KOMINKA The Beauty and Wisdom of Japanese Traditional Folk Houses by Kazuo Hasegawa

 KOMINKA

The Beauty and Wisdom of Japanese Traditional Folk Houses by Kazuo Hasegawa is a new book released by Museyon Books. The writer has been attracted by these old houses, the Kominka, since he started to work for Jutaku Joho a housing magazine. Born in Tokyo Kazuo changed house something like 16 times always feeling a profound discomfort everytime.

Why? Because modern houses lack of romanticism, of a vision and mainly....of character!  In the while the Kominka were completely abandoned to themselves. Sometimes they were falling down because no one was interested in these old houses. But...asks the author: was it normal this behavior? No, of course. 

So Hasegawa started to taking pictures of these houses, exposing solo collections of pictures, writing in newsmagazines and magazines of this situation, because, maybe, it was still a topic not too known.

Plus, what Kazuo noticed was that in foreign countries people love to take great care of old estates. In general these houses tend to be bought, and taken in consideration. Why didn't happen the same with the kominka?

The book is divided in several sections: in the first part you will find the significance of kominka. There will be also the introduction at two Americans who decided to live in a kominka.

The second part let us show the most beautiful kominka and villages and where they are: the third one is about the kominka of the author. Kazuo created also an association for preserving old houses. Honestly I didn't have any clue that these fascinating old Japanese houses were living a moment of crisis. It is an interesting book for sure.

The kominka in the description made by Kazuo:

"Constructed according to time-honored timber frame methods, kominka houses are scattered throughout Japan. They are found along the coast, in the mountains, and in remote rural hamlets, once powerful castle towns, hospitable post towns, and spiritual temple towns. They range from fishing village folk cottages and thatched-roof farmhouses to merchant mansions and dwellings for lower-ranked samurai. And since each region in Japan has its own unique culture and climate, a region’s old houses reflect and accommodate those conditions."

Highly recommended book.

Anna Maria Polidori