Changes

The Palace was completed in October 1888, roughly four months before the promulgation of the [[Meiji Constitution]]. It consisted of thirty-six buildings, all linked by corridors, and constructed mostly in a traditional Japanese style, in wood, with ''[[irimoya]]'' roofs. The palace was divided into roughly two sections: the ''oku kyûden'', containing the private residences of the Emperor and Imperial family, with wholly traditional Japanese interiors; and the ''omote kyûden'', including audience halls and meeting rooms, done in a combination of more traditional and more Western styles. Much of the furniture was hand-selected in Germany by architect [[Katayama Tokuma|Katayama Tôkuma]], who would later go on to design several of the National Museums, and the [[Akasaka Detached Palace]].<ref>Fujitani, 77.</ref>

The Palace was completed in October 1888, roughly four months before the promulgation of the [[Meiji Constitution]]. It consisted of thirty-six buildings, all linked by corridors, and constructed mostly in a traditional Japanese style, in wood, with ''[[irimoya]]'' roofs. The palace was divided into roughly two sections: the ''oku kyûden'', containing the private residences of the Emperor and Imperial family, with wholly traditional Japanese interiors; and the ''omote kyûden'', including audience halls and meeting rooms, done in a combination of more traditional and more Western styles. Much of the furniture was hand-selected in Germany by architect [[Katayama Tokuma|Katayama Tôkuma]], who would later go on to design several of the National Museums, and the [[Akasaka Detached Palace]].<ref>Fujitani, 77.</ref>

A series of broad thoroughfares which cut through the palace's outer gardens (''gaien'') were constructed explicitly as "triumphal avenues" (''gaisen dôro'') for the Imperial Military Review of April [[1906]], with the explicit intention of creating a space for monumental national ceremonies in the modern (Western) mode.<ref>Fujitani, 16.</ref>

A series of broad thoroughfares which cut through the palace's outer gardens (''gaien'') were constructed explicitly as "triumphal avenues" (''gaisen dôro'') for the Imperial Military Review of April [[1906]], with the explicit intention of creating a space for monumental national ceremonies in the modern (Western) mode.<ref>Fujitani, 16.</ref> Preparations for the Military Review also included tearing down the castle's Babasaki Gate, and filling in sections of the moat, making the Palace Plaza more publicly accessible.<ref>Fujitani, 132-133.</ref>

===Taishô through World War II===

===Taishô through World War II===