The Woodshed in the Corner
The Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed (野村隆男家住宅薪置き場, Nomura Takao-ke Jūtaku Maki-okiba) is a late Edo-period (1830–1867) outbuilding in Doi Kakuchū, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 12 July 2005. It is a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 19 square metres, registered as number 39-0192.
It stands in the north-west corner of the plot, running north to south, and held the firewood for the kitchen stove and the bath. The registered well lies right in front of its door.
Dressing the Corner of the Plot
The Agency for Cultural Affairs draws attention to the outside of the Nomura woodshed. Its west and north walls, which face beyond the property, are clad in weatherboarding below and finished in white Shikkui plaster above, giving the corner of the plot a finished look.
A woodshed is a humble building, but one that stands on the corner of the property is seen from outside. Treating those walls with care is what earned it registration for its contribution to the historic landscape.
An Open Passage to the Barn
The main body of the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed is 2 Ken by 1 ken, with a gabled kirizuma roof of pantiles.
The part worth pausing over is the link to the barn's rice store on the south. This is a 2-ken section with its own gabled pantile roof, set at a lower ridge in the Ochimune manner and left completely open on the east side like a covered walkway. It is included in the woodshed's registration.
Because the passage opens east onto the back yard, firewood could be carried under cover between the rice store and the shed. The outer walls are closed with boards and plaster while the inner side stands open, the same split between public face and practical use seen on the toilet and bath building.
Seeing the Woodshed
You will find the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed in the north-west corner of the back yard. From the east you see the open passage and the stepped roof toward the rice store, and the well in front of the door.
The boarded and plastered walls form the outside corner of the property, so it is worth taking a look from outside the grounds as well if you can. Follow the guidance on site as to how much of the interior you may look into.
Q&A
- Where is the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed?
- It stands in the north-west corner of the plot, running north to south. A roofed passage joins it to the barn's rice store on the south, and the well is in front of its door.
- What does the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed look like?
- It is a single-storey building of 2 by 1 ken with a gabled pantile roof. Between it and the rice store is a 2-ken passage, set at a lower ridge and open on the east side.
- Why is the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- Its outer west and north walls, weatherboarded below and plastered above, give a finished look to the corner of the property. It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
- When was the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed built and registered?
- The national database dates it to the late Edo period (1830–1867). It was registered on 12 July 2005 as number 39-0192.
- Can you visit the Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed?
- Yes. The residence is owned by Aki City and open free of charge, roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day according to the city. The east side, seen from the back yard, is the best view.
Basic Information
| Name | Nomura Takao Family Residence Firewood Shed |
|---|---|
| Location | 994 Doi, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 12 July 2005 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber building, tiled roof, building area 19 square metres |
| Owner | Aki City |
| Public Access | Open (free, about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily) |
References
- 野村隆男家住宅薪置き場 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004846
- 野村隆男家住宅薪置き場 (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/181066
- Aki City Doi Kakuchu Preservation District (Aki City)
- https://www.city.aki.kochi.jp/life/dtl.php?hdnKey=1381
Last verified: 2026.09.29
