Brick Walls Against the Neighbours' Fires
The Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall (黒沢治助商店防火塀, Kurosawa Jisuke Shōten Bōkabei) is a set of brick fire walls of the late Taisho period (1912 to 1925) along the south and north boundaries at the front of the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten plot in Fukuoka, Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 November 2009.
The walls total 45 metres and are registered as one structure. The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates them to the late Taisho period and around 1945, which suggests some of the work came later, though the record does not say which parts.
Why It Was Registered: Fire Awareness
The Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the walls reveal a strong awareness of fire risk.
On a street of wooden townhouses, a fire next door could jump straight across. Building tall brick walls along both side boundaries sealed off the front of the plot, where the store and warehouse stand. Read alongside the plastered main house and the copper-clad shutters of the corridor, the walls complete a consistent defence against fire across the whole property.
What to Look For: Heights and Finishes
On the south side, the brick of the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall is left exposed on both faces. The front 28 metres, nearest the street, rise to 3.7 metres; the 10 metres behind step down to 2.7 metres. The wall is highest where the buildings stand closest together.
The north wall is 2.7 metres high, 38 centimetres thick and 6.8 metres long. Its outer face shows bare brick, but the face turned into the property is finished in washed artificial stone, matching the warehouse. Add 28, 10 and 6.8 metres and you arrive at the registered length of 45 metres.
Seeing the Fire Wall
The Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall runs along the front boundaries of the plot, so its brick faces can be seen from the street (checked 29 September 2026). The 3.7-metre front section on the south side is the most visible.
The inner faces, including the washed-stone finish on the north wall, can only be seen from inside the property, and no visits are offered. The site is private property, so please stay outside the gate.
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Q&A
- How old is the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as late Taisho period (1912 to 1925) with work around 1945.
- How long and high is the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall?
- 45 metres in total. On the south side the front 28 metres are 3.7 metres high and the rear 10 metres are 2.7 metres high; the north wall is 2.7 metres high and 6.8 metres long.
- Why was the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall built?
- Most likely to stop fires spreading from neighbouring buildings. The Agency notes the strong fire awareness it shows.
- How is the north side of the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall finished?
- Its inner face is finished in washed artificial stone. The south wall shows bare brick on both faces.
- Can I see the Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall?
- Yes, its brick faces are visible from the street. The inner faces can only be seen from inside the property, and no visits are offered.
Basic Information
| Name | Kurosawa Jisuke Shoten Fire Wall (黒沢治助商店防火塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6 Nakamachi, Fukuoka, Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture, and other lots |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/11/2 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Brick, 45 metres in total length |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the street (no entry to the grounds) |
References
- 黒沢治助商店防火塀 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007834
- 黒沢治助商店倉庫 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007832
Last verified: 2026.09.29
