{{Short description|Shinto Shrine in Medan, Indonesia}} {{infobox religious building | name = Hirohara Shrine | native_name = {{nihongo| 紘原神社|Hirohara Jinja}} | religious_affiliation = [[Shinto]] | image = Hirohara Jinja Building.jpg | caption = Hirohara shrine in 2024 | map_type = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 14 | mapframe-wikidata = yes | coordinates = {{coord|3|34|49.607|N|98|40|15.545|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | map_size = | map_alt = | map_relief = | map_caption = Interactive map of Hirohara Jinja | location = Jalan R.A. Kartini No.36, Madras Hulu, [[Medan Polonia]], [[Medan]], [[North Sumatera]], [[Indonesia]] | deity = [[Amaterasu]]<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":11" /> | sect = [[Jingūkyō]]<ref name=":6" /> | festival = Taishō Hōtai no Hi (大詔奉戴日) (8th of every month) | consecration_year = {{start date|1944|08|11}}<ref name=":6" /> | type = | heritage_designation = SK Pemko Medan nomor 433 tahun 2021 | leadership = | ownership = North Sumatra Provincial Government | website = | architect = Suzuki Hiroyuki<ref name=":18" /> | architecture_style = | established = 1905<ref name=":9" />{{efn|First iteration}} | groundbreaking = {{start date|1943|04|01|df=y}} | completed = {{start date|1944|07|04|df=y}}<ref name=":6" /> | site_area = 148.500 m² | footnotes = {{notelist}} }}
'''{{Nihongo|Hirohara Jinja|紘原神社|Hirohara Jinja|lit. "Hirohara Shrine" or "Kuil Hirohara" in Indonesian}}''' is a former [[Shinto shrine]] located in [[Medan]], [[North Sumatra|Indonesia]]. The shrine was built in 1944 by the [[2nd Guards Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|2nd Guards Division]] of the former [[Imperial Japanese Army]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=スマトラ.メダンにある日本の歴史遺産 紘原神社 - 「老人タイムス」私説 |url=https://blog.goo.ne.jp/bagus_2006/e/cc1381a7995a54876d386294b62930f4 |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=goo blog |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> It is situated slightly inland from the North Sumatra Governor's Office, formerly known as the East Coast Provincial Office during the [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies|Japanese occupation of Indonesia]].
The shrine is believed to be one of the last remaining surviving shrine building among those built by the former Japanese Imperial Army in various parts of the [[Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere|Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last1=Inamiya |first1=Yasuhito |url=https://www.kokusho.co.jp/np/isbn/9784336063427/ |title=非文字資料研究叢書２ 「神国」の残影｜国書刊行会 |last2=Nakajima |first2=Michio |date=November 2019 |publisher=Kokusho Publishing Association |isbn=978-4-336-06342-7 |language=ja |trans-title=Remnants of “Sacred Country” {{!}} Photographic Records of Sites of Overseas Shrines |access-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801155416/https://www.kokusho.co.jp/np/isbn/9784336063427/ |archive-date=2023-08-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> The shrine remained after the war and is then used as a meeting place for the local rich as the '''Medan Club'''. The building was designated as a heritage site and protected by the Medan city Government,<ref name=":9" /> though the future of the site is uncertain.
== Name == The 'Hiro' (紘) in Hirohara was taken from the Greater East Asia War principle '[[Hakkō ichiu]]' (八'''紘'''一宇), and the 'Hara' (原) was named after the Indonesian word 'Medan' (field).<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=中島 |first1=三千男 |last2=津田 |first2=良樹 |last3=稲宮 |first3=康人 |date=2019-03-20 |title=旧オランダ領東印度（現インドネシア共和国）に建てられた神社について |trans-title=On shrines built in the former Dutch East Indies (now Republic of Indonesia) |url=https://kanagawa-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/12706 |journal=非文字資料研究センター News Letter |language=ja |issue=41 |pages=17–23 |issn=2432-549X}}</ref><ref name=":12" /> Another possible meaning of "Hiro" is wide or expansive.<ref name=":11" />
== History == Medan had a sparse population nor had a rapid development until the middle of the [[Meiji era]], when the Dutch rulers began to release land for [[tobacco]] plantations. This shift in land use facilitated Medan's evolution into a prominent trading hub, subsequently elevating its status to a governmental center. Soon word began to spread over the burgeoning prosperity of the city, attracting a wave of migrant laborers, notably from the Japanese community. Due to this, [[Medan]] has been a center of [[Japanese migration to Indonesia]] outside of [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=コタ.コタ インドネシア（６）メダン 神社転じてクラブ - 「老人タイムス」私説 |url=https://blog.goo.ne.jp/bagus_2006/e/c8aa660a701411c7aeae92c7ccb3c155 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=goo blog |language=ja}}</ref> Dutch consulate reports indicate that there were 782 registered Japanese migrants in Batavia in 1909 (with an estimated 400 more yet to register), and an additional 278 (comprising 57 men and 221 women) in Medan by 1910.<ref>{{Citation |last=Murayama |first=Yoshitada |editor-first1=Takashi |editor-first2=Saya S. |editor-last1=Shiraishi |editor-last2=Shiraishi |title=4. The Pattern Of Japanese Economic Penetration Of The Prewar Netherlands East Indies |date=2018-12-31 |work=The Japanese in Colonial Southeast Asia |pages=89–112 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/9781501718939-005 |access-date=2024-05-01 |place=Ithaca, NY |publisher=Cornell University Press|doi=10.7591/9781501718939-005 |isbn=978-1-5017-1893-9 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Renowned poet [[Mitsuharu Kaneko]], once also stayed at an inn in Medan's Indian quarter, [[Kampung Madras|Kampung Keling]], during his travels to the Dutch East Indies in the early [[Showa period]]. Stating that there were more than 40 Japanese-run inns in the new town alone.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kaneko |first=Mitsuharu |title=マレー蘭印紀行 |title-link= |year=2004 |edition=revised Chuko Bunko |language=ja |trans-title=Malay Orchid Travelogue}}</ref> The oldest foreign-owned hotel not belonging to the Dutch was the 'India Hotel', owned by a Japanese person (1887), located on Perdana Street (now the office of Notary Pane St. Paruhum).<ref name=":17b">{{cite book |last=Sinar |first=Tengku Luckman |title=Sejarah Medan Tempo Doeloe |publisher=Sinar Budaya Group |year=2011 |isbn=979-98285-7-0 |edition=Cet. ke-19 |location=Medan |pages=79 |language=id}}</ref> Japanese laborers then became entrepreneurs, some even plantation owners themselves.
According to local accounts in Medan, preceding the establishment of the Hirohara Shrine at its current site, there existed a precursor Japanese shrine. Historian, {{ill|Ichwan Azhari|id|Ichwan Azhari}}, explained that due to the influx of Japanese laborers to Medan, who were at the time recorded majority as adhering to [[Shinbutsu-shūgō|Japanese Buddhism]],<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Muhajir |first=Ahmad |last2=Sumantri |first2=Pulung |last3=Gultom |first3=Adam Zaki |date=2021-03-01 |title=Memori Sejarah dan Warisan Pendudukan Jepang di Sumatera Timur sebagai Potensi Wisata Sejarah |trans-title= |url=https://jurnal.uisu.ac.id/index.php/mkd/article/view/3665 |journal=MUKADIMAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sejarah, dan Ilmu-ilmu Sosial |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=149–158 |issn=2622-1373}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Siadari |first=Aprilandri Cahyaputra |title=Fenomena Makam Orang Jepang di Medan (Studi Kasus Makam Orang Jepang di Delitua) |date=October 2015 |access-date=2026-01-16 |type= |publisher=Universitas Sumatera Utara, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Departemen Sastra Jepang |url=https://123dok.com/document/6qm3w47y-fenomena-makam-orang-jepang-medan-studi-jepang-delitua.html |language=id |trans-title=The Phenomenon of Japanese Graves in Medan (Case Study of Japanese Graves in Delitua) |location=Medan}}</ref> it necessitated a designated place of worship for the growing community. Thus leading to the creation of the first iteration of the shrine.<ref name=":9" /> According to the last head of the Medan Club, Eswin Soekardja, the shrine was made after when Japanese laborers entered and settled in Medan.<ref name=":13">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAwq1-AVGZY |title=NgeHank - Bangunan Tertua Di Medan, Medan Club |language=en |publisher=Waspada.Id |access-date=2024-05-01 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
According to historian, {{ill|Tengku Luckman Sinar|id|Tengku Luckman Sinar}}, the Japanese shrine was originally situated on the left side of what was now the [[Khalsa School|G.P.C. Khalsa High School]] in Kampung Keling. However, on the eve of the Second World War, the land encompassing both the shrine and a former Japanese school located on the site was purchased by the local [[Sikhism in Indonesia|Sikh community]].<ref name=":17">{{cite book |last=Sinar |first=Tengku Luckman |title=Sejarah Medan Tempo Doeloe |publisher=Sinar Budaya Group |year=2011 |isbn=979-98285-7-0 |edition=Cet. ke-19 |location=Medan |pages=78 |language=id}}</ref>
=== Japanese invasion === [[File:MutouAkira.jpg|left|thumb|227x227px|[[Akira Mutō]], Division Commander of the 2nd Guards Division greenlit the project]] [[File:Maatschappij Nederlandse Letterkunde houdt discussie met kunstenaars in Koninkli, Bestanddeelnr 923-4242.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Dutch novelist and poet Willem Brandt was among the Dutch [[Allied prisoners of war of Japan|prisoners of war]] interned in East Sumatra who were forced to work on the shrine.]] After the [[Fall of Singapore]] and the [[Invasion of Sumatra]], on 1 June 1943, the 2nd Guards Division made the Medan area of [[Sumatra]], Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) as their base of operations in Southeast Asia.<ref>{{Cite book |author=武藤章 |title=『比島から巣鴨へ 日本軍部の歩んだ道と一軍人の運命』 |date=2008-12-20 |publisher=中公文庫 |page=80}}</ref> During the war, shrines were erected across occupied territories as places of prayer for victory and enhanced morale, in Indonesia alone there were 11 shrines.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Dendy |date=2017-03-17 |title=Malang Gudang Sejarah Belanda dan Jepang |url=https://jurnalismalang.com/index.php/2017/03/17/malang-gudang-sejarah-belanda-dan-jepang/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Jurnalis Malang |language=en-US}}</ref> Following this, Mutō then initiated the construction of a shrine of his own on the land.<ref name=":3" /> The Japanese administration established a specialized shrine known as a ''[[Ginsai]]'' at the site of the present-day Medan Club. The building that housed the shrine had previously served as the office of the [[Deli Planters Vereeniging]] (D.P.V.). The grounds of the former D.P.V. office extended to the area behind what is now the Governor's Office, while its experimental plantation (proeftuin) was located on the site currently occupied by the Office of the Finance Department.<ref name=":17" />
According to Prof. Nakajima Michio (Former Rector of [[Kanagawa University]]), the building was designed by Suzuki Hiroyuki, an architect from Japan's [[Imperial Household Ministry]]. The construction of Hirohara Shrine was ordered by the Japanese army, in co-operation with the Japanese private sector.<ref name=":11">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyYOXHDiZdg |title="Lecture: Tranformasi Peralihan Fungsi Gedung Medan Club Dari Tahun 1879-sekarang" |date=2023-05-13 |last=Fitri |first=Isnen |last2=Saidin |first2=OK. |last3=ITO |first3=Masatoshi |name-list-style=amp |type=Lecture |language=id, ja |publisher=Jurusan Pendidikan Sejarah Universitas Negeri Medan |access-date=2024-05-28 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Under the guidance of Dr. Yunosuke, and by commission of Kiyotaka Kuroda, the Grand Chamberlain of the Imperial Household Ministry, Suzuki Hiroyuki became notable for his work in compiling the registry of deities for major rituals. His shrine architectural work includes the founding of {{ill|Kenmu Shrine|ja|氷川神社 (東京都港区白金)}} (建武神社) in [[Tokyo]] and several temple buildings. Based on this background, he was entrusted with the position of Chief Engineer in charge of both Army special missions and concurrently as the [[Shinto priest|shrine priest]] under a special army appointment in Medan. He was thus granted valuable experience in conducting various ritual-style ceremonies alongside the large-scale construction of shrine pavilions.<ref name=":18">{{cite magazine |date=April 1979 |title=工学院大学校友会報 第98号 |trans-title=Kogakuin University Alumni Association Bulletin No. 98 |url=https://www.kogakuin-koyukai.jp/kogakuin/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/No98all.pdf |access-date=2 May 2025 |magazine=Kōyūkai Hō |publisher=工学院大学校友会 |pages=11–15 |language=ja |volume=27 |issue=98}}</ref>
It is said that the that the wood used for the shrine was a “[[Shinboku#Construction tree|sacred tree]]” from deep within the [[Leuser Range|Aceh mountains]], supplied by the {{ill|Showa Rubber branch|lt=|ja|昭和ゴム}} in Medan during the military occupation, and that Dutch prisoners of war and ''[[Rōmusha|rōmusha's]]'' were employed in its construction, making it possibly one of the only shrines built by Christians.<ref name=":2" /> One of them was Dutch poet and writer, {{ill|Willem Brandt|nl|Willem Brandt}}. In his work, ''De gele terreur'' in 1946, he once described the condition:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Klooster |first=Willem Simon Brand |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6159577M/De_gele_terreur |title=De gele terreur |date= |publisher=W. van Hoeve |year=1946 |edition=1st |location=Den Haag |lccn=54016641 |oclc=23409584 |ol=OL6159577M}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last=Kousbroek |first=Rudy |date=1980-08-01 |title=Duizend Jaar Nadenken |url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&identifier=KBNRC01:000027450:mpeg21:p015&pres%5Bmaxperpage%5D=36 |work=[[NRC Handelsblad]] |pages=15 |via=delpher.nl}}</ref>{{Blockquote|text="Everything is [[Japanization|Japanified]], — Has Sumatra not become part of Japan? The avenues and streets bear unpronounceable Japanese names. Prisoners of war were put to work in the experimental garden of the Deli Proefstation to dig a lotus pond, to lay out a Japanese park, with terraces and a temple..."}}
During the war, ceremonies were held at the Hirohara Shrine on the 1st and 15th of every month, with the 8th day designated for the ''{{ill|Taishō Hōtai no Hi|ja|大詔奉戴日}}'' ({{Langx|ja|大詔奉戴日|translit=|4=Day of Reverently Upholding the Great Imperial Rescript.}}), commemorating Japan's [[Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire|declaration of war]] on the [[United States]] and the [[British Empire]]. Military personnel would visit to pray for victory, subsequently worshipping the {{ill|Miyagi Yōhai|ja|宮城遥拝|italic=Miyagi Yohai}} ({{Langx|ja|宮城遥拝}}), a practice of bowing to the general direction of the [[Japanese imperial family]] (''Miyagi'') from afar.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=『 紘原（ひろはら）神社』 |url=https://ameblo.jp/kakek/entry-10864061978.html |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=１０００都物語 |language=ja}}</ref> This practice seemed peculiar to the predominantly Muslim population of Medan, who pray [[Qibla|towards]] Mecca (''Kiblat'') five times daily. During the occupation, some Japanese soldiers compelled residents, even foreigners in POW camps, to worship the Japanese imperial family from a distance, causing friction as doing ''Miyagi Yōhai ''is eastward, the exact opposite direction of [[Mecca]] in the west.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":113">{{Cite book |last=Saito |first=Shizuo |url=https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/673871439 |title=私の軍政記 : インドネシア独立前夜 |date=1 March 1977 |publisher=Japan Indonesia Association |asin= |oclc=673871439}}</ref> Although the basics of Islam were initially taught to the top executives of Japan's military government, this education was not thoroughly implemented, leading to issues.
[[Shizuo Saito]], a former ambassador to Indonesia and Australia<ref>{{cite news |date=6 December 1969 |title=Japanese envoy named. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107907318 |access-date=21 January 2016 |newspaper=[[Canberra Times|The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)]] |publisher=National Library of Australia |location=ACT |page=3}}</ref> and a military administrator for the former Japanese Army (part of the ''Gunseikanbu Somubu'') during the war,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isnaeni |first=Hendri F. |date=2013-09-16 |title=Peran Sakura Dalam Prahara 1965 |url=https://www.historia.id/article/peran-sakura-dalam-prahara-1965-dodqv |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Historia.ID |language=id}}</ref> cited in his writings; the "systematization of hair cutting," the "forced use of the [[Japanese language]]," and the "compulsory worship toward the Imperial Palace" as concrete examples of the Japanese military administration's ill repute. He stated that the locals were encouraged to visit the shrine and were made to worship east.<ref name=":113" /> Despite the destruction of these shrines by the Japanese army and locals at the end of the war, the Hirohara Shrine inexplicably remained intact. Given the limited construction during the three-year Japanese occupation of Indonesia, the Hirohara Shrine is considered a significant historical structure.<ref name=":3" />
=== Medan club === [[File:Outline of Hirohara Shrine 1945.tif|thumb|Outline of Hirohara shrine prior to its dismantling (1945)]] In the aftermath of [[Surrender of Japan|Japan's surrender]], an attempt was made to dismantle the shrine from 26 August to 31 August 1945 under the orders from the [[Home Ministry]], as to avoid the desecration of the shrine. The dismantling of the shrine was underway when it was supervised by Suzuki Hiroyuki himself, who stayed in Medan along the course of the war.<ref name=":11" /> Both the ''honden'' and ''haiden,'' and other small shrines on the site, were successfully dismantled. The process was abruptly ended when British forces immediately began [[Battle of Medan|landing]] at [[Port of Belawan|Belawan]] in 9 October and blitzed their way to the city of Medan,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reid |first=Anthony |title=The blood of the people: revolution and the end of traditional rule in northern Sumatra |date=2014 |publisher=NUS Press |isbn=978-9971-69-637-5 |edition=Second |location=Singapore |pages=158–159}}</ref> facing little to no resistance and denying any movement for the Japanese to properly undertake any decisive actions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raliby |first=Osman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IHwLAQAAIAAJ |title=Documenta historica: sedjarah dokumenter dari pertumbuhan dan perdjuangan negara Republik Indonesia |date=1953 |publisher=Bulan-Bintang |location=Djakarta |pages=52 |language=id |lccn=56033758 |oclc=11928099 |ol=OL6209293M}}</ref> Medanese locals had also opposed the destruction of the shrine, which slowed progress by the Japanese Army.<ref name=":19" /> As a result, most infrastructure and buildings in Medan, including the ''shamusho'', remained relatively intact. In the next year, Suzuki Hiroyuki went back to Japan.<ref name=":11" /> During the occupation of the city of Medan by the [[Allies]], the building was repurposed as a Dutch [[White supremacy|white supremacist]] clubhouse known as [[De Witte Societeit|''De Witte Sociëteit'']] ([[English language|English]]: The White Society.)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Pembelian Medan Club: "Lemahnya Dinas Kominfo Sumut" |url=https://www.agiodeli.id/2023/02/pembelian-medan-club-lemahnya-dinas.html |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=AgioDeli.id |language=id}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-30 |title=White Society |url=https://storiesfromdeli.com/2020/09/30/white-society/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Stories from Deli |language=en}}</ref> ''De Witte Sociëteit'' was established in 1879, serving as a gathering place for the white, Dutch [[Totok]]s, [[Chinese Indonesians|Chinese]], high-ranking land owners of Deli, and the [[Tuanku Sultan Otteman II|Sultan of Deli]] himself;<ref name=":0" /> no [[Native Indonesians|''Inlander'']] and dogs would be allowed in.<ref name=":1" /> Their first clubhouse was located adjacent to the main post office of Medan (now the [[Bank Central Asia|Bank BCA]]). The Club House was initially conceived as a convivial space for Dutch [[plantation]] owners where they could assemble for recreational activities. This encompassed partaking in beverages such as coffee, engaging in smoking, and participating in discussions from literature and business to politics, art, and culture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2013 |title=1879 Club house of the Witte Societeit, Medan |url=https://tembakaudeli.blogspot.com/2013/03/1879-club-house-of-witte-societeit-medan.html |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=1879 Club house of the Witte Societeit, Medan ~ Tembakau Deli}}</ref>
[[File:Dr. Hidayat Medan Club Majalah Varianada Edisi 87 Tahun 1972.jpg|thumb|Medan club in 1972, used as a competition venue. Dr. Hidayat, the co-owner of the Medan Club at this time, is on the left.]] Following the departure of the Dutch from Indonesia, former military members Dr. Soekarja, Dr. Hariono, and Dr. Ibrahim Irsan took over this clubhouse building and renamed it "Medan Club". The Medan Club was an exclusive establishment for the upper echelons of Medan society. Membership is required to access the Medan Club's facilities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":19" /> During the 1980s, the Medan Club building underwent extensive renovations aimed at preserving its original structure and architectural features. The renovation was intended to ensure the longevity of the building, which at the time was over 80 years old, while also adapting it to remain relevant in the modern era after the reutilisation of the building from a shrine to a [[Gentlemen's club|clubhouse]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-11-07 |title=Sejarah Gedung Medan Club: Ikon Sejarah Kota Medan |url=https://archipelagoid.com/sejarah-gedung-medan-club-ikon-sejarah-kota-medan/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Archipelago Indonesia |language=en-US}}</ref> The Medan Club foundation, a foundation formerly owned by 150-200 members, that runs the operation, administration and upkeep of the former shrine, claims financial difficulties,<ref name=":0" /> with income derived only from monthly member fees and high operational costs. This led the delinquent absence in paying property tax since 2009, with a total debt of Rp.964,154,774, including late payment fines. The Medan Revenue Service has sent four tax invoices since 2013 and had plans to issue another one later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redaksi |title=Medan Club Tunggak PBB 6 Tahun - Sumut Pos |url=https://sumutpos.jawapos.com/metropolis/2374269937/medan-club-tunggak-pbb-6-tahun |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Medan Club Tunggak PBB 6 Tahun - Sumut Pos |language=id}}</ref>
Amids financial difficulties, in 2018, the owners of the Medan Club opened the Medan Club to the public and turned the Medan club from an exclusive members only club into a high-end restaurant and meeting venue.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Redaksi |title=Pembangunan Tempat Hiburan Malam di Medan Club, IMB dan Peruntukannya sebagai Restoran - Sumut Pos |url=https://sumutpos.jawapos.com/metropolis/2374317899/pembangunan-tempat-hiburan-malam-di-medan-club-imb-dan-peruntukannya-sebagai-restoran |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Pembangunan Tempat Hiburan Malam di Medan Club, IMB dan Peruntukannya sebagai Restoran - Sumut Pos |language=id}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Using this option, on August 6, 2018, a seminar was held by the {{ill|Consulate-General of Japan in Medan|ja|在メダン日本国総領事館}} at the Medan Club, featuring various dignitaries as speakers to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between [[Japan]] and Indonesia. Attendants included university representatives, Japanese-Indonesia associations, [[Toyohashi]] city mayor {{ill|Koichi Sahara|ja|佐原光一}}, [[House of Representatives (Indonesia)|DPR-RI]] Senator {{ill|Parlindungan Purba|id|Parlindungan Purba}}, and others. The celebration included cultural promotions such as [[Japanese calligraphy|Shodō]], [[Japanese tea ceremony|Sadō]], [[Furoshiki|Furoshiki Wrapping]], as well as performance arts such as [[Yosakoi|Yosakoi dance]] and [[karate]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 August 2018 |title=Acara Peringatan 60 Tahun Hubungan Diplomatik Jepang – Indonesia |url=https://www.medan.id.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_id/b_000272.html |website=Konsulat Jenderal Jepang di Medan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Promosikan Kebudayaan Jepang pada Warga Medan |url=https://analisadaily.com/berita/arsip/2018/8/9/599475/promosikan-kebudayaan-jepang-pada-warga-medan/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Analisadaily.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=26 July 2018 |title=Acara Peringatan 60 Tahun Hubungan Diplomatik Jepang–Indonesia |url=https://www.medan.id.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_id/b_000264.html |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=Konsulat Jenderal Jepang di Medan}}</ref>
A year later, the owners then intended to retool the club into a '[[Nightlife|night life]]' entertainment club. The sudden retooling brought scrutiny as the Medan club has not obtained the necessary business license for operating as a night entertainment venue and was only permitted under a restaurant license.<ref name=":10" /> Amidst financial difficulties and the high cost of maintaining the shrine building, the Club find itself at the brink of bankruptcy.
== Possible demolition == On 28 October 2021, the former shrine was officially designated as a cultural heritage site by the Medan City Government. This recognition was based on Medan City Government Decree (SK) number 433 of 2021, issued by Mayor [[Bobby Nasution]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Dibeli Pemprov Sumut, Medan Club Sudah Ditetapkan Sebagai Cagar Budaya oleh Pemko Medan |url=https://medan.tribunnews.com/2023/01/23/dibeli-pemprov-sumut-medan-club-sudah-ditetapkan-sebagai-cagar-budaya-oleh-pemko-medan |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Tribun-medan.com |language=id-ID}}</ref> Unexpectedly on 9 July, the provincial government bars the selling of the land to any third party other than the provincial government themselves. Then governor of North Sumatra, [[Edy Rahmayadi]], revealed the plan of the [[North Sumatra]] Provincial Government to buy Medan Club. Deeming it necessary to develop the land and expand office facilities for the benefit of local government and the community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasaribu |first=Benny |date=9 July 2021 |title=Gubernur Edy Ungkap Rencana Pemprov Sumut Beli Medan Club |url=https://medanbisnisdaily.com/news/online/read/2021/07/09/138895/gubernur_edy_ungkap_rencana_pemprov_sumut_beli_medan_club/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Benny Pasaribu - MedanBisnisDaily.com |language=id}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2021 |editor-last=Argus |editor-first=Array A. |title=Lahan Medan Club Mau Dijual, Edy Rahmayadi Sebut Pemprov Sumut yang Harus Beli |url=https://medan.tribunnews.com/2021/07/10/lahan-medan-club-mau-dijual-edy-rahmayadi-sebut-pemprov-sumut-yang-harus-beli |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Tribun-medan.com |language=id-ID}}</ref> Though a spokesperson vaguely stated that the purchase of the Medan Club won't necessarily result in "its disappearance," intending to buy other plots near the building to replace it.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Rachmad |first=Edy |date=2021-07-07 |title=Perluasan Kantor, Pemprovsu Berencana Beli Medan Club |url=https://www.beritasore.co.id/berita-utama/perluasan-kantor-pemprovsu-berencana-beli-medan-club/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=beritasore.co.id |language=id}}</ref> The land was agreed to be bought for over Rp.457 billion (or $28,567,070.00 in USD) and has been estimated in the 2022 North Sumatran [[:id:Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah|Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget]] (APBD) amounting to Rp.300 billion and the rest Rp.157 billion more, estimated in the 2023 North Sumatran APBD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pemprov Sumut Klaim Sudah Beli Lahan Medan Club, Akan Dijadikan Kantor Satu Atap |url=https://medan.tribunnews.com/2022/12/22/pemprov-sumut-klaim-sudah-beli-lahan-medan-club-akan-dijadikan-kantor-satu-atap |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Tribun-medan.com |language=id-ID}}</ref> The purchase brought in criticism, starting from the urgency for the benefit of the people of North Sumatra, to the price.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-23 |title=Pembelian Lahan Medan Club Dinilai Terlalu Mahal, Ini Penjelasan Setdaprovsu - Berita Ter Update Hari Ini |url=https://kliktodaynews.com/sumut/medan/pembelian-lahan-medan-club-dinilai-terlalu-mahal-ini-penjelasan-setdaprovsu/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |language=id-ID}}</ref> Edy spoke up to this criticism by saying that had the land was not purchased, the Medan Club's land could have been rebuilt as a hotel, apartment or plaza. He further argued, "Imagine a building that could be 50 floors high while the government building is only 10 floors; imagine that."<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-24 |title=Beli Medan Club Lalu Digugat Ke Pengadilan Negeri, Gubsu Tak Ambil Pusing |url=https://mistar.id/news/medan/beli-medan-club-lalu-digugat-ke-pengadilan-negeri-gubsu-tak-ambil-pusing/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Harian Mistar |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2023 |title=Ahli Waris Sultan Deli Gugat Penjualan Medan Club, Gubsu: Biarkan Aja, Suka-suka Dia |url=https://sumutpos.jawapos.com/metropolis/amp/2374352251/ahli-waris-sultan-deli-gugat-penjualan-medan-club-gubsu-biarkan-aja-sukasuka-dia |website=Sumut Pos}}</ref> He also planned to purchase an old house beside the former shrine.<ref name=":16" />
The purchasing mechanism was also said to be violating the rules as the Shrine was built on the lands owned by the [[Sultanate of Deli]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Gunawan |first=Indra |title=Isu panas pembelian Medan Club, Pemprov Sumut mengaku dapat pendampingan hukum dari Kejaksaan - Sumatera Insider |url=https://www.sumaterainsider.com/sumatera/pr-9326498301/isu-panas-pembelian-medan-club-pemprov-sumut-mengaku-dapat-pendampingan-hukum-dari-kejaksaan |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Sumatera Insider |language=id}}</ref> who was thought to have never been compensated. The Suka Piring Administration and those representing the heirs of the Sultan of Deli sued the Medan Club Association Management for more than IDR 442.9 billion at the Medan District Court (PN). Akhmad Syamrah, a spokes person for the Suka Piring, claimed that the land that would be used for the expansion of the North Sumatra Governor's Office still belongs to the Deli indigenous community, as it was formerly given to the ''[[Deli Maatschappij|Medan Deli Maatschappij]]'' as a [[Concessions and leases in international relations|Concession]] by the sultanate. Based on Law No. 86 of 1958, all land and buildings that were once controlled and operated by the Dutch were then nationalized by the Indonesian Government and declared to be state property. However it is uncertain whether the Medan Club takeover from the ''De Witte Sociëteit'' was the result of nationalization or a takeover.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritonga |first=Rechtin Hani |date=23 January 2023 |title=Digugat ke PN Medan Karena Beli Lahan Medan Club, Gubernur Edy Rahmayadi: Suka-suka Dia - Halaman 2 - Tribun-medan.com |url=https://medan.tribunnews.com/2023/01/23/digugat-ke-pn-medan-karena-beli-lahan-medan-club-gubernur-edy-rahmayadi-suka-suka-dia |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=medan.tribunnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritonga |first=Rechtin Hani |date=23 January 2023 |title=Gubernur Edy Rahmayadi dan Pengurus Yayasan Medan Club Digugat Kedatukan Suka Piring ke PN Medan |url=https://medan.tribunnews.com/2023/01/23/gubernur-edy-rahmayadi-dan-pengurus-yayasan-medan-club-digugat-kedatukan-suka-piringke-pn-medan |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Tribun-medan.com |language=id-ID}}</ref> After time, the issue was deemed to be legal after a ruling by the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Lubis |first=Ahmad Arfah Fansuri |title=Pemprov Beli Medan Club Rp 457 M untuk Perluasan Kantor Gubsu |url=https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-6475724/pemprov-beli-medan-club-rp-457-m-untuk-perluasan-kantor-gubsu |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=detiksumut |language=id-ID}}</ref>
On 16 January 2023, the barrier between the former shrine and the provincial office has been destroyed,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simbolon |first=Radja P. |date=2023-01-16 |title=Tembok pembatas Medan Club dirubuhkan usai pelunasan lahan |url=https://topmetro.news/165241/pemprov-sumut-robohkan-tembok-pembatas-kantor-gubernur-dengan-eks-medan-club/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Topmetro News |language=id}}</ref> intending to use the land for parking space and local social activities for the time being.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Bangunan Eks Medan Club, Difungsikan Sementara Kegiatan Sosial bagi Masyarakat - Sumut Pos |url=https://sumutpos.jawapos.com/metropolis/2374352126/bangunan-eks-medan-club-difungsikan-sementara-kegiatan-sosial-bagi-masyarakat |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Bangunan Eks Medan Club, Difungsikan Sementara Kegiatan Sosial bagi Masyarakat - Sumut Pos |language=id}}</ref> In the aftermath of the destroyed barrier, the legality of the demolition is in question, whether the provincial government could destroy a cultural heritage site given its heritage status. Isnen Fitri, a professor to the [[University of North Sumatra]], gives a neutral perspective on the purchase. She believes that it is the government's job to develop the land of the Medan Club as a heritage site, stipulated in Government Regulation Number 1 of 2022 and Ministerial Regulation Number 19 of 2021. Though also noting that the demolition of the site would violate the law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aditya |title=Pengamat Lingkungan Ini Sebut Jual - Beli Medan Club Diduga Penentangan UU Cagar Budaya |url=https://www.kabarriau.com/berita/8393/pengamat-lingkungan-ini-sebut-jual-beli-medan-club-diduga-penentangan-uu-cagar-budaya |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.kabarriau.com |language=id}}</ref> She added that buildings such as the ''shamusho'' and cities are dynamic and not static and thus, methods like allowing changes in ownership and function are vital to accommodating and ensuring that historic buildings remain visible today. Though nether at a point of total conservation or destruction.<ref name=":11" /> {{ill|Ichwan Azhari|id|Ichwan Azhari}} believes that the Cultural Heritage Law could be violated but the law states that one is not allowed to damage or replace anything in the building, including the building itself and its surrounding environment.<ref name=":9" />
On 30 October 2024, the cost overrun over Rp.457 billion was later criticised by then Mayor Bobby Nasution Bobby during the [[2024 North Sumatra gubernatorial election]] debate. He questioned the priority of the budget, considering that such large funds could be allocated for free health programmes for the community through [[Universal health care|Universal Health Coverage]] (UHC).<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 October 2024 |title=Bobby: Kenapa Pak Edy Beli Medan Club Dibanding Gratiskan Pengobatan? |url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20241030225444-617-1161376/bobby-kenapa-pak-edy-beli-medan-club-dibanding-gratiskan-pengobatan? |work=CNN Indonesia}}</ref> The building lay unused as the government uses its land for government activities and local market festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gubsu Bobby Minta Izin ke Wali Kota Medan, Ingin Jadikan Jl Nibung Raya Pusat Jajanan Malam |url=https://medan.tribunnews.com/2025/05/27/gubsu-bobby-minta-izin-ke-wali-kota-medan-ingin-jadikan-jl-nibung-raya-pusat-jajanan-malam |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Tribun-medan.com |language=id-ID}}</ref> Deputy Chair of Commission A of the [[North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives|North Sumatra DPRD]], [[Zeira Salim Ritonga]], also urged the government to use the building to its maximum potential, given its price tag, sudgesting it should be used as a government service office, such as for regional tax and levies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Panjaitan |first=Johan |title=DPRD Sumut Minta Eks Medan Club Bisa Digunakan Maksimal - Sumut Pos |url=https://sumutpos.jawapos.com/sumatera-utara/2376347476/dprd-sumut-minta-eks-medan-club-bisa-digunakan-maksimal |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=DPRD Sumut Minta Eks Medan Club Bisa Digunakan Maksimal - Sumut Pos |language=id}}</ref> On 5 March 2025, Isnen Fitri stated that the ''Shamusho'' building is currently run by a foundation but under-optimized, and argued it should be revitalized through adaptive reuse so its historical value is preserved while generating income, for example via café or [[Boutique hotel|boutique-hotel]] style programming.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tarigan |first=Theo Fidelis |date=2025-03-05 |title=Raising Awareness on the Importance of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Architecture |url=https://sps.usu.ac.id/en/news/raising-awareness-on-the-importance-of-cultural-heritage-preservation-in-architecture |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Postgraduate School (SPS) Universitas Sumatera Utara |publisher=Universitas Sumatera Utara |language=en}}</ref>
On 8 May 2025, amidst heavy rain, a large old tree fell on the former Medan Cub land, damaging the nearby iron wire fence of the tennis court. Due to the tree's size, the shrine area was evacuated, and a crane was required to remove it.<ref name="pilarmerdeka.com">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=Pohon Tumbang di Eks Medan Club Sisakan Bongkahan Akar |url=https://pilarmerdeka.com/pohon-tumbang-di-eks-medan-club-sisakan-bongkahan/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=id}}</ref> Due to the falling, parts of the North-West roofing were damaged, leaving a hole in its wooden roofing.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=Medan |first=Cagar Budaya |title=Medan Club |url=https://cagarbudayamedan.com/sites/medan-club |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=Cagar Budaya Medan |language=id}}</ref>
On 16 November 2025, the North Sumatra Provincial Government plans to hand over the land (and two others) to {{ill|Bank Sumut|id|Bank Sumut}} as part of a capital-injection strategy to strengthen the bank's capital base and maintain a >51% provincial ownership stake. Payment for the land was split into two installments: Rp 300 billion in 2022 and Rp 157 billion in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aldi |first=Nizar |title=Dibeli Rp 457 M Masa Edy, Lahan Medan Club Mau Diserahkan Bobby ke Bank Sumut |url=https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-8213341/dibeli-rp-457-m-masa-edy-lahan-medan-club-mau-diserahkan-bobby-ke-bank-sumut |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=detiksumut |language=id-ID}}</ref> Though, on 26 November 2025, the [[North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives|North Sumatra]] [[Prosperous Justice Party]] (PKS) faction urged the provincial government to remove the former shrine from its proposal to inject regional assets as non-cash capital into Bank Sumut because the property is seen as risky and potentially burdensome. PKS says the former Medan Club site has very high [[Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property|rehabilitation costs]] (approximately Rp 100 billion), is limited in use, and could trigger losses for the bank instead of strengthening its finances. The party also rejects its use of any retooling of functions due to its historical and heritage status. The party argues that including such an asset could weaken Bank Sumut's [[financial ratio]]s and recommends selling problematic assets first and contributing cash instead.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ismail |date=2025-11-26 |title=PKS Desak Pemprov Coret PRSU dan Medan Club dari Skema Inbreng Bank Sumut |url=https://medan.inews.id/read/655097/pks-desak-pemprov-coret-prsu-dan-medan-club-dari-skema-inbreng-bank-sumut |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=iNews Medan |location=Medan |language=id}}</ref> Even so, at the Rapat Umum Pemegang Saham Luar Biasa (RUPS-LB) for Bank Sumut on 30 December 2025, shareholders approved including provincial assets as ''inbreng'' (non-cash capital) into the bank, and among the assets listed for that purpose were Medan Club, {{ill|Pеkan Raуa Sumatеra Utara|id|Pеkan Raуa Sumatеra Utara}}, and the office building of the provincial Industry, [[Ministry of Trade (Indonesia)|Trade]] and [[Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources|ESDM]] Office.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2026-02-11 |title=RUPS LB: Badan Hukum Bank Sumut Berubah, Ketua PWNU Diusulkan Jadi Dewan Pengawas Syariah |url=https://www.drberita.id/ekonomi/rups-lb-badan-hukum-bank-sumut-berubah-ketua-pwnu-diusulkan-jadi-dewan-pengawas-syariah/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=DRberita.ID |language=id}}</ref> On 7 March 2026, another tree at the site was cut down, drawing criticism over whether the felling had been supported by technical and academic assessments establishing that the tree was dead, dangerous, or interfering with the structure of the heritage site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-07 |title=Usut Penebangan Pohon di Lokasi Cagar Budaya Medan Club Kota Medan Di Duga Tanpa Kajian Akademik |url=https://majalahceo.id/usut-penebangan-pohon-di-lokasi-cagar-budaya-medan-club-kota-medan-di-duga-tanpa-kajian-akademik/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=MajalahCEO Indonesia |language=id}}</ref>
The future of the former shrine is uncertain, with its complete demolition being a possibility. Plans are underway to construct a multi-purpose building on this site, serving as a hub for public services, permits, and other administrative functions. The Detailed Engineering Design (DED) for the building is currently being prepared, with an estimated budget of around Rp500 million.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Ritonga |first=Rechtin Hani |title=Pemprov Sumut Mulai Gunakan Medan Club |url=https://medanbisnisdaily.com/news/online/read/2023/01/16/165515/pemprov_sumut_mulai_gunakan_medan_club/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Benny Pasaribu - MedanBisnisDaily.com |language=id}}</ref> The North Sumatra Provincial Government is currently lobbying for the [[Perindo Party]]'s building, located right next to the Medan Club, to sell its land.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Putra |first=Bagus S. |date=2023-01-16 |title=Usai Lahan Medan Club Dibeli, Pemprov Sumut Lakukan Detail Gambar Kerja |url=https://medan.viva.co.id/sumut/191-usai-lahan-medan-club-dibeli-pemprov-sumut-lakukan-detail-gambar-kerja |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=medan.viva.co.id |language=id}}</ref> As the area including the shrine itself was designated as an office zone and the maximum building height for the area being 13 floors according to the City Regional Regulation No. 2/2015 on the Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR) and Zoning Regulations of Medan City 2015–2035.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":7" />
== Structure == {{Multiple image | total_width = | image1 = Hirohara Haiden floorplan.jpg | image2 = Hirohara Shamusho floorplan.jpg | caption1 = | caption2 = The ''shamusho's'' floor plan | direction = vertical }} The club's premises, which likely encompass the site of the old main shrine, feature Western-style partitioned rooms where members can eat local and western foods. Although the ''[[torii]]'' gate has been removed, careful observation reveals remnants of its past shrine aesthetics. Several ancient trees, believed to have been part of the original temple grounds, still stand on the property.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> According to Eswin Soekardja, the land encompassing the building used to be as large as 148,500 square metres<ref name=":19" /> or 1.5 hectares (now 1.4 hectares),<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14" /> including a golf course that may have previously been the shrine's garden,<ref name=":13" /> extending to the [[Deli River]].<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":13" /> The modern-day buildings encompassing the former shrine area are now the Medan State High School 1 (SMA Negeri 1 Medan), the former Balai Kartini building, and the Istana Koki restaurant.<ref name=":19" />
The s''hamusho'' (社務所, ''shrine office''), still remains the same, albeit partially altered.<ref name=":6" /> Noticeably the flooring of the shrine; now ceramic tiling rather than wood paneling for the earthen floor.<ref name=":5" /> It is thought that the shrine does not have a ''[[Honden]]'' (本殿, ''main hall'')<ref name=":6" /> Though this might be the fact that it was destroyed by later redevelopments in the area. The shrine used to formerly have a pond across the street to what is now an intersection,<ref name=":11" /> estimated to be around 8 metres diameter.<ref name=":19" /> According to the Medan Heritage Organization, the building exhibits a hybrid architectural style, combining elements from both Japanese and Malay traditions. The roof, portico, and veranda handrail details reflect influences from traditional [[Japanese architecture]], while the [[Stilt house|columns]] supporting the elevated floor are characteristic of [[Malay architecture|Malay construction]] techniques.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medan Club |url=http://medan.m-heritage.org/results/medan_club/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518220111/http://medan.m-heritage.org/results/medan_club/index.html |archive-date=18 May 2016 |access-date=2 May 2025 |website=Medan Heritage}}</ref> The only change the Dutch made during their takeover was adding windows, rather than leaving the shrine space as an open-air building. The remaining ''shamusho'' building housed administrative work areas, guest rooms, meeting rooms, an auditorium, a warehouse, accommodation for [[Shinto priest|priests]], employee housing, a kitchen, and other support spaces.<ref name=":19" />
The exact main purpose of the shrine remains unclear, as the ''honden'' (and possibly the ''haiden'') were destroyed and very little information exists. Researchers from the [[University of Kanagawa]] who visited the site initially hypothesized that the shrine was used to honor the war dead, known as a [[Gokoku Shrines|''Gokoku'' shrine]] (formerly ''[[Shokonsha]]''). Though it might as well suggest that the ''honden'' enshrines [[Amaterasu Ōmikami]], the Sun Goddess and highest deity in [[Shinto]], making it a [[Shinmei shrines|''shinmei'' shrine]].<ref name=":6" /> And that the ''[[Haiden (Shinto)|Haiden]] (''拝殿, ''worship hall'') was used to pray for the welfare of the Japanese and Indonesian people. Though to Ito Masatoshi of [[Nihon University]], such shrines would not be created for the benefit and welfare of the locals but rather for political reasons as praying towards Amaterasu held the same footing as praying to the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] at that time.<ref name=":11" />
Once infamous Dutch poet and writer, [[Rudy Kousbroek]], visited the former shrine during his work for [[NRC Handelsblad]] in the 1980s. He described the former shrine as "possessing the sophistication of simplicity, modesty, and silence. Its unadorned surfaces, natural proportions, and raw wood evoked an aesthetic that had been cultivated over a thousand years, devoid of any display of power, ostentation, or vulgarity."<ref name=":15" /> Later stating on his first visit:{{Blockquote|text="Here in Sumatra, I stared at it in amazement: it was the first time I saw two worlds coincide, worlds that are better kept separate for one's peace of mind. It reminded me of the Japanese I encountered during the war. They must have looked at this, at that wooden veranda, those red lacquered stairs. They must have celebrated their victories here, sat on this plank floor, and perhaps even enjoyed it. This time, it's not different people, but the same ones. The same individuals who built the [[Sumatra Railway|Pakanbaroe railway]] also built this hall. By the same prisoners of war."<ref name=":15" />}}
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Hirohara Jinja officer wedding photo.jpg|Wedding ceremony group photo. Front row, second from left, the mediator, Lieutenant General {{ill|Tetsuzo Nakajima|ja|中島鉄蔵}} and to his right, [[Itoko Koyama]], who was in Medan as a [[military writer]] (April 7, 1944.)<ref name=":6" /> File:Hirohara Jinja main building.jpg|Hirohara Jinja's ''[[Haiden (Shinto)|haiden]]'' (拝殿) with visible ''[[tamagaki]]'' (玉垣) ({{Circa|1944}}) File:Hirohara tamagushi.jpg|A ''[[Kannushi]]'' performs a shrine ''[[Tamagushi]]'' ceremony during the construction of the ''shamusho'' (社務所) of the Hirohara shrine ({{Circa|1944}})<ref name=":5" /> File:Shamusho hall above stage.jpg|Same side view of the ''shamusho'' today, now an indoor area. Identified by the ''shamusho's'' low sideroof [[Overhang (architecture)|overhang]] and the wood structuring of the [[gable]] wall. The visible elevation step remains present, now as a wall (bottom right) File:Old view of Hirohara office and supporting building.jpg|Hirohara Shrine complex from afar. File:Old front view of Hirohara office.jpg|Old front view of the ''shamusho.'' File:Hirohara Jinja's Haiden.jpg|Hirohara Jinja, second building File:Side view of the Haiden.jpg|Sideview of the ''Shamusho''. Terrace mounds still visible File:Haiden front Balcony 6.jpg|''Shamusho'' front balcony. Stairs likely made at a later date File:Haiden front Balcony 8.jpg|''Shamusho'' front balcony garden view File:Haiden front Balcony 5.jpg|''Shamusho'' front balcony wood works File:Shamusho Roofing.jpg|Entrance roofing. Notice the usage of [[Thatching|straw roofing]] (''Kayabuki'') File:Shamusho Interior.jpg|Interior of the ''shamusho'' File:Haiden interior 3.jpg|Interior of the hall (back) File:Haiden interior 2.jpg|Interior of the hall (front) File:Haiden hallway 6.jpg|''Shamusho'' backside. Wooden railings on what was formerly a balcony still visible File:Grand tree of the Medan shamusho.jpg|Old trees line the back of the ''shamusho''. The large tree that once towered over the shrine area fell on 8 May 2025.<ref name="pilarmerdeka.com" /> File:Hirohara Shine Roof Damage.jpg|Roof damage incurred by the tree falling ({{Circa|2026}}) File:Below the haiden 2.jpg|Lower section of the second building, showing the original support structure alongside modern concrete additions. </gallery>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{portal bar|Japan|Indonesia}} {{Shinto shrine}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Medan]] [[Category:Cultural Properties of Indonesia in North Sumatra]] [[Category:Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies]] [[Category:Shinto shrines completed in the 20th century]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Indonesia]] [[Category:Shinto shrines in the Japanese colonial empire]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1944]] [[Category:1944 establishments in the Japanese colonial empire]] [[Category:Temples in Indonesia]]