W.M.Vories
When you visit the Shinsaibashi area in Osaka, it is worth visiting the Daimaru Department Store. Even if you are not interested in shopping, please drop by the building. The department store has finished its renovation recently and kept the historic architecture that William Merrell Vories designed. Have you heard his name? When you visit Japan, you will find many buildings designed by him. He was a Kansas-born and attended school in Colorado. Kansas and Colorado are special to me. These two states are where I studied and worked.
Vories came to Japan in 1905 as an English teacher. He later became a naturalized Japanese citizen. The Meiji period, the era he arrived, was the time that Japanese people were so eager to learn new knowledge from western countries. Many foreigners came to Japan and influenced Japanese society. Vories was one of those people. He came to Japan as an educator, missionary, architect, and entrepreneur. I assume that many Americans do not know about him. However, the name has known in Japan. Some Japanese might not know his name, but they would know “Mentholatum” the pharmaceutical product. Vories introduced Mentholatum to Japan through his company, the Omi Sales Company. The company is currently known as The Omi Brotherhood Ltd. The company still thrives in Japan. As I mentioned that he designed so many buildings, you can find some in Kyoto too. One easy to find is standing beside the Kamo river, Tokasaikan, a Chinese restaurant.
