TOKYO — A short walk west of Tokyo Metropolitan Inokashira Park, a distinctive Western-style residence comes into view: the Mitaka City Yuzo Yamamoto Memorial Museum. Novelist Yuzo Yamamoto (1887-1974), known for works including “Robo no Ishi” (A stone by the wayside), lived and wrote here.
A window with a pointed arch beside a fireplace in the former reception room on the first floor is seen at the Mitaka City Yuzo Yamamoto Memorial Museum in the suburban Tokyo city of Mitaka, Nov. 12, 2024. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)
The structure was built around 1926 as the residence of international trader Ryunosuke Seita (1880-1943). The building has one basement level and two stories above ground. Though it is a single residence, its exterior varies markedly between the north and south sides. On the north side, where the entrance is located, a large chimney catches the eye, and Oya stone was used around the building’s base. The second floor has white walls with wooden ornamentation, and the asymmetrical sloping roof brings to mind a mountain lodge.
The south side features an airy terrace and a second-floor balcony, while its symmetrical design creates a sense of calm. On the first floor are three fireplaces, each with a different design. Pointed arches appear in various places, including around the entrance and in the interior doors and windows. These details reveal the meticulous care devoted to both the exterior and interior. The windows look out onto a spacious garden.
Yamamoto lived here for about a decade from 1936, apart from a period of wartime evacuation. In 1994, the building was designated a tangible cultural property by the city.
(Japanese original by Akihiro Ogomori, Photo and Video Department)
The Mitaka City Yuzo Yamamoto Memorial Museum is seen from the south side, in the suburban Tokyo city of Mitaka, Nov. 12, 2024. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)
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The Japanese version of this article was originally published on Dec. 15, 2024.
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This series explores Japan’s architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.
AloJapan.com