Aerial view of Imperial Diet Building at time of its completion in 1936 (Showa 11) From"Teikoku Gikai Gijido Kenchiku no Gaiyo"

View of the hammering of tacks on the tower section of the Imperial Diet Building during the roof-raising ceremony From"Teikoku Gikai Gijido Kenchiku no Gaiyo"

The idea of constructing a full fledged assembly building in the Nagatacho area of Tokyo had been entertained throughout the Meiji era, but little action was taken for many years. To draw a distinction with the current Diet building, the previous structures are now referred to as "temporary Imperial Diet Buildings." This nishiki-e (brocade picture) depicts the second Imperial Diet Building, completed in October 1891 (Meiji 24).

In conjunction with the b. Establishment of the Imperial Diet in 1890 (Meiji 23), the first Imperial Diet Building was constructed in Hibiya Uchisaiwaicho, but it burned down soon after its completion. The second temporary building was erected in the same place, and forty eight sessions of the Diet were held there, until it burned down as well, in 1925 (Taisho 14). Construction had already begun on the third Imperial Diet Building in 1920 (Taisho 9) in the Nagatacho location, but it was not completed until 1936 (Showa 11). That building is still in use today as the National Diet.