Fair Japan
| Other Name(s) | Japanese Village |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity Space Exhibition Music and Performances |
| Park Section | Northwest |
| Built | 1905 |
| Opened | 1905 |
| Closed | Unknown |
| Designer | Kushibiki Yumindo |
| Site Area | 4-10 acres |
Fair Japan was a Japanese Village exhibit space at Olentangy Park[1] where parkgoers could walk through a Japanese-style garden including the Bonzai Bridge, dine at a restaurant in the form of a tea and chop suey house, buy crafts at a bazaar, and watch traditional performances. Designed by Yumeta Kushibiki [or Umeta], the area was built by 10-15 "native contractors" in 1905 just north of the Figure Eight Toboggan, replacing the Miniature Railway.[2][3]
Joseph Dusenbury originally saw the exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition and imported it to the park.[1] Builder Kushibiki Yumindo [published as Yumeta Kushibiki or Umeta Kushibiki] had been in the U.S. for 20 years and built similar exhibits at Atlantic City, Buffalo, and St. Louis. The stage featured Legerdemain, tumbling, and other acrobatic features.[4] The park charged a 5-cent ($1.65 in 2022) admission fee in 1906[5] until June 17 when it was free for the rest of the season.[6]
General games, such as a Japanese rolling ball game, were also available.[7] The Igorrote Village actors stayed and performed in this area in 1907 and 1908. Two staff members, Sigmo Imamura and Toku Nagaya were married in Fair Japan on July 4, 1909.[8] The area was rebuilt in 1914 and put under the management of Kenoshita [or Kinoshita], a "modest and young" Tokyo native who worked several years in the mercantile business in Cleveland.[9]
Fair Japan was replaced by the Swimming Pool in 1917.[10][11][1]
Gallery
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Vintage postcard (c. 1905-1906) showing a section of Fair Japan and the Circle Swing.
Controversy
Binzo Suzuki and Sohechl Ilda sued Manager Joseph W. Dusenbury for $1,102 ($37,106 in 2022) due for Japanese goods and merchandise that furnished the Japanese village.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hyatt, Shirley. Clintonville and Beechwold. Arcadia Publishing, 2009.
- ↑ "Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 2 January 1905. Pg. 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Opens." The Lantern. 29 April 1914. Pg. 4.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Will Be Extended to Doddridge St." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 February 1905. Pg. 7.
- ↑ "Olentangy Opening." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 13 May 1906. Pg. 44.
- ↑ Ad. Columbus Evening Dispatch. 16 June 1906. Pg. 4.
- ↑ "Columbus Railway & Light Co." Street Railway Review. Vol. XVI. No. 2. Pg. 70. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electric_Railway_Review/VlY_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22shooting+gallery%22+Olentangy&pg=PA70&printsec=frontcover
- ↑ "Columbus Notes." The Show World. Vol. 5. 10 July 1909. Pg. 7.
- ↑ "At Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 10 May 1914. Pg. 36.
- ↑ "Pool for Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 25 March 1917. Pg. 48.
- ↑ "A Golden Flora." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 1 July 1917. Pg. 42.
- ↑ "Sue Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 10 September 1905. Pg. 1.