Kenkichi Yabashi

was a Japanese architect and high-level official of Ministry of Finance, known as the person from the Yabashi family that has the known pedigree record dating back to the Saga Genji (嵯峨源氏) and Minamoto no Tōru (源融) He is known as the central figure who organised the construction of National Diet Building.

Biography Kenkichi Yabashi was born in Akasaka-juku (Nakasendō). He was from Sō-honke (the primary head family) of the Yabashis, a distinguished family that Emperor Shōwa in 1946 and Emperor Heisei in 1965 It is said that he loved fishing so much and so often went fishing to Kuise River near the house where he grew up, loved igo with the skill of first grade (sho-dan) because he studied igo under Hon'inbō, grand master of the game of go, loved bonsai and reached to the level beyond amateurs regarding jōruri.

He married Suteko Watanabe, the second daughter of Itaru Watanabe, former Samurai of Ehime Prefecture, who was the former Director General of Nagasaki Customs (Ministry of Finance) whose building was designed and constructed by Kenkichi Yabashi as his 1st work after joining Ministry of Finance. in Meiji Era together with Tatsuno Kingo and Katayama Tōkuma, who was the high-level official with supreme power in the Bureau of building and repairs of Ministry of Finance. He was laid to rest in Aoyama Cemetery.

When Kenkichi Yabashi died, he was assigned to Senior Third Rank and awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Second Class together with two volumes of white silk due to the merit while he was alive from Shōwa Emperor.

Honours Senior Third Rank (1927) the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Second Class (1927)

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