Summary
A piece of Japanese history in Southern California
The historic Shōya house, dating back to approximately 1700, now becomes a part of Southern California’s vibrant landscape. This 320-year-old Japanese Heritage Shōya House has been meticulously relocated from Marugame, Japan, to a two-acre space at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. It is set to welcome visitors on October 21.
Showcasing rural village life
The new exhibit will highlight what rural village life was like, emphasizing the 3,000-square-foot home. This fascinating display will include a gatehouse, courtyard, irrigation canal, agricultural plots, and a garden with a pond— all painstakingly recreated according to historic standards.
“The new Japanese Heritage Shōya House will offer a glimpse into rural Japanese life some 300 years ago, providing insights into that culture and its sustainability practices,” stated Karen R. Lawrence, The Huntington’s president.
Transportation and recreation efforts
Los Angeles residents Yohko and Akira Yokoi generously offered their family’s ancestral home back in Japan to the institution in 2016. The house had belonged to the Yokoi family for generations, where they acted as shōya (village leaders) of a farming community near Marugame in Japan’s Kagawa prefecture. The shōya served as the crucial liaison between the government and farmers, handling rice storage, tax collection, law enforcement, and overseeing planting and harvesting. Essentially, “the residence functioned as the local town hall and village square,” The Huntington clarified in their statement.
To ensure a successful transport of this centuries-old building across the Pacific Ocean, The Huntington’s team undertook multiple trips to Marugame. Their dedication culminated in a game plan to accurately recreate the living conditions of the home circa 1700.
Importance of sustainable practices
Over the last four years, Japanese artisans have worked hand in hand with architects, engineers, and construction workers to thoughtfully recreate the wood and stonework of the building, as well as the tiling and plastering of the roof—an effort to honor cultural traditions.
One of the standout aspects of this project is its dedication to sustainability. “An authentically constructed Japanese house using natural materials, in conjunction with careful attention to agricultural practices, will illustrate how a community achieved self-sufficiency,” Robert Hori, The Huntington’s cultural curator and programs director, affirmed. “We will exhibit the importance of reducing waste and repurposing items.”
Additionally, the house will function as “a working model of Edo period permaculture and regenerative agriculture,” highlighting the symbiotic relationship maintained between humans and their surrounding environment during the 18th century.
Visitor experience at Shōya House
As it opens this fall, visitors to the Shōya House will first walk through an orchard of persimmon, citrus, and mulberry trees, followed by a black clay roof-tiled gatehouse. Upon arriving at the courtyard, which served as a venue for life events such as weddings and funerals, visitors will encounter two entryways— one designated for samurai and government officials, and the other for farmers and craftspeople.
Inside this multi-floored home, rooms were used for ceremonial and business purposes, upper floors were designated for esteemed guests, and the rear sections were utilized for daily family life, which included a kitchen, dining space, and bedrooms. The home features traditional furnishings from the era, such as tatami mats and intricately carved wood panels known as ranmas.
The Shōya House will enhance The Huntington’s 130-acre botanical garden’s Japanese Garden, which has existed on the site for over a century. A five-room Japanese house previously shipped from Japan to Pasadena in around 1904 is already part of this picturesque setting, recently undergoing renovation in 2011. The garden also features a ceremonial teahouse, bonsai collection, and a Zen court.
While The Huntington is open daily except Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Shōya House will be accessible from noon to 4 p.m. Reservations will be essential for visits from Friday to Sunday, as well as on holidays and peak days. More information regarding The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens can be found at huntington.org.
