Foreigners’ Roles in Preserving Historical Houses: A Case Study in a Rural Town in Japan

Historical houses in Japan are endangered, mainly because of financial reasons. Some foreigners take this situation more seriously than locals and play active roles in their preservation and utilization. The longevity of buildings in Japan tends to be short due to social and cultural reasons. The primary cause of this is the scrap-and-build practice in the construction industry that contributes to the country’s economic growth. The real estate market in Japan finds little value in old houses, partly because of this commercial motivation and partly because Japanese culture has a higher appreciation for brand-new things. Unlike local people, foreigners find cultural value in historic or vernacular houses in Japan, and they are more used to self-maintaining their homes. Additionally, foreigners, especially those with a different ethnic appearance, draw public attention, and gain funding more than local people. This article reveals such a case that occurred in a small rural town called Hino, in Shiga Prefecture. An American, who appreciated the traditional Japanese lifestyle, bought a 120-year-old abandoned house. He restored it using traditional construction methods and later moved into Hino, where he has lived for the last 15 years. He soon became the secretariat of the Hino Historical Preservation Society. His activities ignited his neighbors and created a movement of restoration, which made the environment better and drew in more new residents, especially young people. The number of abandoned houses in his neighborhood decreased remarkably, and community events and local businesses are revitalized with respect to the tradition of Hino.

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ISBN
978-1-944214-31-9