"Japonism" is known as the taste of Japanese arts and craftworks that were very popular among the European people in the end of 19th century. Some impressionist artists like Van Gogh, were said to be influenced by "Ukiyoe", which is the Japanese woodblock print at that time.

I like the old Japanese houses. Nowadays that style is still close to us, but numbers have been decreasing, so we often hardly notice them. It's always darkest just beneath the lighthouse.



Here is an old residential house named "Yokoohji house" in the town of Fukuoka city. This house was initialy buit in the Edo period, but large-scale of reconstruction had already done. The large pillars and beams, earth wall, thatched roof, tiles...every natural materials often fascinate people.



The floor of beaten earth called "Tataki" is painted within this house. This material is made of filled soil mixed with lime and water. This material has thermal and cool storage capability. It makes the room temperature cool and opposite effect in winter. We can introduce this into modern houses.

You can see a rice oven in the photo below, we call it "Kamado", now we do not use it, but rice cooked in this oven is absolutely great, awesome! I hope you can try it.This atmosphere is a space for healing.



We still can use those materials which are wisdom of ancestors, and can reproduce the acient atmosphere to our modern houses. I hope so.