Morimoto Family Residence New Storehouse

A Meiji Storehouse with Plaster Relief

The Morimoto Family Residence New Storehouse (森本家住宅新蔵, Morimoto-ke Jūtaku Shingura) is an earthen storehouse in Sakamoto, Katsuura Town, Tokushima Prefecture, built in 1907 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 26 March 2015.

It stands north of the main house toward the east, shoulder to shoulder with the Old Storehouse on its west. A 2-storey Dozo-zukuri building with a tiled roof and a building area of 31 square metres, the Morimoto Family Residence New Storehouse is a little larger than its older neighbour.

Why It Was Registered

The New Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs draws attention to the design effort in its decoration.

Its basic build follows the Old Storehouse: a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof in round tile, a lean-to Geya over the south door, Shikkui plaster walls, Shitami-itabari clapboard skirting on notched battens and vertical board lining inside. What changes is the ornament.

At the apex of each gable, where the plaster band meets the roof line, a plasterer modelled a finned Gegyo in relief. The gegyo is normally a carved wooden board hung from the bargeboards; here it has been translated into Kote-e, trowel-worked plaster. Katsuura Town explains the motif as a charm to protect the building from fire. The window frames carry plaster decoration as well.

What to Look For

The gable ornament

Look to the top of the gable, where the gegyo form stands out from the flat white wall. Compare it with the wooden gegyo on the Front Gate to see the same shape rendered in a different material.

Framed windows

The window surrounds are also modelled in plaster, a sign that the family spent money on appearance even for a working building.

Side by side with 1809

Standing beside the Old Storehouse, the New Storehouse lets you compare two buildings a century apart. Because their structure and roofing match, the difference in ornament is easy to read.

Visiting the New Storehouse

The Morimoto Family Residence New Storehouse stands behind the main house, deep inside a private estate. No interior opening has been announced, and the gable relief cannot be seen up close without entering the grounds, so please stay outside. Directions are on the Morimoto Family Residence page.