Suzunoya Heritage Preservation Society Warehouse

What Is the Suzunoya Heritage Preservation Society Warehouse?

The Suzunoya Heritage Preservation Society Warehouse (鈴屋遺蹟保存会倉庫, Suzunoya Iseki Hozonkai Sōko) is a 2-storey earthen-walled storehouse built in 1909 on the Matsusaka Castle ruins in Tonomachi, Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 31 July 2007.

It was built as a pair with the society's office when Motoori Norinaga's house was moved onto the castle ground. At 20 square meters it is a small building, tucked in to the southwest of the office.

A Storehouse Paired With the Office

The Warehouse was registered as number 24-0064, for its contribution to the historic landscape. It faces northeast and is linked to the office by a connecting passage, so that staff could reach it directly from the office. Its placement marks it as the office's own storehouse rather than a free-standing one.

The society's stated purpose has always been to keep and show Norinaga's belongings and papers. The Motoori Norinaga Memorial Museum's history says that, long before the museum existed, items deposited with or given to the society were shown in the house and in a storehouse. When the house was repaired in 1967, printing woodblocks were put on show in "the storehouse behind," and shelving from that time is said to remain inside, now used for files. The account does not make clear whether that storehouse is the Suzunoya Heritage Preservation Society Warehouse.

Brick Footings Under a Timber Overcoat

The building is 3 bays by 2 (Ketayuki and Harima), built as a Dozo-zukuri storehouse of 2 storeys. Its Yosemune-zukuri hipped roof is laid with Sangawara-buki pantiles, and a tiled Tsuchibisashi canopy shelters the front.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the walls with care. The footings are brick. The walls are finished in white Shikkui lime plaster, and the plaster is wrapped on the outside in Shitami-itabari clapboarding to shield it from rain. A brick base under a Japanese storehouse is a detail worth noticing in a building of 1909.

The eaves are kept short, and the whole effect is quiet. The office announces itself with a karahafu porch; the Suzunoya Heritage Preservation Society Warehouse keeps its low hipped roof in the background. Seen together, the two buildings spell out who leads and who serves.

Visiting

The Suzunoya Heritage Preservation Society Warehouse stands within the visiting area of the museum and Norinaga's house, and the garden in front of the office is normally entered on the combined museum ticket. We found no notice of the interior being opened, so treat it as a building to see from outside. Ask at the museum desk about photography.

The warehouse lies on the southwest side of the office, facing northeast. After looking at the office porch, walk round to the southwest to see how the two buildings connect. If you can get close, the brick footings should show below the hem of the clapboarding.