Born in [[Yonezawa]], Itô studied architecture at the Imperial University<ref>The Imperial University was so called in [[1888]]-[[1897]], after which it became the Imperial University of Tokyo, and is today simply the University of Tokyo.</ref> from [[1889]] until [[1892]], under [[Tatsuno Kingo]], receiving lectures as well from [[Josiah Conder]]. Historian [[Toshio Watanabe]] identifies Itô's graduation dissertation, entitled ''kenchiku tetsugaku'' ("Architectural Philosophy") as "the first fully argued modern theory of architecture produced by a Japanese [person]."<ref name=wata241>Watanabe, 241.</ref> He later went on to write a doctoral thesis, completed in [[1898]]; this analysis of the ancient temple of [[Horyu-ji|Hôryû-ji]] is described by Watanabe as "the first scholarly work of modern art history in Japan."<ref name=wata241/> | Born in [[Yonezawa]], Itô studied architecture at the Imperial University<ref>The Imperial University was so called in [[1888]]-[[1897]], after which it became the Imperial University of Tokyo, and is today simply the University of Tokyo.</ref> from [[1889]] until [[1892]], under [[Tatsuno Kingo]], receiving lectures as well from [[Josiah Conder]]. Historian [[Toshio Watanabe]] identifies Itô's graduation dissertation, entitled ''kenchiku tetsugaku'' ("Architectural Philosophy") as "the first fully argued modern theory of architecture produced by a Japanese [person]."<ref name=wata241>Watanabe, 241.</ref> He later went on to write a doctoral thesis, completed in [[1898]]; this analysis of the ancient temple of [[Horyu-ji|Hôryû-ji]] is described by Watanabe as "the first scholarly work of modern art history in Japan."<ref name=wata241/> |