Former Sakata Clinic
The former Sakata Clinic is a well-preserved example of Art Deco architecture and is located on the main shopping street of Menuma. The clinic was established in 1931 by Dr. Sakata Yasutaro for obstetrics and internal medicine. There are 10 rooms arranged around a long hallway, including a dispensary, an examination room, a delivery room, an operating theater, an X-ray room, and a dark room. Much of the original equipment and fittings remain, including glass syringes and flasks, surgical tools, an examination bed, X-ray equipment, and medical texts.
Original light fittings range from decorative Art Deco pendant lamps to molded milk-glass globes. The light fittings and furnishings are practical, in keeping with the requirements of a medical clinic, but follow the design trends of the time.
The interior changed little over the years until the clinic closed in the 1980s. The clinic has been preserved by the town as an example of Art Deco architecture and of medical technology in the early Showa era (1926–1989). The Sakata Clinic is a registered Tangible Cultural Property.
The building is opened to the public several times a year.