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Old Money Architecture: Glimpse into a Traditional Japanese Storehouse
古い蔵—祖先の富の象徴
A traditional white Japanese kura, or storehouse, stands with its characteristic earthen walls, designed for fire prevention. The back proudly displays a decorative crest, visible to hikers on the Toke Trail, indicating the heritage of the family, who likely reside in the adjacent house. This charming scene is set deep in a serene mountain village in the westernmost part of Tokyo Prefecture, Japan.
A kura is a type of traditional storehouse built to protect valuables from fire, a significant risk for traditional Japanese wooden houses. The structure typically features a wooden frame covered with 20 to 30 cm thick mud daub, finished with a smooth coat of white or black plaster. The roof’s extended eaves protect the plaster from heavy rains.
Openings are minimal, with only a few small windows for security. Today, spotting a kura still in use is a testament to a family's ancesteral wealth, as it not only signified the need to protect valuables but also the resources to build and maintain such a robust structure.
Beyond valuables, the thick earthen walls helped maintain a stable internal temperature, making the kura ideal for storing rice, wine, sake, soy sauce, and similar goods.
The decorative crest on the back of the storehouse in my photo most likely reads "Yamada" (山田), translating to "mountain" + "rice paddy/field." I appreciate how the kanji for "yama" (山・mountain) is replaced with two mountain peaks above the character for "da" (田・rice paddy/field). Written vertically, it evokes an image of fields nestled below mountain peaks, reflecting the actual landscape along this part of the Toke Trail.
The surrounding land is farmland, suggesting that the Yamada family has deep roots in this mountain village, possibly deriving their name from ancestors who farmed these mountain slopes centuries ago.
- Location: Hikawa Gorge, Tokyo, Japan
- Timestamp: 14:59・2024/11/26
- Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
- ISO 320 for 1/480 sec. at ƒ/2.8
- Astia/Soft film simulation
References
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