"Bansuisou" to be designated as a cultural property
Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs has decided to designate a French-styled residence in Ehime Prefecture as an Important Cultural Property. Located on the perimeter of the Matsuyama Castle grounds, "Bansuisou" was built in 1922 as the residence for Count Sadakoto Hisamatsu, a descendant of the Matsuyama Daimyo. Count Hisamatsu had a long history with France, having first gone there to study when he was 16 years old. He then graduated from French military academy, École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr. He was later appointed as the military attache to the French Embassy before returning to Japan in 1906.Read more
Meiji-era storehouse to be torn down in Miyagi
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.Read more
Demolition starts on Hiroo's Hanezawa Garden
Mitsubishi Estate began demolishing the former residence of Yoshikoto Nakamura, also known as the Hanezawa Garden, in Hiroo on October 3rd despite countless attempts by local residents to preserve the house and Japanese gardens dating back to 1915.Read more
Tsunami-damaged kominka to be moved to Shikoku
Many of Japan's cultural properties were also damaged or destroyed by the March 11 Tohoku Disaster, including a 300 year old farmhouse (kominka) in Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture.
The "Endo Residence" is over 500 meters from the coast, yet was picked up and moved about 20 meters by the March 11 tsunami. Despite the house being warped, the daikoku-bashira and thatched roof remain mostly intact in their original shape.Read more
Kobe's oldest foreign residence for rent
Rent: 1,260,000 Yen/month
Size: 192.71 sqm
Built in the late 1880s / early 1890s, this is said to be the oldest ijinkan in Kobe. Ijinkan is the name for the Western style residences built mostly for early foreign settlers during the end of the Shogunate and the Meiji era. Kobe is known for its collection of old Western residences and many in the Kitano area are open to the public as tourist attractions.Read more
Hiroshima's Kyobashi Kaikan residence to be demolished
Kyobashi Kaikan was constructed by the Hiroshima Prefectural Housing Corporation during the restoration period following the nuclear bombing. The building is now 57 years old and due to aging and its dilapidated condition it will be torn down and replaced by a 21 story building. Demolition is scheduled to begin in September, 2011.Read more
Traditional Kominka put up for auction
A 90 year old traditional Japanese gassho-zukuri house was listed on an internet auction site with a starting price of 10 million Yen. However, the house failed to attract any bidders and the real estate agent said they may try listing it again in the near future.Read more