Retro Japan in Photos: Imposing Nagoya water tower reborn as theater rehearsal studio

NAGOYA -- Perched atop a park in Nakamura Ward, an imposing cylindrical structure known as the Nagoya City Performing Arts Studio dominates the skyline. Originally constructed in 1937 as a water distribution tower, the reinforced-concrete building fell out of service after merely seven years and was repurposed for various uses over the decades.

However, in 1995, the building was transformed into a theater rehearsal facility after a local theater company approached the city's mayor about a lack of available rehearsal spaces.

The tower's most striking feature is its 33-meter diameter water tank, which underwent a sevenfold increase in capacity during the planning stages to accommodate a growing population. To achieve this, 16 massive reinforcing columns, each about 1.5 meters in diameter and 20 meters tall, were added, giving the structure its distinctive silhouette. The Nagoya City Performing Arts Studio now comprises one basement level and five above-ground floors, housing five large practice studios, a rehearsal room, and other facilities.

Registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2025, the landmark has earned the affectionate nickname "Acthenon," a portmanteau of "act," "aqua," and "Parthenon." This name, selected through a public contest, has become widely recognized by locals.