Beppu Chochokaku 2

A historic home and art gallery in Beppu City is at risk of demolition, leading local residents and art aficionados scrambling to find a solution to protect the 86-year old property. The gallery and cafe is due to close by the end of this month.

Chochokaku was built in 1929 and is registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property. It was built by Kinya Takahashi (1866-1937), a politician, businessman and first president of the Beppu Chamber of Commerce, as his personal residence and guest house. The 2-storey wooden residence has a total floor area of 270 sqm (2,905 sq.ft). It includes both the traditional Japanese-style residence with tatami rooms, as well as an art-deco western-style wing.

Beppu Chochokaku 1

The residence was originally located in Hamawaki, but was shifted about 2 kilometres to its current location in Aoyamacho in 1989. From early 2013 it was opened to the public as the Sato Kei Art Museum. The property is owned by a company established by the family of Mr. Takahashi and is currently managed by Ms. Hatoko Takahashi (81). Ms. Takahashi also manages the art gallery which has over 400 pieces from painter Kei Sato (1918-1960).

Beppu City is gradually losing its historic and grand holiday homes that formed part of the city’s history in the early 20th century. In 1979, Akagane Palace, the residence of poet Byakuren Yanagiwara, was demolished. The house was situated on a 1.65 hectare site. The best carpenters and landscapers from Osaka and Kyoto were called on to design the grand estate.

Beppu Akagane Palace
Akagane Palace (c1916). Demolished in 1979.

The Aso Villa was built in 1927 for coal mining baron Takichi Aso (1857-1933). Mr. Aso was the great-grandfather of 92nd Prime Minister Taro Aso. Located on a 6,000 sqm site, it was considered one of the ‘Big Three’ historic villas in Beppu. The house was demolished in 2006 by a developer who subdivided the land into smaller plots. The tea house was relocated to Aso Corporation’s villa in Iizuka City, Fukuoka.

Aso Villa Beppu
Aso Villa (c1927). Demolished in 2006.

The Nakayama Villa was built in 1920 for Toyoji Wada (1861-1924), a financier and member of the House of Peers. In 1939 it was purchased by Etsuji Nakayama of Nakayama Steel Works. It was demolished in 2007 and replaced with a mall.

Nakayama Villa Beppu
Nakayama Villa (c1920). Demolished in 2007.

Source: The Oita Godo Shimbun, September 25, 2015.

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