1935–1945: Marunouchi

The Club’s second home of two buildings combined into one was expertly remodeled by Mitsubishi Real Estate (now a Club partner in the present Redevelopment Project). The canopied entrance, library, billiard room, dining rooms and bars for both men and women helped make the elegant new luncheon and social club at the Naka 10 No. 8 Building in Marunouchi the center of Tokyo’s expat social life.

But not all visitors had fun on their minds. As the relative openness of what was known as the “Taisho Democracy” (1912–31) gave way to increased international tension, it was strongly suspected that the kempeitai (Japan’s military police) had bugged tables in the Club bar and that Richard Sorge, a legendary spy for the Soviet Union, visited often.

The Club closed with the outbreak of World War II. A December 15, 1942 article in The Japan Times speculated about ¥30,000 worth of liquor thought to be remaining in the Marunouchi quarters, though its existence was never proved. Two Japanese Members took charge of the Club property, with interned Members signing a liquidation agreement paving the way for the sale of the Club for the small sum of ¥43,000.