Dr. Jōkichi Takamine （1854–1922）was a pioneering Japanese scientist, entrepreneur, and cultural ambassador known for his groundbreaking work in biochemistry and international diplomacy. He was the first person to isolate adrenaline in pure form and also invented takadiastase, a digestive enzyme derived from koji mold. These achievements placed him at the forefront of early pharmaceutical science and earned him recognition in both Japan and the United States.
Takamine played a key role in representing Japan at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, where he oversaw the construction of several traditional Japanese buildings, including a Kyoto-style aristocratic residence. This structure, noted for its exquisite details such as painted sliding doors and carved wooden ornamentation, was widely praised as a masterpiece of Japanese architecture. Recently discovered original drawings by Katsuji Makino have confirmed that he was the interior designer of Shōfūden. Makino’s plans reveal meticulous attention to traditional Kyoto court aesthetics, including decorative ceilings, painted fusuma doors, and carved transoms featuring motifs of pine and maple, elements that inspired the name “Shōfūden” or “Pine Maple Hall.”
After the fair, Takamine offered to cover the cost of dismantling and relocating one of the buildings, which had been gifted to him by Emperor Meiji. He reassembled it at his summer estate in Forestburgh, New York, where it served as a site for cultural exchange and diplomatic gatherings, reflecting Takamine’s lifelong mission to foster mutual understanding between Japan and the U.S.
The building eventually fell into disrepair, but beginning in 2007, interior elements and related materials were returned to Japan. In 2020, a partial reconstruction of Shōfūden—featuring its original ceiling panels, sliding doors, and furnishings—was unveiled in Takaoka, Takamine’s hometown. The exhibition space, named “Room of Pine and Maple,” is open to the public year-round and provides a rare glimpse into the elegance of early 20th-century Japanese design abroad.
Alongside this display, the Takamine Memorial Museum (Takashinkin Memorial Hall) offers a detailed overview of Takamine’s life and legacy. Through exhibits on his scientific discoveries and his cultural contributions—including the donation of cherry blossom trees to Washington, D.C.—the museum captures his lasting impact on science, business, and international friendship. Shōfūden stands today as a symbol of Takamine’s vision: blending scientific innovation with cross-cultural respect and diplomacy.
