Registered Tangible Cultural Properties · Chiba

Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura

Mogi Shichiroemon Residence Mukogura: An Edo Storehouse Marked by Fire

A late Edo storehouse at the Mogi Shichiroemon soy-sauce brewers' estate in Noda, Chiba, still bearing scorch marks thought to date from the great Noda fire of 1821.

Designation Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Location Chiba

A Storehouse That Survived the Great Noda Fire

The Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura (茂木七郎右衛門家住宅向蔵), the "opposite storehouse", is a late Edo-period earthen-walled storehouse at the Mogi Shichiroemon family residence in Noda, Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on March 27, 2018, under registration number 12-258.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it is a two-storey dozo-style storehouse with a tiled roof and a building area of 66 square metres. It stands at the southwest corner of the estate's buildings, a north-south block facing east, with a lean-to (geya) on its east side. It was renovated in 2003.

The Chiba Prefectural Board of Education notes that the Mogi Shichiroemon family brewed soy sauce under the trade name Kashiwaya from 1772. Eighteen structures on the estate are registered.

Why the Mukogura Was Registered

The Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura was registered as contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency notes that it still bears scorch marks thought to date from the great Noda fire of 1821, and values it as a storehouse that carries the history of the area into the present.

Inside, both floors are a single plank-floored room, the roof framing alternates scissor-truss (sasu) and Japanese king-post sections, and the gabled roof is covered in interlocking tiles. That the building itself records the memory of a great fire in a town that prospered on soy sauce is central to its value.

What to Look For

The most striking feature of the Mukogura is the fire damage thought to date from the great Noda fire of 1821: traces of an Edo-period blaze preserved on a storehouse two centuries later.

Look as well at the form of the building. A north-south block facing east with a lean-to on its east side, set at the southwest corner of the estate, it shows a storehouse anchoring the corner of the grounds.

Visiting

The Mogi Shichiroemon residence is still lived in, so the interiors cannot be visited, according to Noda City. The Mukogura stands inside the estate, and no official guidance was found on whether it can be seen from outside.

The estate's Kotohira Shrine opens to the public for worship on the 10th of each month, the city says. Directions are on the Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence page.

Q&A

QWhen was the Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura built?: AThe Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Edo period. It was renovated in 2003.

QWhen was the Mukogura registered as a cultural property?: AOn March 27, 2018, as registration number 12-258.

QWhat are the fire marks on the Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura?: AAccording to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the storehouse bears scorch damage thought to date from the great Noda fire of 1821.

QHow big is the Mukogura and how is it built?: AIt is a two-storey storehouse with a building area of 66 square metres, a single plank-floored room on each floor and a gabled tiled roof.

QCan visitors see the Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura?: AThe residence is still a home, so the interiors are closed. The estate's Kotohira Shrine opens on the 10th of each month.

Basic Information

Name	Mogi Shichiroemon Family Residence Mukogura (茂木七郎右衛門家住宅向蔵)
Location	339 Noda, Noda City, Chiba Prefecture
Designation	Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure)
Year Designated	Registered 2018/3/27 (Heisei 30), registration no. 12-258
Quantity	1 building
Dimensions	Dozo storehouse, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 66 square metres
Owner	Private
Public Access	Closed (private residence)