After sustaining serious structural damage during the March 11 Tohoku earthquake,  the Matsuyama Zashiki-Kura* in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, will be demolished by the end of the year. The City said that a shortage of building materials and high repair costs mean it is not possible to restore the property.

The residence was built in 1887 and was first used as a store selling soy sauce. The 2-storey wooden building has a total interior size of 118 sqm (1269 sqft). The walls are made from mud and plaster. The roof ridges on the 1st level were adorned with decorate dragons.

The owner donated the property to the city in 2002 after it became too difficult to maintain. It then became a symbol for the local tourist trade. It had to be repaired after the 2003 Miyagi Hokubu Earthquake and again in 2008 following the magnitude 7.2 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake. The March 11 Tohoku earthquake caused part of the roof to collapse and damaged the mud walls.

Along with a shortage of building materials, the estimated repair bill is 40 million Yen (520,000 USD). With the original owner’s agreement, the city plans to demolish the building by the end of the year.

*A zashiki-kura (or kura-zashiki) is a storehouse used as a residence.

Source:
The Kahoku Shimpo, October 5, 2011.

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