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Opening up a new eraShinshuBrand ShinshuBrand Awards 2021 NAGANO GOOD DESIGN Category Grand Prize "Door Group's efforts to utilize cultural assets and old houses"
NAGANO GOOD DESIGN Grand Prize
"Door Group's efforts to utilize cultural assets and old houses"
Creating new value in the Satoyama, with old Japanese houses as the core
Saito Tadamasa, CEO of Door Holdings Co., Ltd.
With the devastation of the Satoyama and the aging of villages all over the country, there are many old Japanese houses that become vacant. Projects that will include old Japanese houses with historical value rooted in the Satoyama as a place for economic activity, and that will also involve local people and connect them to the future are currently attracting attention.
Satoyama villa DEN is located in the Nakayama district of Matsumoto City, where you can see the Northern Alps and Matsumoto Hira. The building of a silkworm farmer, which has a history of over 190 years, has been renovated and is now a guesthouse that is rented out. There are several buildings on the grounds, including the mother house, earthen storehouse, and silkworm storehouses, each of which is used while retaining its original shape.
It is operated by Door Holdings Co., Ltd., founded in 1931, also known for its "Dooro Onsen Myojinkan." The company's efforts to make the most of its old Japanese houses were Restaurant Hikariya, a Japanese cuisine and French restaurant that was renovated from the prestigious 130-year-old merchant Mitsuya, a major company in Matsumoto City.
Saito Tadamasa, CEO of Door Holdings Co., Ltd.
"As the redevelopment of the city has progressed, discussions have been made about demolition of the old Hikariya, which has a history and is a wonderful building. It is not just a matter of keeping its shape, but it can be revived as a place where people can gather and weaving history while preserving the building. With that in mind, we renovated it and opened Hikariya in 2007. This is our first time reviving and utilizing the old Japanese house," says Saito Tadamasa, CEO of Door Holdings Co., Ltd.
The renovation, which takes advantage of the heavy characteristics of a merchant's house, blended into the local area, and in 2010 it was also designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property. However, many of the nearby shelves were demolished and turned into parking lots. Something historic ends. The same thing happened in the Satoyama area, with vacant houses and rough farmland becoming more noticeable.
"While looking at the colouring Alps in the sunrise and the sunset, and the sparkling rice fields after rice planting, I realized that this scenery is an incredible sight. I want to preserve this landscape."
President Saito spent several years in Tokyo since his student days and made a U-turn to Matsumoto to take over the Door Group. He says that he can now see the scenery of Matsumoto from a different perspective than he did when he was a child.
In 2019, they opened "Satoyama villa Den" and "Satoyama villa Honjin" in the Shiga district of Matsumoto City in 2020, launching the "Satoyama Revitalization Project." Through the creation of jobs and the increase in the number of people who interact with each other, we are working on three main initiatives: protecting the lives of local people, adding new value by utilizing old Japanese houses to preserve the culture, and creating systems that are good for health and the environment.
"Satoyama villa Honjin" is a renovated mainjin that was also used for the Sankin Kotai era.
"We thought that we could create a system to improve the local community through the management of guest houses. Tourism is an industry supported by local people, such as farmers who stock vegetables to restaurants and various craftsmen involved in the facilities. We would like to run Satoyama villa with local people and revitalize the Satoyama to become an attractive venue," said President Saito.
Another feature of Satoyama Villa is that it is renovated to make the most of the goodness of the old Japanese house.
"Old Japanese houses embody the lifestyle, history and culture of the people in the area. If you make too much effort, the original will be detrimental. Of course, we have made efforts to make it comfortable, such as using floor heating. However, we do not thicken the walls to insulate, lower the ceiling for heating efficiency, or compromise the original texture of the plaster.ShinshuIt may be cold in winter, so it may be tough, but I think that's a real experience too. Therefore, when you stay at Satoyama Villa, we hope you will enjoy the experience of feeling the history and lifestyle that old Japanese houses have accumulated."
"The vibrations are different. Over 100 years old.TimesThe way he puts it on is deep and realistic. So even if we bring modern materials, it doesn't harmonize," said President Saito.
Also, staying in the Satoyama is in line with the style of travel with an eye on the after-coronavirus pandemic.
"The next thing that modern people, foreign tourists who have traveled to major tourist destinations and urban residents are looking for is "experiences of Japanese life." I think the rural villages of the Satoyama, where they have lived together in harmony with nature for hundreds of years, are suitable for their needs and have the potential. However, once the village is devastated, it will not be able to accept it, and it will lose its charm."
You can also experience traditional agriculture in the paddy fields and fields on the N-Satoyama villla Den site.
It is because of this sense of crisis that President Saito is committed to developing Satoyama and old houses in a new way along with local lifestyles, and to sustainably conserving Satoyama. In addition, healthy lifestyles are fostered in the environment of the abundant ingredients in the Satoyama and clear air with high quality water, and new initiatives such as wellness tourism and "Type B employment support facilities" have begun.
The concerts of visitors and people living in the countryside are beginning to transform the Satoyama into a sustainable place.
HappinessShinshu Grand Prize in category
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*This article is information as of April 2022. Please note that the products we carry may have changed.
