Furuta Akira Memorial Museum Exhibition Room: A Literary Storehouse in the Mountains of Nagano
Tucked away in the tranquil Kitaono district of Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, the Furuta Akira Memorial Museum Exhibition Room stands as a remarkable testament to one man's passion for publishing and literature. This converted two-story kura (traditional Japanese storehouse) was once part of the family home of Furuta Akira (1906–1973), the visionary founder of Chikuma Shobō, one of Japan's most respected publishing houses. Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2009, the exhibition room preserves not only the architectural beauty of early Shōwa-period storehouse construction but also an extraordinary collection of literary artifacts connecting visitors to some of the greatest names in modern Japanese literature.
The Life of Furuta Akira: From Rural Nagano to the Heart of Japanese Publishing
Furuta Akira was born on January 13, 1906, in the village of Tsukamaji (present-day Shiojiri City), nestled in the Higashi-Chikuma District of Nagano Prefecture. After graduating from what is now Matsumoto Fukashi High School and Matsumoto Higher School (present-day Shinshu University), he went on to study ethics at Tokyo Imperial University, graduating in 1930. His schoolmate at Matsumoto was Usui Yoshimi, who would become a lifelong friend and collaborator.
Following his university years, Furuta traveled to the United States to work at his father's trading company, the Nikkō Shōkai, in Venice, Los Angeles. He returned to Japan in 1938, and in 1940, he founded Chikuma Shobō in Ginza, Tokyo, with Usui Yoshimi, Karaki Junzō, and Nakamura Mitsuo serving as editorial advisors. The publishing house's very first publication was a collection of essays by Nakano Shigeharu.
The company name "Chikuma" was derived from the name of Furuta's home village, reflecting his deep attachment to his rural roots. Throughout his career, Furuta was known for his unwavering commitment to publishing quality literature, famously declaring that producing good books mattered more than turning a profit. When the company faced financial difficulties, he reportedly sold his family's mountain forests in his hometown to cover the debts. He passed away suddenly from a heart attack on October 30, 1973, at the age of 67.
Why Was the Exhibition Room Designated as a Cultural Property?
The exhibition room, along with the connecting corridor (watarirōka) and gate (mon), was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property on April 28, 2009. The registration recognizes the architectural significance of these structures, all built during the early Shōwa period (1926–1988).
The exhibition room is a two-story building constructed in the traditional dozō (earthen storehouse) style, measuring 11 meters in length and 5.5 meters in width, with a hipped roof covered in san-gawara (pantile) tiles. A lean-to extension is attached to the eastern face. The first floor features namako-kabe (diamond-patterned plaster walls) up to waist height around its perimeter, a distinctive decorative technique typical of traditional storehouses.
What makes this building particularly noteworthy is the contrast between its fortress-like exterior and its surprisingly open second floor. The upper level contains three tatami rooms with wide corridors featuring large glass windows, creating a bright, open atmosphere that is quite unusual for storehouse architecture. This blend of traditional construction methods with modern openness reflects the transitional nature of early Shōwa-period design.
The connecting corridor is an especially charming feature. This two-story wooden structure links the second floor of the exhibition room to the main building, with a gabled roof covered in copper sheeting. Its design incorporates round logs as a sloping foundation, with diamond-shaped glass panels fitted between the pillars to match the corridor's incline. The ceiling also uses round logs, creating a light and refined sukiya-style aesthetic.
The gate is a 1.8-meter-wide udegi-mon (bracket-arm gate) with a gabled pantile roof and double-leaf wooden doors. The flanking wing walls rest on stone foundations with board cladding below and plaster above, capped with pantile roofing, lending the entrance a dignified presence.
Highlights and Attractions
The museum houses approximately 90 items of literary significance. Among the most treasured exhibits are a hanging scroll by Dazai Osamu, the original manuscript of Miyamoto Yuriko's novel "Dōhyō" (Signpost), and personal correspondence from literary luminaries including Kawabata Yasunari, Nakano Shigeharu, and Ibuse Masuji. These artifacts illuminate the deep personal relationships that Furuta maintained with many of Japan's most celebrated writers and intellectuals.
The second floor preserves the rooms where writers such as Miyamoto Yuriko stayed and worked during visits to the Furuta family home. Walking through these intimate spaces, visitors can imagine the creative energy that once filled these tatami rooms as some of Japan's finest literary minds put pen to paper.
The museum grounds also feature a beautiful traditional Japanese garden surrounding the storehouse, providing a serene setting that complements the literary atmosphere within. The combination of architectural heritage and literary history creates a uniquely moving experience for visitors.
Surrounding Attractions
The Kitaono district of Shiojiri City offers several additional points of interest for visitors wishing to explore the area:
- Ono Shrine (Ono Jinja): Located nearby, this ancient Shinto shrine holds the title of Shinano Province's Second Shrine (Ni-no-Miya). Four of its buildings are designated as Nagano Prefectural Treasures, dating from 1672. The shrine shares a sacred forest with neighboring Yahiko Shrine, creating an atmospheric precinct of towering ancient trees.
- Ono-juku (Ono Post Town): This historic post town preserves traces of the early Nakasendō highway that once connected Shimosuwa to the Kiso Valley via the Ushikubi Pass.
- Utō Pass and the Watershed Park (Bunsuirei Kōen): The Utō Pass marks the continental divide of central Japan, where rivers split to flow either to the Sea of Japan via the Shinano River or to the Pacific Ocean via the Tenryū River.
- Narai-juku: About 30 minutes by car, this beautifully preserved Nakasendō post town is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
- Kiso-Hirasawa Lacquerware District: A traditional lacquerware-producing town, also designated as an Important Preservation District, where visitors can observe and purchase exquisite Kiso lacquerware.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nagano
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Akira Furuta Memorial Museum Exhibition Room
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Q&A
- What is Chikuma Shobō, and why is it significant?
- Chikuma Shobō is one of Japan's most prestigious publishing houses, founded by Furuta Akira in 1940. It is renowned for its extensive literary collections and has been called "the publisher of complete works" (zenshū no Chikuma) for its numerous anthologies of individual authors. The company published works by Dazai Osamu, serialized "No Longer Human" in its literary magazine "Tenbō," and has produced influential series including the Chikuma Bunko and Chikuma Gakugei Bunko paperback lines.
- Is there an admission fee, and when is the museum open?
- Admission is free. The museum is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It is closed on weekdays (except national holidays) and from December 29 through the end of February.
- How can I get to the Furuta Akira Memorial Museum?
- The museum is located in the Kitaono district of Shiojiri City. By car, it is approximately 15 minutes from the Shiojiri Interchange on the Nagano Expressway via National Route 153. By train, the nearest station is Ono Station on the JR Chūō Main Line branch (Tatsuno Line). The museum's address is 3035-3 Kitaono, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.
- What kind of exhibits can I see at the museum?
- The museum displays approximately 90 items, including personal letters from celebrated writers such as Kawabata Yasunari, a hanging scroll by Dazai Osamu, and the original manuscript of Miyamoto Yuriko's novel "Dōhyō." The second floor preserves the rooms where visiting writers once stayed and worked. A guidebook and resource collection are available for purchase at the museum.
- What makes the architecture of the exhibition room special?
- The exhibition room is a two-story earthen storehouse (dozō) with distinctive namako-kabe (diamond-patterned plaster) walls on the first floor. While typical storehouses are enclosed and dark, this building's second floor features unusually wide glass windows, creating an open and bright interior. The connecting corridor between the exhibition room and the main building showcases elegant sukiya-style design with diamond-shaped glass panes and round-log structural elements.
Basic Information
| Name | Furuta Akira Memorial Museum Exhibition Room (古田晁記念館展示室) |
|---|---|
| Cultural Property Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Date of Registration | April 28, 2009 |
| Construction Period | Early Shōwa period (1926–1988) |
| Structure | Dozō (earthen storehouse) construction, 2 stories, tiled hipped roof, building area 79 m² |
| Address | 3035-3 Kitaono, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture 399-0651 |
| Owner | Shiojiri City |
| Museum Opening | October 30, 1996 |
| Hours | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays only) |
| Closed | Weekdays (except national holidays); December 29 – end of February |
| Admission | Free |
| Phone | 0266-46-2922 (during open hours); 0263-53-3365 (when closed) |
References
- 古田晁記念館展示室 – 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/172932
- 古田晁記念館展示室、渡廊下並びに門 – 塩尻市公式ホームページ
- https://www.city.shiojiri.lg.jp/site/bunkazaihouhou/29591.html
- 古田晁記念館 – 塩尻市公式ホームページ
- https://www.city.shiojiri.lg.jp/soshiki/38/3768.html
- 古田晁 – Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8F%A4%E7%94%B0%E6%99%81
- 古田晁記念館 – Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8F%A4%E7%94%B0%E6%99%81%E8%A8%98%E5%BF%B5%E9%A4%A8
- 塩尻市観光協会 – 古田晁記念館
- https://tokimeguri.jp/guide/furutaakira/
Last verified: 2026.03.29