Overview

For centuries, traditional wooden folk houses known as “kominka” have embodied the cultural values of the agrarian, merchant, and samurai societies of pre-modern Japan. Their huge sturdy posts and powerful beams have withstood earthquakes and other natural disasters, demonstrating the artistry of Japanese carpenters and the strength of handcrafted wood joinery. Preserved and reconstructed today, kominka offer silent testimony to the enduring beauty and resilience of Old Japan.Kazuo Hasegawa’s profusely illustrated book introduces readers to the vernacular architecture, equips travelers with a guide to Japan’s 101 must-visit kominka and villages, and is a useful reference for those who are planning to embark, as the author did, on a kominka renovation journey of their own.

Reviews

"Five stars. It's a niche book, but very very well written, showing (for western readers) aesthetic forms and storage solutions which are not often accessible in the available English language architectural literature. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, for nonfiction readers, and possible for gift giving." — Nonstop Reader Review

"Drawing inspiration from the legacy of premodern Japanese architecture, craftsmanship, and determination, Hasegawa offers a guide to Japan’s 101 most attractive kominka." —Daniella Fishman, Publishers Weekly

Author Biography

Kazuo Hasegawa has lived a life in real estate. He launched his career in the Japanese housing industry as publisher of the widely circulated periodical, Jutaku Joho, which listed properties for rent, sale, and investment. A passionate believer in the cultural significance of traditional Japanese old houses and the importance of their preservation, he was instrumental in the founding of the nonprofit Japan Minka Revival Association (JMRA), of which he is a permanent director. A world traveler and photographer, he has contributed articles and images to various books, newspapers, magazines, and exhibitions in his native country. He divides his time between a condominium in Yokohama City and a restored 100-year-old kominka in rural Yamanashi, where he created and runs Gallery Wa as a hub for art and heritage enthusiasts.