I could almost say, "I'm going to shine? I was so thrilled and excited that I could say, "I'm going to shine!　Now that I know that it has been 70 years since its birth, I am once again grateful to the teacher who guided me back then and allowed even a small child to have the experience of performing on the greatest stage in Kobe's history.

(Photo) Piano recital held at KCC Hall (courtesy of Rie Yamamoto, 1977)

 

Calligraphy teacher's examination, attended monthly and licensed.

KATAYAMA Takafu (Nishi Ward, age 63)

Speaking of Newspaper Hall, it is "the venue for the examination of Saturyu Shodoin.

I was licensed as a shihan at the same institute and received a wooden license in 1989, hand-delivered by the late Dr. Tsurufu Nagata in a conference room on the top floor of the Newspaper Hall, and I was deeply impressed that I visited the institute once a month to go to the examination sessions.

In addition to the judging, I was also looking forward to going to KUC one floor down for lunch a little earlier in the day. One of our senior members loved the dry curry here, and another was drinking water shots all day long.

Halfway through the judging session, we were served coffee delivered by KUC, which we enjoyed.

We often used "Kinryukaku" for the same association's banquets.

The picture of Mt. Fuji seen from the JR station is a childhood memory.

 

Celebratory dance in the square in front of the Newspaper Hall

Kazuko Chatani (Higashinada, age 84)

I have been familiar with the Kobe Shimbun since I was a child. I moved to a new house and had the Asahi Shimbun for a while, but it is still the Kobe Shimbun!　As for memories of the Newspaper Hall, I remember dancing in the fifth or sixth grade at Maya Elementary School in my white one-piece sports uniform. At that time, there was nothing in front of the Newspaper Hall but a plaza. I think it was called "Midori no Hiroba" (green square). We celebrated there and danced a commemorative dance. I don't know what song it was....

My memories of the Kaikan include going on dates to the movies and dining at Shumi-gai. When my oldest son was in Nagamine Kindergarten in Nada Ward, I participated in the first crossing of the pedestrian bridge from JR Sannomiya to Sogo. I am now 84 years old and my memory is not so clear. I can't even remember how to write.

Sannomiya is undergoing major changes. I would like to stroll around the new and energetic Sannomiya Kobe on my own feet. Please let it be a wonderful Kobe/Sannomiya. I hope the Kobe Shimbun Kaikan will remain in its place. I have lived in a good time, I really think so.

 

 

[The joys of life].

Part-time jobs, movies, cafes... it was an oasis of life!

Ryohei Imasaki (Tarumi Ward, age 88)

I spent four years of my university life in my hometown of Kobe from 1957, and I have many memories of the Kobe Shimbun Kaikan. I learned a lot from visiting the Kobe Shimbun headquarters in the hall and working part-time in the marketing department during summer vacations. I enjoyed movies and concerts in the large theater and rented a small hall for student concerts. I also miss the restaurants, cafes, and barbershop in the basement. The travel agency on the first floor took care of us on our graduation trips.

After I became a member of society, a bowling alley was built on the upper floor of the hall and I often went there on holidays. We also had dinner at the Chinese restaurant on the top floor where our college alumni association was headquartered. I am grateful to have experienced so many places in the hall as my spiritual home and an oasis in my life.

 

Bowling, movies, and celebrating youth

Eiko Saito (Higashinada, age 79)

When I was young, my workplace was in Center Street, so I used to go bowling at the Newspaper Hall and watch movies with my workmates. we threw about 3 games, but the scores were handwritten, which was fun. On the way home, we had fried food and black beer in Munich. A big parrot greeted us at the entrance, konnichiwa, konbanwa, ojisan. It's still as healthy as ever inside, isn't it?

 

KCC piano lesson, and on the way home, I was thrilled to see the bowling alley.

Toshiko YAMAMOTO (Higashinada, age 66)

I attended KCC music classes (group lessons) with my mother when I was in kindergarten, and from the first grade I attended private piano lessons by myself for about two years. For some reason, I never used the elevator, but took the stairs on my way home from piano lessons, stopping at the floor with the bowling alley and gazing at it, thinking, "I'll come bowling when I grow up, too. It is a nostalgic memory from about 60 years ago. It makes me nostalgic and makes my heart flutter.

 

She also cooks, takes yoga classes, and enjoys movies.

Junko KADOYAMA (Higashinada, age 66)

I saw many movies at Sky Cinema and large theaters. When I was a student, I attended a cooking school and learned to cook. I also attended yoga classes with my mother and friends. I miss the tile paintings of Mt.

 

Enthusiasm and excitement of stamp collecting still exists today.

Hisao YONEHARA (Nada, age 71)

The "Newspaper Hall" reminds me of a store near the center of the first floor called "Sannomiya Stamps," which dealt in stamps and coins. When I was in elementary and junior high school, 60 years ago, I often went there with my friends and younger brother during the unprecedented stamp boom. We would go on holidays, and the store was always crowded with people.

I was envious when I saw people my age buying stamps that I could not afford to buy with my allowance, and I was surprised when I saw adults buying stamps by the sheet. I was envious when I saw them buying stamps that I could not afford to buy with my allowance, and I was amazed when I saw adults buying stamps by the sheet. I still recall the excitement of those days vividly when I hear the name "Newspaper Hall.

 

My fashionable spirit was ignited.

Eiko Egi (Suma-ku, Suma, age 78)

My parents were big movie buffs, so they often took me to the movies. We often went to Shinkaichi or Nishi-Kobe, but sometimes we would go to Hankyu Kaikan or Shimbun Kaikan in Sannomiya, and I would feel happy as a child.

It was more than 60 years ago when we bought tickets on the first floor of the Newspaper Hall and were walking up the narrow stairs right next to it. We heard laughter and light footsteps from below, and two girls ran up beside us. They were wearing gray capes and stylishly colored berets. They were both dressed exactly the same. They were twins. I was stunned to see them off, but by the time I arrived at the little theater, I had made up my mind.

Six years later, at the age of 18, I entered a junior college in Kobe and found the twins at the entrance ceremony.

 


(Photo) The first full-scale bowling alley in Kobe City, where people used to wait two to three hours for a boom (courtesy of the Kobe Shimbun).

 

 

(Continued from (4))