A 99-year old historic residence in Hyogo Prefecture is close to collapse, leaving city officials struggling to find a way to protect it against the wishes of its owner.

The Ando Residence was built in 1919 near Okubo Station in Akashi City. The exterior walls of the home are built from stone, while the mansard roof has emerald-green glazed Spanish tiles. It was designed by architect Yutaro Kagoya (1876-1936). Kagoya specialized in repairing old shrines and temples before establishing his own architectural firm that designed homes. Some of his works included the Sarue Dojunkai Apartments (c1927) in Koto Ward, Tokyo (demolished in 1992), the Takushoku University main building (c1932) in Tokyo, and the Higashi Honganji temple in Asakusa (c1939).

The home was built for Shintaro Ando (1868-1919). After achieving success in the shipping industry, Ando was elected as a member of the Lower House in 1903, serving four terms. The home was built after his retirement. Unfortunately he passed away before it’s completion in 1919. The house has sat empty ever since, having never been occupied.

In 1991, local residents, in an effort to invigorate the neighborhood, approached the city to find a use for the empty home. The city approached the home owner but their offer was refused. The city later proposed registering the house as a cultural property, but again were unable to get the owner to agree to the heritage listing.

To qualify for the listing, repairs would need to be made to the home. The Prefectural Board of Education estimated a potential repair bill of several hundred million Yen. Expecting a property owner to assume this hefty burden without any kind of financial assistance is a major deterrent in these cases, and a reason why many homes are not listed and not maintained. There may be some annual property tax reductions and ease of use for commercial purposes that come with a heritage listing but almost no financial aid. Nearby Kobe City is an exception, with the city providing up to two-thirds of the repairs for historically significant homes that meet various criteria. However this only covers exterior repairs.

Within the same property is a wooden drawing room that Emperor Meiji stayed at briefly during an Imperial Tour in 1886. Back then this area was a thriving lodging town, with the Sanyodo road passing through it. The opening of the nearby Okubo Station in 1888 put an end to the local inns, with travelers no longer needing to spend the night.

Source: The Kobe Shimbun, July 19, 2018.

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