Best quote from Sun Yat-sen and the Spirit of Kobe: History of the Ijokaku Villa
Kobe is not just a port town—you’re walking through a sanctuary for reformers and dreamers, a place that has repeatedly proven its heart through fire and earthquakes.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
I'm going to visit Kobe, Japan, for one and a half days. I plan to visit the downtown area and enjoy hot springs at Arima Onsen. I've heard a lot about the beauty of the area and the local cuisine, like Kobe beef, but I am particularly interested in the history of Kobe. I noticed there is a Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Museum there as well, and I wonder if there is more of that history I should know about. I am Chinese Taiwanese.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ijokaku, often referred to as the Hexagonal Building, is a striking three-story octagonal structure located on the Kobe coast near the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It serves as a memorial to the 1913 state visit of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. During this visit, the Chinese community in Kobe hosted a legendary welcome lunch for him at the private villa of merchant Wu Jintang, fostering a deep historical connection between Sun Yat-sen and the local community.
Wu Jintang was a wealthy merchant in Kobe who owned the villa where Dr. Sun Yat-sen was welcomed as an official state guest on March 14, 1913. Inspired by the meeting of minds during that historic lunch, Wu Jintang later built the Ijokaku annex. This elegant pavilion stands today as a testament to their connection and the vibrant history of the Chinese community in Japan during the early 20th century.
The memorial building, known as the Ijokaku or the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, is situated right on the coast by the massive Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It is easily recognizable by its traditional Chinese architectural style, which looks like a classic landscape painting brought to life. Visitors can explore this site to see where the 1913 welcome lunch took place and enjoy the unique visual contrast between the historic pavilion and the modern suspension bridge.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
