What kikkōzumi means
Kikkōzumi is a way of building stone walls in which each face is dressed to a near-hexagonal shape and fitted edge to edge with its neighbours to form a pattern like a tortoise shell or honeycomb. Every stone has to be shaped to fit, so it is laborious, but the result is highly decorative.
Other laying methods include Nunozumi, in level courses; Tanizumi, set diagonally; and Ranzumi, irregular stones. Kikkōzumi is named for the shape of the faces. Whether the joints and backing are mortared, Nerizumi, or dry, Karazumi, is a separate distinction.
Reading the records and the wall
Records sometimes distinguish methods by position. The wall around the memorial to Nozaki Buzaemon in Kurashiki, Okayama, 1.1 metres high and 128 metres long around the east and north of the site, is recorded as laid in kikkōzumi at the corners of the front and side and in tanizumi elsewhere, varying its appearance. The laborious hexagonal work is concentrated at the conspicuous corners, with the long runs in diagonal coursing.
On site, look for faces dressed to near-hexagons with joints forming a honeycomb. Diamond-shaped faces with continuous diagonal joints indicate tanizumi.
References
- 野﨑武左衛門翁旌徳碑石垣｜国指定文化財等データベース（文化庁）
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004182
Last verified: 2026.09.27