NAGOYA -- Eastern and Western architectural styles blend together at a century-old house that belonged to a local ceramic mogul here.

With its high-quality clay, Aichi Prefecture has long been a thriving center for the ceramics industry. The Cultural Path Shumoku Museum in the prefectural capital city of Nagoya's Higashi Ward was originally built in the period over the late Taisho era (1912-1926) and the early Showa era (1926-1989) as the residence of Tamesaburo Imoto (1874-1945), who amassed wealth through the export of ceramics from this renowned region to overseas markets.

The estate spans approximately 2,000 square meters and features a two-story Western-style building, a single-story Japanese-style building, a storehouse and a tea room, incorporating architectural techniques and designs from Europe, the United States and other countries.

The Western-style building is characterized by its white and brown rectilinear art deco designs. It served as a place for business negotiations with foreign buyers and includes a restroom with a Western-style bathtub and toilet, which was rare at the time. The building also features stained glass, reminiscent of American art deco, with some motifs from the 1908 Belgian play "The Blue Bird."

The Japanese-style building boasts luxurious artisanship, such as handles shaped like bats, which were considered lucky charms. At the same time, it demonstrates functionality, as seen in the children's room, which uses the Okinawan-style Ryukyu tatami mats without edges.

While many lives were lost in the area during the World War II air raids, the residence survived the flames. This architectural gem, preserved against the odds, continues to convey memories spanning some 100 years.

(Japanese original by Kazuki Yamazaki, Nagoya Photo and Video Department)

* * *

The Japanese version of this article was originally published on Dec. 8, 2024.

* * *

This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.