Matsuo Sake Brewery Brick Wall

An Outer Wall Screening a Courtyard Garden

The Matsuo Sake Brewery Brick Wall (松尾酒造煉瓦塀, Matsuo Shuzō Renga-bei) is an early Taisho-period brick wall at Matsuo Sake Brewery in Nishihonmachi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami City, Kochi Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 1, 2003. It runs for 10 meters.

Between the south face of the main house and the north end of the north sake storehouse lies a small courtyard garden. The Matsuo Sake Brewery Brick Wall closes off its east side, separating the garden from the road beyond: a boundary wall between the private lot and the street.

One Brick Thick, Laid in Header Bond, 35 Courses High

The wall is one brick thick and laid in header bond, so that only the short ends of the bricks show on the face. The result is a fine, even grid of small rectangles all facing the same way, tighter in pattern than bonds such as English bond that alternate long faces and ends.

It stands 35 courses high. At some later date the section nearest the main house was altered to take a doorway with an elliptical arch, and in a wall of straight horizontal joints that opening is the one curve.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs classes the brick wall as a structure and counts it as one item.

Red Brick Beside White Plaster

The Matsuo Sake Brewery Brick Wall was registered as number 39-0080 for contributing to the historic landscape of the nation.

The Agency's description credits the wall with a striking contrast against the white plaster of the adjoining north storehouse, adding variety to the view along the east road. Seen from the street, materials and colors change within a few meters: the boarded east face of the house, then red brick, then the white storehouse wall.

Brick also appears in the wing wall to the left of the front gate, so early Taisho brickwork marks the edge of the Matsuo lot in two places, on the old highway and on the east road.

Seeing the Brick Wall

The Matsuo Sake Brewery Brick Wall is an outer wall facing the east road, and it can be seen from the public street. Look for the short stretch between the main house and the north storehouse; the elliptical doorway is at the end nearest the house. Up close, the header bond's small, regular joints are easy to tell apart from other bonds.

The courtyard garden behind the wall is private and closed to visitors. If you would like to see the inner face, ask when booking the brewery's weekday tour. Take photographs from the public road without blocking traffic.