In Kojima, Kurashiki City, there is a construction company that has been run by five generations since the Meiji era.
The office of Nanba Kenchiku Kobo Co., Ltd. (hereafter, Nanba Kenchiku Kobo) is a six-minute walk from JR Kaminocho Station.
The company works on new homes, temples and shrines, the restoration of traditional houses, and community revitalization. Its work goes beyond buildings to include supporting the people who live in or make use of them.
We spoke with Nanba Kenchiku Kobo about the commitment and skills it has passed down for more than 130 years in its approach to housing.
We also spoke with its president and representative director, Masada Junya, about how he took over the company as its fifth-generation leader and the initiatives he has pursued since becoming president.
We take a closer look at how the company continues to embrace new perspectives while cherishing tradition.
The information presented was current when this article was published in February 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Nanba Kenchiku Kobo
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo is a construction company founded in 1887 in Kojima, Kurashiki City.
Guided by the belief that “people’s homes should be built by people’s hands,” the company builds homes while cherishing the dedication and skills of craftspeople passed down since the Meiji era.
From new construction to traditional house restoration and community revitalization
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo currently operates six businesses:
- New construction
- Renovations
- Traditional house restoration
- Commercial construction
- Temples and shrines
- Community revitalization
In addition to building and renovating homes, temples and shrines, and commercial buildings, the company also undertakes traditional house restoration. President Masada serves as chair of the Okayama Prefectural Federation of the Japan Association for the Preservation of Traditional Wooden Houses, and can provide services ranging from traditional house appraisals to surveys.
For traditional house restoration, the company not only carries out standard restorations, but also relocates entire traditional houses (an initiative called “RE:Kominka”) and demolishes houses deemed unsuitable for restoration, reusing their reclaimed timber, broadening the range of solutions it offers.
In 2017, the company launched a community revitalization business. In Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, it established the community revitalization group “Shimotsui Sea Village Project,” addressing vacant homes, depopulation, and an aging population from the perspective of a local construction company.
To help more people discover the appeal of Shimotsui, the company also began offering guided tours of the town and support for welcoming new residents.
As these examples show, Nanba Kenchiku Kobo’s work goes beyond construction to include supporting the people who use its buildings.
It has three main distinguishing features.
Craftspeople are employed as company staff
Construction sites where craftspeople build homes inevitably involve risks such as injuries.
However, in the past, craftspeople had no compensation even if they were injured or became ill.
There were also no established opportunities for young craftspeople to learn their trade.
Even in those times, the person who diligently passed on the craftspeople’s skills was the company’s third-generation president, Nanba Shigeki.
The fourth-generation president, Nanba Kyoichirosan, carried on Shigeki’s commitment and skills and incorporated the company so that “craftspeople could work in a safe and secure environment.”
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo wants to pass on to the next generation the principles and commitment to homebuilding that have been handed down over the years.
To continue putting into practice the belief that “people’s homes should be built by people’s hands,” the company employs craftspeople and puts considerable effort into training them.
Materials are stored in the company’s own warehouses, including reclaimed timber from traditional house demolitions
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo aims to build homes that can be passed down and lived in for 100 years or more.
To achieve this, it is important to choose materials with strength and durability.
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo carefully selects materials such as solid Japanese cypress, and keeps wood suited to a variety of uses—including countertops, pillars, and flooring—in its four company-owned warehouses.
According to President Masada, “We carefully stock a quantity that rivals that of a lumber dealer.”
There is also a reclaimed timber warehouse beside the office, where valuable materials such as beams, pillars, and fittings from demolished traditional houses are stored and reused.
Solid wood is lumber cut directly from a log. Unlike lumber made by joining and processing pieces of wood, each piece is made from a single tree. It lets you enjoy the natural fragrance of wood, and is said to develop more character the more it is used.
Supporting residents and users, not just carrying out construction
One of Nanba Kenchiku Kobo’s strengths is that it handles everything in-house, from proposals through after-sales support.
The company also takes care to propose custom-built furniture, electrical wiring, and lighting fixtures suited to Japan’s traditional living environments.
It provides detailed follow-up so that customers can continue living comfortably in their homes for 100 years or more.
In its traditional house restoration and community revitalization work, the company also strives to ensure that traditional houses—symbols of Japan’s residential culture—are passed on rather than demolished.
To revitalize the community, it works with local government to plan and run events that draw attention to Shimotsui, address vacant homes, and provide a consultation service for people considering relocation.
Thus, Nanba Kenchiku Kobo’s work is characterized not only by homebuilding, but also by support for the people who live in and make use of those homes.
We spoke with fifth-generation president and representative director Masada Junya about how he took over the company, how its business developed afterward, and the principles he holds dear.
Interview with fifth-generation president and representative director Masada Junya
We spoke with fifth-generation president and representative director Masada Junya about how he took over the company, how its business developed afterward, and the principles he holds dear.
“I was impressed by what a wonderful, carefully built house it was”
Could you tell us how you first encountered Nanba Kenchiku Kobo and how you became its president?
Masada (honorific omitted)
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo was run by my father-in-law as its fourth-generation leader.
Soon after I married my wife, my father-in-law, who was president at the time, said, “We’re holding an open house for a single-story home. Why don’t you come take a look?” That was how it all began.
I still vividly remember the moment I stepped inside the house.
There was a wonderful fragrance of wood, and I was enveloped in a calm, dignified atmosphere unlike anything I had experienced before. I was impressed: “What a wonderful, carefully built house.”
I had also worked for a construction company before, so I suppose I could tell from the atmosphere that the house had been carefully built.
A few years later, when I had been at my previous job for 10 years, I decided to leave and joined Nanba Kenchiku Kobo in 2006.
After working there as an employee for seven years, I took over as president in 2013.
You mentioned that you had worked for a construction company before. Were you interested in homebuilding from the start?
Masada
No, I happened to end up working for a construction company.
I was born in Osaka and grew up in Nara. I moved to Okayama to attend Okayama University of Science.
I didn’t have much money, so I spent a lot of time working part-time. I enjoyed serving customers at the restaurant where I worked then. When I was job hunting, I applied almost exclusively for jobs where I could talk with people, such as customer service and sales.
One of those was a construction company headquartered in Kurashiki, and I was fortunate enough to get a job there in sales.
At university, I studied mathematics, science, chemistry, and earth science, so I had very little interest in or knowledge of architecture.
I imagine you faced some challenges at first.
Masada
To gain the basic knowledge needed to build homes, I earned qualifications such as a real estate transaction specialist license while working relentlessly to sell houses.
Soon after I joined the company, I was told they were opening a Kobe branch. I wanted to live in Kobe, so I was happy to go (laughs), but the work was tough.
It was also the bubble era, and the housing industry was building more and more homes. It was a world where people thought of homes as something to “buy” rather than something to “build.”
But sales gradually became more difficult, so I discussed with the president at the time how we should approach homebuilding. We gained the support of many customers. Previously, only two or three groups would come to our open-house events, but more than 70 groups came.
That was when I once again felt glad I had entered the construction industry.
A comfortable home carries on Japan’s residential culture
You became president after seven years as an employee, right? How did you feel when it was decided that you would take over the company?
Masada
I knew the time would come when I would take over, but when the moment finally arrived, I thought, “Taking over a company with such a long history is a heavy responsibility...”
It was enough to give me a stomachache, but I was able to steel myself because I wanted to pass on to the next generation the dedication and skills of the craftspeople that Nanba Kenchiku Kobo has carried forward.
I was moved the first time I saw one of our homes, and after joining the company, the more I learned, the more I felt, “These are homes that can only be built thanks to the dedication and skills of our craftspeople.”
Homes made possible by the dedication and skills of craftspeople.
Masada
I think that may be partly because I grew up in a housing complex.
My family wasn’t wealthy, and we lived together in a small room, so the solidity of a substantial wooden house feels new and striking to me.
From your perspective, President Masada, what do you find impressive about the craftspeople and the appeal of Nanba Kenchiku Kobo’s homebuilding?
Masada
I believe the craftspeople at Nanba Kenchiku Kobo carry on Japan’s residential culture.
The dedication and skills passed down through tradition are reflected in the homes, which is probably why people feel that “Nanba homes are wonderful.”
There are countless reasons why I think they’re wonderful. For example, hand-planing wood, even though it takes time, makes it less likely to get dirty; the skill of aligning corners precisely means window and door frames can also be made of wood; and the homes are built using techniques that make Japanese people feel comfortable living in them.
These may sound like small details, but I think homes built with such care are cherished and lived in for many years.
Another aspect of Japanese residential culture is that the guest room is placed in the sunniest spot closest to the entrance.
The tokonoma, where the family spends time, is toward the back of the house, in a spot that doesn’t get much sunlight.
This reflects the Japanese spirit of hospitality: wanting guests to feel comfortable above all else.
Homebuilding is exactly the same: small skills and thoughtful touches create a comfortable space for customers.
I’m not a craftsperson, so I can’t understand all of their dedication and skills. But I can share with many people the dedication and skills that moved me, and help pass them on.
I genuinely feel that Japan’s residential culture is wonderful, and that homes built by craftspeople who cherish it are wonderful too.
Pursuing better homebuilding while serving the local community
These days, you do more than build homes from scratch—you also restore traditional houses and work on community revitalization, right?
Masada
Yes. We started our traditional-house restoration business to carry on the dedication and skills of our craftspeople.
But I realized that if the town itself isn’t thriving, there will be no one to live in or make use of restored traditional houses.
So we also began community revitalization projects, such as holding events to bring people to the town.
Thankfully, we’ve met more people, and have started receiving inquiries from people who want to live in Kurashiki and those seeking advice on how to use vacant houses. We’ve even begun supporting people moving to the area. All of these efforts are connected.
Thanks to this, two people who moved to the area have joined our company.
I’ve always thought it’s important to embrace new values and change while cherishing tradition, so I’m grateful to those two for bringing a fresh perspective.
What are your goals for the future?
Masada
I want to build good homes through the dedication and skills of our craftspeople. Alongside that, I want us to be a company that engages thoughtfully with our customers and community, while also cherishing our commitment to making the community a better place.
Projects such as traditional-house restoration and community revitalization may seem like initiatives with a strong public-service aspect, but looking back at our history, it’s clear that our company has always sought to give back to the community.
For example, I’ve heard that after work, people once made a portable shrine and donated it for the local danjiri festival.
Our founder was born in Kojima and started working there, so I believe that the desire to “do something for the community” has always been there, even before it took shape as a business.
That desire has been passed down to my generation, and I want to cherish it and pass it on to the next generation as well.
As we continue to pursue better homebuilding, I want us to be a construction company that serves the local community.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
Masada
If you have any concerns about your home, please feel free to talk to us.
In recent years, we’ve received a particularly large number of inquiries about vacant houses, which have become a social issue.
Vacant houses come with all kinds of questions: “Can it be used?” “Can’t it be used?” “Can it be sold?” “Can it be rented?” “Does it have to be demolished?” “What should we do about inheritance?”
If you consult us, we can offer many options beyond simply “usable” or “unusable.” For example, “The house itself can’t be used and has to be demolished, but the old timber can be reused,” or “The house on the mountain may not be suitable to live in, but if it’s relocated to a more convenient place, it could become livable.”
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo has skilled craftspeople who carry on the spirit of Japan’s residential culture, and we’d be happy if you turned to us for help.
We want to continue our work to preserve Japan’s residential culture, one home at a time.
From the Writer
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo believes that “homes for people should be built by people.”
I learned that behind this belief are the craftspeople’s skills passed down within the company, and behind those skills are the dedication and techniques inherited from Japan’s traditional residential culture.
The spaces we instinctively feel are “comfortable” may hold dedication and skills passed down through generations.
I was also struck by how the company has developed its business with a broad perspective, seeing the “living environment” not simply as “the home,” but as “the entire community.”
I felt that Nanba Kenchiku Kobo’s work, which also addresses local issues from a builder’s unique perspective, naturally helps create a comfortable life not only for the people who use its homes, but for many others as well.
Nanba Kenchiku Kobo Co., Ltd. Information
| Organization name | Nanba Kenchiku Kobo Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction |
| Representative | Masada Junya |
| Year established | 1887 |
| Address | 1-14-56 Kojima Kaminocho, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | Toll-free: 0120-780-492, TEL: 086-472-4426 |
| Website | Nanba Kenchiku Kobo Co., Ltd. |
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