Former Sasagawa Residence

Overview

The Former Sasagawa Residence is a historical building located in Mikata, Minami-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. Commonly known as the Sasagawa Mansion, it served as the home of the Sasagawa family, who for nine generations, from the beginning of the Edo period (Keian 2 (1649)) to the Meiji Restoration (1868), acted as the O-shoya (village headmen responsible for governance and dispute resolution) of eight villages in the Mikata group of the Murakami Domain. The 14,000 square meter property, including the main house and 10 other buildings, is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The Sasagawa family is said to have originated from the Takeda clan of Kai Province. After the downfall of the Takeda clan, they moved to Sasagawa Village in Shinano Province (present-day Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture) before settling in this location. Several gravestones bearing the Takeda surname remain in the cemetery behind the storehouse, offering a glimpse into their history. The residence is characterized by the separation of the "main house," serving as the official residence of the O-shoya, and the "living quarters," where the family lived, into separate buildings, clearly dividing public and private life. The main house faces east, boasting impressive dimensions: a length of 15 and a half ken (approximately 34.3 meters) and a width of 7 ken (approximately 17.6 meters). It features a hipped roof with copper sheeting (originally thatched) and a ridgepole inscription that reveals its completion in Bunsei 9 (1826). The impressive structure includes a gabled entrance porch projecting from the left side of the main house's facade. The property also features a Japanese garden and a haiku monument inscribed with a verse by Kyoshi Takahama: "Fallen shii leaves—the long-lasting human dwelling." Enjoy the lush greenery. In 1953 (Showa 28), Bernard Leach, a British potter, visited the Sasagawa residence with Soetsu Yanagi and Shoji Hamada, and wrote in his diary, "One of the most charming houses I have ever seen." The Former Sasagawa Residence remains a cherished cultural property, offering a valuable glimpse into the lives of wealthy farmers of the time. We highly recommend a visit to experience this piece of history.