Think the Earth

A research on kominka (traditional Japanese farmhouse) in Hida city located in the northernmost part of Gifu prefecture was carried out by Chura-boshi Company at the behest of the prefectural government. The research covered 748 wooden houses, superbly designed and built more than 50 years ago using traditional construction methods. It revealed that over 3/4 of the houses were built pre World War II and were quite large in size, and that these houses, which may be classified as cultural properties in terms of their historical value and scale, are dotted around the city.

It also became apparent, however, that the majority of such houses are either vacant (24%) or inhabited by less than 2 people (34%). What's more, 30% of the houses were confirmed to be heirless. If this situation continues, in 20 years time, the number of traditional houses built by the skilful masters of architecture known as "Hida-no-Takumi" may decrease by 50% or more.

It is believed that once these houses are destroyed, similar houses could never be built again. The thick main pillars or materials that serve as beams are difficult to obtain, moreover, houses cannot be easily built using traditional construction methods due to the current Building Standards Act.

The number of traditional wooden houses in Japan has dropped sharply due to factors such as the rapid spread of new building materials after the war, decline of agriculture, and the population shift to urban areas. Having said that, wooden houses, which use materials that are biodegradable, are drawing attention today, as they are great for people afflicted with the sick house syndrome and because they are ecological. I hope we can find some way to preserve such world-class Japanese traditional wooden architecture.

Currently, a project to help people who live in these traditional houses upkeep their homes is being carried out on occasion. Wouldn't you like to help out and learn about the value these wonderful traditional houses offer for yourself?