The Fence That Sets the Street Edge
Running north from the gate, and then along the east and north sides of the main house, is the Yoshioka fence, about 35 metres in total length. It is easy to walk past, yet it is registered in its own right, because a boundary like this shapes how a whole compound sits within its town.
The fence is built up from a foundation of split-stone with sill stones laid on top. Above that, vertical boarding is opened at the upper part and fitted with diagonal tasuki bracing; a capping rail runs along the top, carrying a narrow roof in sheet iron. It was built around 1883, at the same time as the gate and the wider ordering of the estate.
Kutami, a Town Worth the Fence
Kutami is an old rural market town in Yamaga, and one of the districts the city singles out for its historic landscape. It is known above all for Kutami shibu-uchiwa, persimmon-tanned paper fans, a craft that once ranked the town alongside Kyoto and Marugame as a centre of fan-making. The Yoshioka estate belongs to that settled, prosperous townscape.
The fence was registered on 29 November 2016 as one of the six Yoshioka structures, under registration number 43-0163, on the shared ground that these works contribute to the historic character of the landscape. Registering the boundary, and not only the buildings behind it, recognises that the street face is part of what makes the place worth keeping.
What to Look For
Notice how the fence and the gate share a language. The same open upper section and diagonal tasuki bracing appear on both, so the eye reads a continuous designed edge rather than a gate plus a separate wall. The split-stone base grounds the timber neatly along the lane.
Follow the fence from the gate around toward the north and you trace the outline of the plot itself, with the storehouses and house rising behind it. This is a private residence, so the fence is best appreciated on a quiet walk past the frontage, from the public lane. Together with the gate it is one of the clearest reasons the compound was valued for its landscape.
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Q&A
- How long is the fence?
- About 35 metres in total, running from the gate along the east and north sides of the main house.
- What is it made of?
- A split-stone base with sill stones, vertical boarding with an open braced upper section, and a capping rail carrying a narrow sheet-iron roof.
- Why register a fence?
- Because the boundary defines how the compound meets the street. Its street face is part of the historic landscape that the 2016 registration was meant to protect.
- Is Kutami known for anything else?
- Yes. It is famous for Kutami shibu-uchiwa, persimmon-tanned paper fans, once ranking with Kyoto and Marugame among Japan's fan-making centres.
Basic Information
| Name | Yoshioka Residence, Fence (Yoshioka-ke Jūtaku Hei) |
|---|---|
| Location | Imakoga, Kutami, Kamoto-machi, Yamaga, Kumamoto |
| Category | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Registered | 29 November 2016 |
| Registration No. | 43-0163 |
| Structure | Timber; sheet-iron roof; total length 35 m |
| Count | 1 structure |
| Owner | Private (individual) |
| Access | Private residence; not generally open to the public |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (ACA) — Yoshioka Residence Fence
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011431
- Yamaga City — List of Designated Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.yamaga.kumamoto.jp/kiji00396/index.html
- Yamaga City — Cultural Properties and Historic Sites
- https://www.city.yamaga.kumamoto.jp/list00191.html
Last verified: 2026.07.04