Interview with a curator at Nozaki's Historical Residence
We spoke with Noriyuki Tsuji, a curator at Nozaki's Historical Residence, about how they continue to preserve and make use of the residence.
A nationally designated Important Cultural Property whose buildings and collections have been carefully passed down
I heard that the entire expansive estate of Nozaki's Historical Residence is designated as a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
Tsuji (honorific omitted)
Nozaki's Historical Residence is the mansion built by Buzaemon Nozaki after he succeeded in the salt-farming business.
Kojima suffered no damage from air raids, so not only the main house but also buildings such as the storehouses remain.
Buildings from the Edo to Meiji periods still exist throughout Japan, but in many places, buildings other than the main house have not survived.
I also think it is part of the Nozaki family's unique history that even after about 200 years, not only the buildings but also the salt business has continued.
It is not only the buildings and business that remain. Many cultural materials, such as antiques, hanging scrolls, and Noh masks, have also been preserved.
Antiques brought from the continent often survive despite being cracked or chipped.
However, the antiques preserved at Nozaki's Historical Residence have been carefully stored, and the fact that many remain in excellent condition is also highly regarded.
It is not only their beautiful appearance that is valued.
Another distinctive feature is that they come with detailed notes about when and from whom they were received.
Nearly 100,000 documents alone have been preserved.
These records are available not only for antiques but also for correspondence.
Usually, only letters received are kept here, while those sent from here are held by the recipients, right?
So, to learn in detail what exchanges took place, you also need to check with the other party.
However, Nozaki's Historical Residence also preserves copies of letters sent, so we can accurately understand what exchanges took place through correspondence.
I believe that the careful preservation of materials, including the buildings, was recognized and led to the residence being designated a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
From a life of poverty to a distinguished family that produced a member of the House of Peers
What kind of person was Buzaemon Nozaki, who built this magnificent mansion?
Tsuji
In fact, Buzaemon's father had also tried his hand at salt farming, but failed. As a result, he experienced poverty as well.
At the age of 38, he was faced with the following three choices:
- Hire people to farm in Kojo Shinden
- Manage the Osaka sales office for tabi socks
- Build salt fields in Kojima
Salt farming required labor costs and time for the initial investment, and given that Buzaemon's father had failed at the business, his relatives apparently opposed the idea. However, he overruled their objections and began salt farming in Kojima.
Building salt fields required constructing a breakwater at the port. The stones for it were brought from Washuzan Hill and Shimotsui.
About 460 people took part, and the salt fields were completed over the course of a year and a half.
Ultimately, the salt-farming business succeeded and earned trust, and by the third generation, Bukichiro had become a member of the House of Peers.
What kind of presence did the Nozaki family have for residents of Kurashiki, including those in Kojima?
Tsuji
For the House of Peers, one member representing the highest taxpayers was elected by mutual vote from among the 15 people in each prefecture who paid the most national taxes directly.
The Nozaki family ranked eighth nationwide and was a distinguished family that paid the highest taxes not only in Kojima but also in Kurashiki.
Nozaki Family Villa Taikado, the venue for the “Ohina Dosokai” held every year from February to March, served as a guest house where dignitaries from across the country gathered.
However, from the beginning, the Nozaki family cared deeply about the people of the community.
Earlier, you saw the servants' toilet in the mansion, which had a ceramic toilet bowl.
In the Meiji period, while ceramic was used for the toilets of aristocrats, servants typically dug a hole in the ground to relieve themselves.
For this reason, researchers studying the period all say, after seeing this toilet, “The Nozaki family must have treated their servants with great care.”
Records also show that the “Nozaki Family Hina Doll Exhibition,” held at Nozaki's Historical Residence, was open to the public from the Meiji period.
The exhibition was very popular at the time, apparently attracting as many as 1,500 visitors in a single day.
In this way, despite being a distinguished family, they seem to have believed in opening their estate to the public.
That idea of opening the estate to the public is still being carried on today.
What do you take care to do when maintaining the mansion as a nationally designated Important Cultural Property?
Tsuji
Because the buildings are old, they sometimes leak.
Leaks are a major cause of damage to buildings, so we address them as soon as we notice them.
Also, dead leaves and other debris clogging the gutters can damage the buildings, so when typhoons or heavy rain are forecast, we take precautions in advance. Above all, it is important to carry out regular maintenance.
Work to reinforce the buildings against earthquakes will begin in fiscal 2026.
This, too, is a necessary effort to pass Nozaki's Historical Residence on to future generations.
Because it is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, it took several years just to prepare the construction plans.
Experts were especially impressed by the stone wall at the back.
That stone wall is characterized by its meticulous, gap-free construction, as if built using machinery, and its soft appearance, with curves rather than the sharp corners seen in castles.
The large Bizen-style stone wall, 12 meters high and 50 meters long, is unusual, and it took many ideas from experts before the design was finally completed.
Since the work will be carried out in sections, we are not currently considering a long-term closure. However, for the next 13 to 14 years, some part of the site will always be undergoing repairs.
Fiscal 2025 will be the last year to enjoy the peaceful, spacious grounds of Nozaki's Historical Residence, so we hope many people will come and visit.
We want Kurashiki residents, especially those in Kojima, to experience culture at Nozaki's Historical Residence
You also hold a variety of special exhibitions.
Tsuji
We exhibit items from the collection of Nozaki's Historical Residence, and also hold special exhibitions featuring artists connected to the Seto Inland Sea.
We usually exhibit contemporary art inside the mansion, but works by Akio Hamamatsu, who makes Bizen ware at Oji Kiln in Tamano City, have also been displayed outdoors, including his 2019 《Five Hundred Arhats》 and 2024 《Komainu》.
2024 marked the 90th anniversary of Setonaikai National Park, so 90 pairs, or 180 komainu, appeared throughout the grounds. It was well received, with visitors saying they could see a different view from usual.
The “Calendar Special Exhibition” and “Nozaki Family Hina Dolls” are held every year.
For the calendar, we select items suited to the season from among the many pieces in the collection. The calendars are also for sale, so you can enjoy art at home, too.
How do you recommend enjoying Nozaki's Historical Residence?
Tsuji
Nozaki's Historical Residence is full of craftsmanship, so why not ask a staff member or volunteer guide to show you around? We can share lots of interesting facts about the mansion.
In addition to viewing the buildings and cultural properties, we also offer opportunities to experience traditional performing arts that make use of them.
The annual “Kojima Noh,” held at Nozaki Family Villa Taikado, is one such event.
The performers say that when they perform Noh at Nozaki Family Villa Taikado, the sound carries differently than in a hall, allowing them to dance comfortably.
The farther you go from the cities, the fewer opportunities there are to see traditional performing arts like these.
That is precisely why we want to preserve this place in Kojima as a venue where people from Kurashiki, especially those in Kojima, can experience live traditional performing arts.
We want children as well as adults to come and see Noh performances, so the morning program is designed for children and aimed at nursery schools and kindergartens.
We want children to experience the power of the real thing here.
Do you have a message for our readers?
Tsuji
Precisely because life is so busy today, I think gazing at the Japanese garden from the old buildings of Nozaki's Historical Residence can soothe the heart and bring peace of mind.
Please enjoy a leisurely visit.
From the Writer
When you visit a confectionery shop in Kurashiki City, you often see waffles filled with custard cream between sweet, fluffy layers. I had wondered why they were sold not only at Western-style bakeries but also at Japanese confectionery shops, and then I discovered a waffle maker in the kitchen of Nozaki's Historical Residence.
Nozaki's Historical Residence, in Kurashiki's port town, preserves the way people lived from the Meiji through the Showa era.
I hope this place will continue to preserve history and offer visitors a chance to experience it.
Nozaki's Historical Residence Information
| Name | Nozaki's Historical Residence |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-11-19 Ajino, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-472-2001 |
| Parking | Available 【 Free 】5 large buses / 36 passenger cars |
| Opening hours | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (gates close at 5:00 p.m.) |
| Closed | Mondays If Monday is a public holiday, the following weekday Closed for the year-end and New Year holidays (12/25–1/1) |
| Admission (tax included) | Adults (high school students and older): ¥500 Elementary and junior high school students: ¥300 Preschool children: Free ※Groups of 30 or more receive a 20% discount. ※Elementary, junior high, and high school students enter free on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. ※A 20% discount is available to visitors with a disability certificate (for the certificate holder and one accompanying person). ※Discounts cannot be combined. ※Elementary, junior high, and high school students, as well as accompanying teachers, enter free when visiting as part of a class activity. |
| Payment methods |
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| Smoking | Entirely smoke-free (outdoor smoking area available) |
| Restrooms | Western-style and Japanese-style toilets |
| Website | Nozaki's Historical Residence — Nozaki's Historical Residence |
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