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Turning right from the Kantei's Main Entrance Hall, and passing through to the left side of the West Staircase, you would find the Grand Hall, where the Prime Minister held banquets and performed award ceremonies. With a floor space of 322m2, detailed geometrical patterns on the walls and the graceful curves of its arched ceiling, the Grand Hall was an opulent space boasting all the Art Deco style of the period, in vogue when the Kantei was built. The first time the hall was actually used was three months before the final completion of the Kantei in December 1928, for a ceremonial evening banquet to celebrate the accession to the throne of Emperor Showa. Originally, the Grand Hall's flooring was made of parquet, earning it the name "The Ballroom." Later, the floor was carpeted. Above the entrance to the Hall, there was also a small balcony for a chamber orchestra. The Grand Hall was used for a number of functions to welcome important dignitaries. VIPs from around the world attended luncheons and banquets in the Hall, playing an active role in the diplomatic activities of the Kantei.
The Entrance Hall Scar of the Kantei