Garyu-in, Ozu City

Garyu-in 
Phoenix motif openwork

The numerous openwork carvings were made by master woodworker Isai Komazawa using paulowania, and the phoenix motif openwork was carved out of solid Yakusugi cedar. They artfully express the changes in the seasons.

Garyu-in, Ozu City

Garyu-in 
Seisui-no-ma

The high ceiling and openwork transoms give the impression of coolness in the summer. A Biwa-style alcove is housed to the right side of the study window with a Shinto altar made of Japanese yew above and the openwork transom of Hanaikada (helwingia) represents spring. Suimon-no-bi to the right represents summer, Kikusi to the left represents autumn and Yukiwmado on the opposite side represents winter.

Garyu-in, Ozu City

Garyu-in 
Kagetsu-no-ma

Three-tiered staggered shelves that represent the mist next to a circular window that lets in the light from the Butsama (room for an altar) in the back to resemble the moon. It is a tranquil space that exhibits the master carpenter’s attention to detail throughout from the sliding doors in grey Japanese paper to the metal door handle shaped like a bat and the veranda of solid Sendai pine.

Garyu-in, Ozu City

Garyu-in 
Geirei-no-ma - The threshold with a split bamboo flooring has an atmosphere of a tea room garden

Garyu-in, Ozu City

Garyu-in 

The main structure on the villa’s grounds is a single-story farmhouse style dwelling with a thatched hipped roof. Legend has it that the teahouse architect Yagi was appointed advisor in the much labored construction of Garyu-in, which started in 1903 and took over four years to complete, using the Katsura Imperial Villa, Shugakuin Imperial Villa and the palace of the princely house of Nashimoto as examples. The construction was carried out by famous carpenters of Ozu and Kyoto. The building is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece that contains architectural touches by Senke Jisshoku, and paintings by Matsutosih Suzuki.

top picture: Kanbe Watanabe (1562-1640) 2nd picture: Takatora Todo (1556-1630) Takatora Todo hired Kanbe Watanabe to govern Ozu Province. Later Kanbe Watanabe left because he didn't follow Takaotora's order and made Takatora angry. They were both from Omi Province.

Back streets of Ozu
More about Ozu City here.