{
  "id": 16393570,
  "title": "Retro Japan: 1876 Western-style house recalls Arita's heyday as global porcelain hub",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/retro-japan-1876-western-style-house-recalls-aritas-heyday-as-global",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-25T00:00:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261022/p2a/00m/0et/004000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Arita, a town in southwestern Japan, was once the epicenter of global porcelain production. The Arita Uchiyama preservation district for significant traditional buildings now honors this rich history. Amidst the traditional streetscape, the Former Tashiro Family Western-style House stands tall, a nationally designated important cultural property built in 1876.\n\nThe two-story wooden structure was crafted by Sukesaku Tashiro, the eldest son of Monzaemon Tashiro, who became wealthy by extending his business overseas. This distinctive building seamlessly blends Western architecture with Japanese techniques, featuring white plaster walls, a verdigris-trimmed porch and veranda, and a traditional sangawara roof.\n\nThe indoor spiral staircase leads to a spacious hall on the second floor, where a tatami-floored room adorned with washi paper featuring the Tashiro family crests of 'mokko' (quince) and 'kutsuwa' (cross within a circle) awaits. A chandelier, hung from a porcelain heat shield, adds a touch of elegance to the room.\n\nArched windows adorned with colored glass and fitted with double-leaf louvered shutters open onto the veranda, offering a glimpse into the preserved historic streetscape. Along the backstreets, 'tonbai' walls made from discarded firebricks, once used in climbing kilns, add a unique color and character to the town's historic scenery.",
  "summary": "ARITA, Saga -- The Arita Uchiyama preservation district for groups of important traditional buildings in this southwestern Japan town was once a globa",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Tashiro Family Western-style House built in 1876",
    "Blends Western architecture with Japanese techniques",
    "Features white plaster walls and verdigris-trimmed porch"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The preservation of the Tashiro family residence highlights how Arita’s historical wealth from international porcelain trade shaped a unique architectural fusion between Western styles and traditional Japanese craftsmanship.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}