A Long Shed for Baskets and Firewood
The Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed, in Tanoura, Ashikita Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, is a single-storey timber outbuilding from the early Showa era, listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 18 October 2000.
In Japanese it is 藤崎家住宅（赤松館）篭部屋, read kago-beya, a room for baskets. It held mainly bamboo baskets and firewood and stands right beside the kamaya, the cooking range of the main house. At 10 bays long and just 1 bay deep it is strikingly narrow, with a building area of 41 square metres. It is also the only one of the nine structures not built in the Meiji era, which makes it the youngest on the estate.
A Wall That Is Also a Building
The Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
It runs along the western edge of the property, and its outer wall carries straight on from the boundary fence. From the lane it reads as part of the wall; from inside it is a row of posts sheltering stores. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits it with giving the west side of the estate its orderly face.
Open to the Yard
On the side facing the yard, the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed is left open between most of its posts. Air moving through helped firewood dry, and baskets could be pulled out and put back without a door in the way.
The kamaya next door is where the cooking fires burned, so fuel and the bamboo baskets used for harvest and carrying were kept in a long line right by the kitchen. That this backstage building was added in the Showa era shows a household still adapting its estate decades after the main house went up.
Seeing the Basket Shed
The outer wall of the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed forms the west face of the estate and can be seen from outside as a continuation of the wall. The open side faces into the grounds.
The Ashikita Town Tourism Association reported that the estate was badly damaged in the earthquake of July 2026, and no reopening had been announced as of September 2026. The grounds cannot be entered.
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Q&A
- What was the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed used for?
- It stored mainly bamboo baskets and firewood, right beside the cooking range of the main house.
- When was the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed built?
- In the early Showa era, according to the national register. It is the only one of the nine structures not built in the Meiji era.
- How big is the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed?
- It is a narrow single-storey timber building, 10 bays by 1 bay, with a tiled roof and a building area of 41 square metres.
- Why is the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- Its outer wall continues the boundary fence and gives the west side of the estate its appearance. It was registered on 18 October 2000 for its contribution to the historic landscape.
- Can I see the Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed?
- Its outer wall can be seen from outside. The estate was damaged in the earthquake of July 2026 and had not reopened as of September 2026.
Basic Information
| Name | Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed |
|---|---|
| Location | 781-2 and others, Gotanda, Tanoura, Ashikita Town, Ashikita District, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2000/10/18 (Heisei 12) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 41 square metres (timber, single storey, tiled roof) |
| Owner | Not listed in the ACA database (private) |
| Public Access | Apparently closed after earthquake damage; check before visiting |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database: Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00001987
- Cultural Heritage Online: Fujisaki Family Residence (Sekishokan) Basket Shed (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/115067
- Fujisaki Family Residence Sekishokan (Ashikita Town Tourism Association, Japanese)
- https://ashikita-kankou.com/introduce/%E8%B5%A4%E6%9D%BE%E9%A4%A8/
- Notice on the Ashikita Curry Road event, 5 August 2026 (Ashikita Town Tourism Association, Japanese)
- https://ashikita-kankou.com/2026/08/05/%e3%80%8c%e8%8a%a6%e5%8c%97%e4%bc%bd%e5%93%a9%e8%a1%97%e9%81%93%e3%80%8d%e3%81%ab%e3%81%a4%e3%81%84%e3%81%a6%e3%81%ae%e3%81%8a%e7%9f%a5%e3%82%89%e3%81%9b/
Last verified: 2026.09.25
