A Bracket-Armed Gate Set Back from the Lane
The Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate (鮫島博家住宅門, Sameshima Hiroshi-ke Jūtaku Mon) is an early Meiji-period timber gate in the Kaseda Fumoto district of Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 13 August 2012. It stands at the north-west corner of the plot, set back slightly from the lane.
It is a bracket-armed gate, an udegimon, 1.8 metres wide, under a gabled roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles, with Sodobei wing fences bending away on both sides. In this type, arms fixed into the tops of the posts carry a small roof. It is the typical gate of Kaseda Fumoto, customarily opened a little behind the plot boundary, and the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate follows the pattern faithfully.
Lattice, Curve and Clapboard
The details repay attention. A lattice is set above the lintel, and the Taruki rafters are given a slight upward curve. A few degrees of sweep at the eaves is enough to lift a small gate out of the ordinary.
The wing fences are clad in Shitami-itabari clapboarding held by notched battens, called sasarako, on their lower half, and in vertical boards above, so the grain changes direction partway up. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says the dignified workmanship conveys the atmosphere of a samurai house.
Together with the stone wall outside and the further wall behind the gate, the wing fences make the entrance a small composition in its own right. It was registered under the criterion of contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Notice
Because the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate sits back from the lane, the stone wall and wing fences fold inward to meet it, creating a shallow forecourt. Look at the eaves from the side to see the curve of the rafters.
Visiting
The gate is the entrance to a private home; the grounds beyond are not open (checked September 2026). The exterior can be seen from the lane, but please do not walk through. Directions to the district are given on the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kagoshima
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate
- [ Sakurajima Ferry & Yakushima World Heritage ]
Q&A
- What type of gate is the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate?
- A bracket-armed gate 1.8 metres wide with a gabled pantiled roof and wing fences bending away on both sides.
- How are the wing fences of the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate finished?
- The lower half is clapboarding held by notched sasarako battens; the upper half is vertical boarding.
- Can the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate be seen from the street?
- Yes. It stands at the north-west of the plot, set back slightly from the lane, and its exterior is visible from the road. The grounds are private.
- When was the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate built?
- In the early Meiji period. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 13 August 2012.
- What details should I look for on the Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate?
- The lattice above the lintel, the gentle curve of the rafters, and the change from clapboarding to vertical boards on the wing fences.
Basic Information
| Name | Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate (鮫島博家住宅門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 17824-1 Kaseda Takeda, Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 46-0104 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2012/8/13 (Heisei 24) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof; opening 1.8 metres wide, with wing fences on both sides |
| Owner | Private individual (not published) |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence; exterior visible from the street) |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs: Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009412
- Japan Heritage Portal, Agency for Cultural Affairs: Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence
- https://www.japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/4680/
- Satsuma Samurai Towns Japan Heritage Council: Sameshima Hiroshi Family Residence
- https://kagoshima-fumoto.jp/minamisatsuma/%E9%AE%AB%E5%B3%B6%E5%8D%9A%E5%AE%B6%E4%BD%8F%E5%AE%85/
- National Cultural Properties Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs: Minamisatsuma-shi Kaseda Fumoto
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/103/00000125
- Satsuma Samurai Towns Japan Heritage Council: Kaseda Fumoto
- https://kagoshima-fumoto.jp/minamisatsuma/
- Minamisatsuma Tourism Association: Kaseda Fumoto walking map (PDF)
- https://kanko-minamisatsuma.jp/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/feature-kasedamachiaruki.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.25
