Yokohama Specie Bank - Hankow - 1921
Cnr The Bund & Fau Cheung Rd, Hankow
Although a private bank, the Yokohama Specie Bank (est. 1880) was Japan's de-facto official banker for its foreign trade and in particular, for Japanese business interests in China; as well as its presence in Hankow, it had offices throughout the Treaty ports including Shanghai (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2857775897/ ), Tientsin (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/5224043732 ) and Shameen, Canton (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2977776671/ ). Further afield, by 1908 it had offices, amongst other places, in London, New York, Bombay, Port Arthur and Dalny.
The Hankow branch had been opened in 1907 and the original building can be seen at the page of fellow flickrite Richard Wong at www.flickr.com/photos/57081097@N03/5265997562 .
Although this bank was located in the financial district in the British Concession, the Japanese had their own Concession area a little further north along the bund, set up in 1898 after the Sino-Japanese War. At the time, the Japanese had ambitions as a world power and aligned itself in the early years of the 20th century with the European powers in China. During the Boxer Rebellion (1900), Japanese marines fought alongside western soldiers in the defence of foreign interests in northern China.
Like many of the western buildings in Hankow, this bank was designed by the prolific British firm of achitects based in Hankow, Messrs Hemmings & Berkley.
Yokohama Specie Bank - Hankow - 1921
Cnr The Bund & Fau Cheung Rd, Hankow
Although a private bank, the Yokohama Specie Bank (est. 1880) was Japan's de-facto official banker for its foreign trade and in particular, for Japanese business interests in China; as well as its presence in Hankow, it had offices throughout the Treaty ports including Shanghai (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2857775897/ ), Tientsin (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/5224043732 ) and Shameen, Canton (see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2977776671/ ). Further afield, by 1908 it had offices, amongst other places, in London, New York, Bombay, Port Arthur and Dalny.
The Hankow branch had been opened in 1907 and the original building can be seen at the page of fellow flickrite Richard Wong at www.flickr.com/photos/57081097@N03/5265997562 .
Although this bank was located in the financial district in the British Concession, the Japanese had their own Concession area a little further north along the bund, set up in 1898 after the Sino-Japanese War. At the time, the Japanese had ambitions as a world power and aligned itself in the early years of the 20th century with the European powers in China. During the Boxer Rebellion (1900), Japanese marines fought alongside western soldiers in the defence of foreign interests in northern China.
Like many of the western buildings in Hankow, this bank was designed by the prolific British firm of achitects based in Hankow, Messrs Hemmings & Berkley.