STORY OF KURA OBIHACHI WHY?WHEN? RENOVATED
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| We are proud to present to you KURA OBIHACHI, the restored warehouse of
the Ojima Trading Company. Built over 90 years ago in Yamagata City this
special building, like most of its kind in Japan, had fallen into disuse.
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| Fortunately the laying of a new access road presented the opportunity to
open the treasures of this building -- its architecture and the many Japanese
antiquities (furu-dougu) it contained - to the public. |
| So in the spring of 2003 we undertook extensive renovation (while preserving
the warehouse's unique wood and plaster structure) to turn this once simple
storage house into a cafe-bar, live music, and gallery space |
And in bringing back an important part of Japanese history we respect the
Japanese focus on healthy and refined 'slow' food and drink, though updated
for modern times.
Background on Japanese KURA
KURA (Japanese warehouses) are a relic of Japan's early commercial history.
Yamagata prefecture is one of many areas were Kurds proliferated in the
early twentieth century. In Yamagata city specifically, KURA construction
was impelled by government edict following the a major fire around the
turn of the century. Over 400 KURA were built, of which 150 were in the
city's main commercial centre.
KURAs then reflect an important part of Japan's history and their restoration
is an vital project for preserving Japan's architecture and maintaining
a quiet respite from an often too-fast modernity. We hope KURA OBIHACHI
moves the community a step closer to these goals. |
KURAs performed many functions as their thick plaster walls provided a
fire-proof, secure space protected from the humidity and cold. Some KURAs
functioned as storehouses alone, while others were used for living space
and stores. Yamagata city centre KURAs - like KURA OBIHACHI - functioned
primarily as warehouses for commercial goods and the storage of Japanese
traditional ceremonial products (such as those used in weddings and funerals).
KURA OBIHACHI in fact contained a treasure throve of these traditional
crafts
(furu-dougu in Japanese).
As Japan modernized many KURAs in Yamagata no longer served their original
function and many were in fact torn down. Still, dozens of KURAs can still
be seen today along Yamagata main streets, offering a window into Japan's
past and its lost habits and ways of life. |
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