The first concrete has been poured beneath the previous foundation! The process will continue several more times, which will ensure that the house does not heave or shift unevenly over time or fail during an earthquake.In other news, we have running water on the property thanks to a deep well cleaning and the installation of a brand-new pump. The well now has a capacity of 2.5 tons of water per day! I am in the middle of editing a video about the cleaning process for the YouTube channel, so I will share that here next time. For now, you can listen to me describe a bit of the process in today’s episode.Here are just a few tips I’ve learned from YouTube and from studying Foundations & Concrete Work, published by Fine Homebuilding (a magazine I love, by the way):* First, place a set of gravel under the concrete. It provides a stable base, improves drainage, and prevents cracks.* The plastic sheet (see below) is a passive house detail that improves airtightness and prevents moisture from rising into your crawlspace.* Since this job was a retrofit, we anchored rebar into the old foundation. We drilled holes into the old foundation with the hammer drill, filled them with specially designed caulk, and inserted the rebar into the holes.* The standard mix is generally: 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts aggregate.* More water that you add makes it easier to work with but also reduces its strength.* Try to mix to the consistency of cookie dough.* After you pour, vibrate the mix to reduce air bubbles that form inside.* To help the concrete cure, shower it with water every few hours (water is an agent that activates the cement).Unbeknownst to me for weeks, episode #40 went missing from the catalog. I am not sure how this happened and am also quite ashamed because the interview I did with Steve Beimel that day deserves to be shared far and wide across Japan. I’ve re-uploaded it this week. I enjoyed listening back to our discussion. I recalled my subsequent visit to the School of Traditional Building Arts in Kyoto and learning how to use the Pythagorean theorem, a chalk line, and a handsaw to carve a wood joint. It was also wonderful to reflect on how far things have progressed since the time of the interview (just over one year ago).I hope you enjoy this re-broadcast as much as I did.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* The Beauty of Everyday Things* Japanese Country StyleLinks to More Resources:* JapanCraft21.com* Japan Traditional Craft Revitalization Contest* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* JapanLivingArts.com* Mingei Folk Craft* Soetsu Yanagi* “Yō-no-bi”* Shin-Machiya Juku (School of Traditional Building Arts)* Tokonoma Alcove* Yoshihiro Takishita* Minka Summit* Melmac* Kengo KumaProducts Used For the Build* Siphon Pump* Magnetic Sweeper* EM-1 Effective Microorganism Solution This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

In an episode last summer, I covered my first autobiography about the story and works of Yoshihiro Takishita. Looking back at my catalog of podcasts, I found this to be one of the most insightful and enjoyable to listen to.For a few months now, I’ve been dwelling in the realm of ideas — about beauty, tradition, modernism — and have been itching to bring them down to a more practical, human level. There’s no better place to start than to re-explore the genre of biography. The practitioners of architecture will no doubt have much to offer as I work on my Japanese farmhouse restoration.Today, Kengo Kuma will give us a tour of his finished works throughout Tokyo, which range from epic sports venues to regal museums to quaint confectionary shops. As arguably the greatest wood architect of his generation, he advocates for an architecture that respects and takes into account its surroundings — as opposed to obtrusive buildings that selfishly obscure their neighbors.Since my project is mostly a historic building restoration, the house should take its humble place within the neighborhood without much difficulty. However, I think Kuma can still offer inspiration in another area. Collapsed roofs and rotten columns will need full replacement, and there will be plenty of room to use new wood material in a creative (Kuma-influenced) way to bridge the old and the new.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* My Life as an Architect in Tokyo* The Art of Japanese Joinery* Frank Lloyd Wright: An Autobiography* Frank Lloyd Wright by Ada Louise Huxtable* Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented ArchitectureKengo Kuma’s Works Mentioned* Japan National Stadium* Meiji Jingu Museum* Sunny Hills* Daiwa Ubiquitous Computing Research Building* Asakusa Tourist Information CenterLinks to More Resources:* How to Install a French Drain — Akiya Project YouTube* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* Lowering Your Basement on YouTube* Kengo Kuma* Shigeru Ban* Kazuyo Sejima* Kenzo Tange* Grand Morillon Student Residence at IHEID* Yoyogi National Stadium* Zaha Hadid* Meiji Jingu Shrine* Seiroku Honda* Antonin Raymond* Jigoku Gumi* University of Tokyo — Hongo Campus* Yoshikazu Uchida* Yoshichika Uchida* Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel* Asakusa Shrine* Asahi Beer HeadquartersProducts Used For the Build* Hammer Drill Shovel Bit* Makita Hammer Drill This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

With a month-long trip back to California, I took time off from the project and enjoyed reading The Old Way of Seeing by Jonathan Hale. I first heard about the book from Brent Hull, a master craftsman who wrote an article titled “Books Every Builder Should Own” for the wonderful magazine Fine Homebuilding.In a democracy, equality is among society’s highest ideals. One drawback, Hale argues, is that we tend toward mediocrity. As the Japanese saying goes, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” Hale pushes back against this, pointing out that our built world has become increasingly ugly. Despite saying the obvious, our society remains uncomfortable with such harsh judgment. It prefers to maintain the average.In this book, Hale illustrates this view, contrarian to our modern times. He makes the case that the old way of seeing produced beauty, and that we have lost that ability. He dives into what made the old way of seeing so powerful, namely that the ancients were more in touch with human intuition, natural patterns, and the ethic of play. He provides a history of when and how we lost the old way of seeing. He discusses how the vision of the modernists and the post-modernists fell short. And he concludes with a hope for the future.He presents Frank Lloyd Wright as the greatest architect of our modern times. He understood the importance of pattern and form, yet he knew how to innovate. He was not tied down by historical precedent, yet he knew how to play with and off of old buildings. Most of all, he understood his culture and designed homes that epitomized American democratic life.I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! I am back in Japan now and preparing for the most grueling stage of the project: retrofitting the foundation. I’ll update you more on that next time. In the interim, have a look at our new YouTube channel to see our successful implementation of a French Drain. Thanks again.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* The Old Way of Seeing* The Classical Language of Architecture* Democracy in America* After VirtueLinks to More Resources:* The Akiya Project on YouTube* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* Jonathan Hale* Brent Hull* Books Every Builder Should Own by Brent Hull* Fine Homebuilding* Edward Hopper* Vesica piscis* Alexis de Tocqueville* Democracy in America* Tyranny of the majority* Nicholas Biddle* Golden ratio* Alasdair MacIntyre* Reconstructed Historic Center of Warsaw* Ralph Waldo Emerson* Frank Lloyd Wright* What are Usonian-style homes? This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

As opposed to removal work like throwing out trash, cutting bamboo, and organizing storage, my brother and I have finally completed our first tangible contribution to the property: a French drain. Below, I’ve listed the Japanese “netron” pipe product we used for the drain, which is quite unique from the typical perforated pipe you’d find in the United States. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a supplier of netron pipes for you in the US.The other major task that we completed this month was the removal of an estimated 400 small bales of straw from the attic. With one bale averaging 10 pounds, we removed roughly 2 tons of straw! Bale by bale, we piled them up in the backyard. We wore long sleeves to keep our skin relatively clean, plus we wore heavy-duty respirators. The back-breaking work in the humid attic forced me to enter a mental state of detachment, repeating in my head, “Just one at a time. Just one at a time.” I’m glad it’s over.As someone with a soft spot for traditional architecture, I’ve been flirting with the idea of re-thatching the old roof. I hesitated to expose the straw to the elements in the backyard because that amount of straw would be enough to thatch most, if not all, of the roof. However, the current priority for me is to reduce the weight of the building in preparation for the foundation retrofit. As a consolation, I have contacted kusa-kanmuri, an incredible thatch roof company in Kobe, to try to donate the straw. I hope it can go to good use.Having spent over a week in the attic, I have become more familiar with the construction of traditional Japanese roof framing. This makes today’s book all the more timely. The Art Of Japanese Joinery by Kiyoshi Seike has helped me to examine the various wooden joints around the house with a more trained eye. While it is not a strict how-to manual, the book’s photographs and diagrams helped move me from a pure novice of Japanese joinery to an educated amateur. While I can rely on my brother (a trained carpenter) for detailed woodwork, I will certainly reference Seike’s book for guidance when we start restoring the wood framing.Kiyoshi Seike was one of the most influential architects of Japan’s post-war era. His long list of architectural works includes residential homes, university buildings, and structures for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. The house he built for himself in Toyko, simply titled “My House” (watashi no ie), is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. In fact, you can schedule a visit using this Japanese website if you are interested.In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into the history of Japanese joinery from Seike’s point of view. We learn about the origins of kiwari, Japan’s human-centered measuring and proportioning system. We learn about how to best implement joinery (namely that you ought to reinforce wooden joints with adhesives, nails, or metal braces). We also get a taste of Seike’s comprehensive and technical list of types of tsugite joints and shiguchi joints. Please enjoy.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* The Art Of Japanese Joinery* Foundations & Concrete Work* The Classical Language of Architecture* Building the Timber Frame House: The Revival of a Forgotten ArtLinks to More Resources:* The Akiya Project on YouTube* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* The Marco Polo Bridge Incident* Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform* Great Fire of Meireki* Fire Blocking Basics* Kiwari (in Japanese)* Traditional Japanese house earthquake test (video)* Splice Joints (Tsugite)* Connecting Joints (Shiguchi)* Kusa-kanmuri in Kobe* Schedule a visit to Kiyoshi Seike’s “My House”Products Used For the Build* Japanese Netron Pipe* Non-Woven Geotextile Fabric* CIGMAN Self-Leveling Laser Level* Walensee Tamper* KEEN Steel Toe Work Boots* Big Red Hydraulic Jack This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

It’s easy to get discouraged during these early phases when my brother and I are literally moving earth with nothing but shovels, a wheelbarrow, and our bare hands. We move forward inch by inch. On some days, it does not feel as though we complete much. But when I look back at the photos from one month ago, our progress becomes clear. I feel gratified with the hard work.This project has humbled me to the raw power of nature. We’ve exerted great energy in forcing the sprawling bamboo roots to unclinch their grip on the earth. We’ve hauled away buckets and buckets of soil that flooded the house over the decades. Most of all, we’ve witnessed the power of water. Wherever we’ve seen a crack in the roof, we’ve found rotting wood below. Water has also seeped up from the ground and into the crawlspace air, destroying the underside of the floorboards. Water has even softened the soil near the foundation, making the stones start to slip downward. Our most successful task this month has been the digging of over 300 feet of trenches, to be used as a French drain. This is all in the name of getting the water out. In addition to channeling rain and groundwater into the nearby river, the drain system will also lower the land’s water table. This will keep our future footings dry and will reduce the amount of moisture that enters the crawlspaces. Once this is done, foundation work will begin. My architect has just begun to draw plans and details for the footings. This will no doubt occupy our July and August. This is the most important part of the structure, so the investment of sweat and persistence will surely pay dividends. Wish us luck.Today’s book, Be Your Own House Contractor: Save 25% Without Lifting a Hammer, has been a great resource for me to ease my anxiety about the intensity of the work. The author Carl Heldmann provides well-organized lists of every home-building step you need to consider, a breakdown of costs, and the proper sequence of steps. This orderly information has helped me put into perspective where I am now and how far I need to keep going. My architect has told me, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” This book has helped me understand my place in that marathon and manage my energy for the upcoming year. I hope you find it just as useful.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* Be Your Own House Contractor: Save 25% Without Lifting a Hammer by Carl Heldmann* Passive House Details: Solutions for High-Performance DesignLinks to More Resources:* The Akiya Project on YouTube* Build Your Own House website (www.byoh.com)* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisorCost Breakdowns Provided in the Book* Permits, fees, surveys* Installing Utilities (electric, gas, phone)* Excavation* Foundation* Rough Lumber* Rought Labor* Windows and Exterior Doors* Roofing* Concrete flatwork (slabs) garage floors, basement floors* Siding* Plumbing* Heating* Electrical* Insulation* Water (Well)* Sewer (Septic)* Fireplaces* Drywall* Cabinets* Interior Trim* Interior Trim Labor* Painting* Applications* Light Fixtures* Floor Coverings* Driveway* Garage Door* OtherProper Sequence of Steps in Building the House, according to Carl Heldmann:* Staking the lot and house: 1–3 hours* Clearing and excavation: 1–3 days * Ordering utilities, temporary electric service, and a portable toilet: 1 hour * Footings (first inspection must be made before pouring): 1 day * Foundation and soil treatment, then foundation survey: 1 week * Rough-ins for plumbing, if on a slab, and inspection: 2–4 days * Slabs, basement, and garage: 1–2 days * Framing and drying-in: 1–3 weeks * Exterior siding, trim, veneers: 1–3 weeks * Chimneys and roofing: 2 days–1 week * Rough-ins (can be done during steps 9 and 10): 1–2 weeks * Insulation: 3 days * Hardwood flooring and underlayment: 3 days–1 week * Drywall: 2 weeks * Priming walls and pointing up: 2 days * Interior trim and cabinets: 1–2 weeks * Painting: 2–3 weeks * Other trims, such as Formica, ceramic tile, vinyl floors: 1 day-1week * Trimming out and finishing plumbing, mechanical, and electrical and hooking up utilities: 1–2 weeks * Cleanup: 2–3 days * Carpet and/or hardwood floor finish: 3 days–1 week * Driveway (if concrete, can be poured anytime after step 14): 1–3 days * Landscaping: 1–3 days * Final inspections, surveys, and closing of construction loan and interim loan: 1–3 days * Enjoying your home: a lifetimeNote: Steps 2 and 4 can be done by one sub. Steps 3 and 4 can be reversed. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

My brother has arrived! He settled into his sharehouse, took a tour around the neighborhood, and began working on-site with me. We’ve already made great progress on excavating more trash, old furniture, and unneeded material. A more pristine work site is on its way. I’ve also met with my architect a few more times. As we wait for the 3D model to come in, I’ve been starting with tasks that don't need an architect’s blueprints. First up is digging French drains around the property. I’ll make sure to share photos of the process, as I’ve researched some best practices from both books and YouTube. I’m also thinking of renting a backhoe to remove the muddy topsoil from the main road, compact the soil below, and install pavers or cobblestones. I may need to reinforce the side of the road as well. My neighbors have said that the previous owners used to drive their cars all the way up to the house back in the day, so I hope I can mend the road to its previous strength.I read a quote from T.S. Eliot once that always stuck with me, and it’s been coming to mind quite a bit this month:Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?― T.S. Eliot, The RockEven though Eliot first published The Rock in 1934, the quote rings as true today as ever. Thanks to Google, we have the world’s information at our fingertips, and thanks to AI language models, we have it at a moment’s notice. And thanks to innovations in building technology, we now have the information to build safe, indestructible buildings quickly and cheaply. But I sense that we have lost the wisdom to build beautifully, to build harmoniously. In today’s podcast, The Classical Language of Architecture will unearth some clues to that wisdom. We will learn about the Greek and Roman “Orders” and how to use them in our buildings. We will learn about the philosophy of harmony and storytelling that drives classical architecture.The author Sir John Summerson will teach us about the fascinating history of the Orders as well. After the fall of the Roman Empire, societies across the European continent lived among the ruins. But the knowledge of how to build as the Romans faded from memory — until an Italian scholar rediscovered an ancient text by a Roman engineer almost 1,400 years after it was first written.How lucky we are to live in a world where that knowledge was not lost forever. For me, Summerson’s book is my first introduction to the classical language of architecture. It has helped me to look at the built environment around me with a fresh set of eyes. Please enjoy.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* The Classical Language of Architecture by John Summerson* Foundations & Concrete Work by Editors of Fine Homebuilding* Vitruvius: The Ten Books on Architecture* The Four Books of Architecture* The Art of Japanese Architecture* Essai sur l'architecture by Marc Antoine Laugier* The Rock by T.S. EliotLinks to More Resources:* The Soil Texture Triangle* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* #47 Greene, Wright, Huntington, and the Art of Japanese Architecture* Donato Bramante* Sebastiano Serlio* Vitruvius* Andrea Palladio* Sir John Soane* Postmodernism* Marc-Antoine Laugier* Inigo Jones* Le Corbusier* Modern Movement* If you don’t see the photos, visit Substack to subscribe. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Just a few days ago, a 3D modeling company brought over their cameras and tripods to scan the ins and outs of the property (my architect in California will use the data to visualize the site since he can’t visit in person). I’ll share more about this important step soon, but recently, I’ve been reflecting much more on the manual clean-up required to prepare for the scan.Whenever I would encounter other forms of life up there, like lizards, spiders, and even orange slime molds, my fight or flight responses would kick in, my pupils would dilate, and my body would rush with adrenaline. In our safe, manufactured cities, I rarely needed to turn on these instincts. But up in the mountains, I have found myself gaining a greater awareness of and connection to my natural surroundings.One day, I pulled a heavy cabinet off the front lawn and uncovered the shelter of not one, but two Japanese pit vipers (mamushi). As it turns out, mamushi are one of two venomous snakes in Japan. I had probably walked past them daily for weeks without even knowing it! They have since slithered away in retreat, but I’m sure they’re not too far. Equally startling to me was my encounter with a pair of rodents. I had just finished removing a stack of rotten wood and was sweeping up the remaining heavy debris. Resting beneath this layer of debris were two newly-born mice — pink, hairless, and totally helpless. Their infant form was both disarming and creepy. I lightly covered them back up, hoping their mother would return (especially before the snakes find them).In addition to the vast but forgotten ecosystems that exist before our eyes, I’ve gained a greater appreciation for something else we often take for granted and even look down upon: trash collectors.Since the 3D scan was a big expense and a one-time camera shoot, the site had to be as clean as possible. I removed over one hundred bags of trash and nearly one ton of scrap metal that the previous owners left. I was so desperate to get the ever-increasing mountain of trash bags out of my house that, as a customer of trash disposal services, I would have been happy to pay an extra inconvenience fee for the sheer volume I was amassing. On trash day, I stuffed the neighborhood collection area to the brim and drove away nervously, hoping the collectors would accept my trash. When I drove past later in the afternoon, the bags had disappeared and no warning notices had been posted. The trash collectors were simply doing their jobs, but from my elated perspective, they had taken a great burden off my shoulders for just 80 yen per bag. I brought a truckload of trash to the collection area four more times, and every time it happened, I couldn’t believe that they would just take it away. Disposing of trash is much like flushing the toilet. We do it every day, and so we tend to forget how miraculous of a system it really is. Since I’m working on a piece of land that has no cement road, water, or electricity yet, I’ve become forced into awareness about the value of these modern comforts.I’m sure that this is only the beginning of the stories that I’ll have to tell once the renovation enters full swing. Now that the design work is ready to commence and the clean-up is finishing up, I’ve been returning my attention to the principles and tactics of homebuilding. So please enjoy this episode of the Local Japan podcast as we explore the Bible of timber framing, Building the Timber Frame House: The Revival of a Forgotten Art by Tedd Benson.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* Building the Timber Frame House: The Revival of a Forgotten Art* Learn to Timber Frame: Craftsmanship, Simplicity, Timeless Beauty* The Art Of Japanese Joinery* The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an Ancient Woodworking Craft* Passive House Details: Solutions for High-Performance Design* The Not So Big HouseLinks to More Resources:* Tedd Benson* Bensonwood* Build Show Podcast: Restoring the Past, Building the Future* Barnwood Builders* Soetsu Yanagi* Todaiji Temple: World’s Largest Wood Structure* The Timber Framers Guild* Building Science Corporation* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor13 Essential Joints Listed in the Book:* Mortise and Tenon* Shouldered Mortise and Tenon* Anchor-Beam Joint* Knee-Brace Joint* Scarf Joint* Housed Dovetail* Tusk Tenon* Dovetail* Corner Joints at Sill* Joints at Rafter Feet* Tongue and Fork* Collar-Tie Joint* Framed Overhang This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Back in the days when I was dying a slow death of boredom by bureaucracy, I would find salvation in books. After a few days of falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes and practicing the hiragana and katakana alphabets over and over again, I had an idea, “Why don’t I email PDFs of books to myself?” And so began my adventures to distant worlds, straight from the metal desk of the damp middle school staff room.One of the books that completely enveloped me, and remains on the top of my all-time list of favorites, is The Lessons of History by Will Durant. On the death of civilization, he wrote:But do civilizations die? Again, not quite. Greek civilization is not really dead; only its frame is gone and its habitat has changed and spread; it survives in the memory of the race, and in such abundance that no one life, however full and long, could absorb it all. Homer has more readers now than in his own day and land. The Greek poets and philosophers are in every library and college; at this moment Plato is being studied by a hundred thousand discoverers of the "dear delight" of philosophy overspreading life with understanding thought. This selective sur­vival of creative minds is the most real and beneficent of immortalities.These grand topics gripped my interest so intensely back then. I remember reading and loving A History of the American People, the Prophet, A Book of Five Rings, Another Kyoto, and many more just like these. My interest in these topics certainly originated from my (perhaps arrogant) refusal to accept my place in the bureaucracy like a cog in a machine. It also came from a need to feel productive; to be learning something. Most of all, I loved these books for helping me understand our collective heritage and where I came from — which in turned helped me understand who I am today. I am beginning to know where to direct my efforts for tomorrow.In the last chapter of the book, titled “Is Progress Real?”, Durant speaks on what the lessons of history have to teach us about that “tomorrow”: The heritage that we can now more fully transmit is richer than ever before. It is richer than that of Pericles, for it includes all the Greek flowering that followed him; richer than Leonardo's, for it includes him and the Italian Renaissance; richer than Voltaire's, for it embraces all the French Enlightenment and its ecumenical dissemi­nation. If progress is real despite our whining, it is not because we are born any healthier, better, or wiser than infants were in the past, but because we are born to a richer heritage, born on a higher level of that pedestal which the accumulation of knowledge and art raises as the ground and support of our being. The heritage rises, and man rises in proportion as he receives it.History is, above all else, the creation and recording of that heri­tage; progress is its increasing abundance, preservation, transmission, and use. To those of us who study history not merely as a warning reminder of man's follies and crimes, but also as an encouraging re­membrance of generative souls, the past ceases to be a depressing chamber of horrors; it becomes a celestial city, a spacious country of the mind, wherein a thousand saints, statesmen, inventors, scientists, poets, artists, musicians, lovers, and philosophers still live and speak, teach and carve and sing. The historian will not mourn because he can see no meaning in human existence except that which man puts into it; let it be our pride that we ourselves may put meaning into our lives, and sometimes a significance that transcends death. If a man is fortunate he will, before he dies, gather up as much as he can of his civilized heritage and transmit it to his children. And to his final breath he will be grateful for this inexhaustible legacy, knowing that it is our nourishing mother and our lasting life.Aside from Durant’s matchless prose, I found this message encouraging to the verge of tears. I would never dare to assume that my humble house in the middle of small town Japan could ever exemplify Durant’s vision. But if not for all of human heritage, I hope that I can raise this building out of the dust at least for myself. And if I am lucky, then perhaps for the extended nieces and nephews in my family and for my posterity.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* Another Kyoto by Alex Kerr* Learn to Timber Frame: Craftsmanship, Simplicity, Timeless Beauty* Lost Japan by Alex Kerr* Dogs and Demons by Alex KerrLinks to More Resources:* Alex Kerr* Ah Un* Mount Sumeru* Shin Gyo So* Kamiza and Shimoza* Kobe Noson Startup Program* Blood Ceilings* Hiragana and Katakana* Ichiriki-tei* Fusuma* The Underworld* Jizo* Sanjusangendo* Onin War* Enma-do This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

The contract, payment, and legal documentation all went through successfully this month — officially making me a homeowner and landowner in Japan! Frankly, there is a good reason why I was able to acquire the property for the price that I did. It seems that the structure was hardly ever updated in its 100+ year life to meet modern standards of the day. To make matters more extreme, for the past 30 years, its previous owners left it abandoned to degrade into the mountainside. But no matter, this is precisely why I am here.I extend my deepest gratitude to Nishimura-san and the whole team at Nishimura-gumi, who helped me acquire the kominka. First, they accepted my offer to volunteer for free doing whatever they needed at their work sites. They very well could have brushed me off. As I came to help several times a week, we built trust over time. When I approached them for support to find a property of my own, they gathered their networks and resources to pinpoint places for me to check out. They even helped me complete the legal documentation after purchasing it, which certainly would have been difficult to do in Japanese at the legal affairs bureau.Ultimately, they gave me an opportunity. That’s what I’ll truly remember and appreciate forever.In my year-long experience of searching for a property to restore in Japan, I have met many good people who have gone out of their way to offer their time and resources. I have also encountered an excess of unnecessary gatekeepers. They have their reasons (I have no financial history in Japan, I lack a business track record, I’m a homebuilding amateur).In the end, though, the latter group has given me the perspective to foster self-reliance. Each frustration taught me to build up my competencies myself: read the Inns and Hotels Act in Japanese, read the Building Standards law in Japanese, don’t borrow money, don’t buy a property above what I can afford, learn about build science, read up on engineering and physics, and the list goes on. In the face of barriers, I’ve gained an instinct to do things from scratch.Nishimura-san is a member of that former group, but one who has gone above and beyond. His renovation company, Nishimura-gumi, has been the diamond in the rough that has allowed me to put my guard down. Nishimura-gumi (as an organization) and I (as a determined volunteer) complemented each other’s needs and goals. Most importantly, Nishimura-san gave me — a sole, wandering, but determined foreigner — a chance.I have been occupied in the past few weeks with cutting scores of bamboo, which has encroached on the buildings. I found a few maple trees growing on the forest floor, so I made sure to protect them. I also bought a kei-truck. This little car will do the heavy lifting of trash removal for me this month. Once I have a clean job site, the technical repairs may begin.This brings us to today’s podcast episode about build science and Passive House certification. As the planning and design stage approaches, I need to begin thinking about how to turn this old house into a beautiful, quality home that meets modern high-performance standards. The book Passive House Details: Solutions for High-Performance Design has been an important resource for me in this regard.The authors are accredited, certified, and practicing architects out of the Eugene, Oregon area who have collected excellent case studies of Passive House buildings across the United States. They explain what exactly is Passive House and what are the basic principles. Then, they go into great detail about materials to use, designs to consider, and much more; but they do so in a well-written and approachable manner. The book should serve as an excellent guide for anyone entering the design stage of their project.I hope that this episode can inform at least one person who is renovating a Japanese home about the passive house standard and the importance of understanding build science. Now, the big question is if I can put these principles into practice on my project.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:* Passive House Details: Solutions for High-Performance Design by Corner, Fillinger, & Kwok* Why Buildings Stand Up by Mario Salvadori* Why Buildings Fall Down by Matthys Levy & Mario SalvadoriLinks to More Resources:* Joseph Lstiburek on This Old House (YouTube)* Build Science 101 on YouTube* Donald Corner* Jan Fillinger* Alison Kwok* Kominka Japan Facebook Group* Joseph Lstiburek* The Building Science Corporation* Matt Risinger* The Build Show on YouTube* The Build Show Network* Steve Baczek* The Perfect Wall by Joseph Lstiburek* UK Berkeley Wurster Hall* R-value* Thermal Bridging* Hygrothermal Performance* Passive House Certification by the Passivhaus Institut This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year everyone!In today’s episode, we are going to gain a great, fundamental understanding of not just Japanese architecture, but also Japanese history, religion, politics, and more — and how these many factors play into the built environment that constitutes the country today. The Art of Japanese Architecture written by David and Michiko Young will be our guide through Japan’s story of architecture.It begins with the ancient people who found their way to the archipelago from the continent. We learn about continental influences from Korea and China, and Japan’s patterns of isolationism and re-engagement throughout its history. This episode, and especially the book The Art of Japanese Architecture, should serve as a travel companion too. It is a rich resource, detailing important architectural and historical sites, including both well-known ones and others off the beaten trail.The book also helped me gain insight into my own house in Japan, how it was built, where its design influences came from, and how I can incorporate historical precedent into the rebuild. Have a look at the photos below on Substack to see for yourself!Please consider subscribing to the Local Japan Substack as a free or paid member starting at just $5 a month! Your contributions help me with production costs and the time required to record and edit podcasts and organize interviews. For this, I thank you always. Enjoy the episode!* The Main House (see photo on Substack)* The Storehouse and Warehouse (see photo on Substack)* The Art Deco-Inspired ‘Yoshida Sanso’ (see photo on Substack)Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:* The Art of Japanese Architecture by David and Michiko Young* Japanese Country Style by Yoshihiro Takishita* The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an Ancient Woodworking Craft by Azby Brown* Minka: My Farmhouse in Japan by John Roderick* Beauty by Sir Roger Scruton* Frank Lloyd Wright and Japan by Kevin NuteLinks to More Resources:* The Gamble House* Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House* The Huntington Library and Gardens* The Shoya House* Heritage Square Museum (another site I visited in LA but forgot to mention!)* The concept of Wa — 和* Osaka's World Heritage Burial Mounds* Ise Jingu’s Continuous Reconstruction* The Giant Buddha on Nara* Shinto Shelf — kamidana* Shinden Style and Shoin Style Architecture* The dark period of Mappō* Daisho-in, Shingon temple with an underground rebirth ritual* Jōruri-ji, Kyoto temple with a rare original Paradise Hall* Tokonoma* The Great Japan Earthquake of 1923* Takayama’s Sanmachi District* Kanazawa* Shirakawa-go’s Thatched Roof Homes* Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter* Sukiya-zukuri* Katsura Rikyu — Katsura Imperial Villa* Yoshida Sanso Ryokan* Nishioka Tsunekazu* Imperial Hotel of Tokyo by Frank Lloyd Wright* The National Museum of Western Art by Le Corbusier* Imperial Crown Style* Buddhist Art Library* The Historic Kaichi Elementary School* Tokyo Station* Japanese Post and Beam Construction* Umeda Sky Building* Sir Roger Scruton on modern architecture This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

I have a big announcement to make about the start of what we've all been waiting for. As a result of this announcement, I found it fitting to revisit the fundamentals and ask myself why I am doing all this. Why am I trying to restore buildings that I think are beautiful? To help me through this question, I’ll be reading through a few sections of "Beauty: A Very Short Introduction" by Sir Roger Scruton. In short, Scruton argues that beauty is a moral endeavor. It is not up to subjective taste. Instead, beauty embodies both a rational and virtuous pursuit. I first came across the book in graduate school when I learned about Scruton's involvement in the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission. I've since taken a deep dive into his literature and other initiatives to support architectural preservation across the UK.In today's podcast episode, we explore the democratic principle of individual freedom and its delicate balance with the common good. We delve into how objective standards and principles, such as decorum, humility, propriety, and hierarchy, can enhance beauty. Yet, we also examine the art of skillfully breaking these rules. The episode spans topics like the transcendent, modesty, the language of classical architecture, taste, and aesthetic education.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:* Beauty by Sir Roger Scruton* The Beauty of Everyday Things by Soetsu YanagiLinks to More Resources:* Sir Roger Scruton* Nicholas Boys Smith* Create Streets Foundation* Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission* Platonic Virtues* Plotinus* Dante and Beatrice* Soetsu Yanagi* Sir Christopher Wren* Baldassare Longhena* “Form follows function”* Brent Hull on YouTube* Arts & Crafts Movement* Jung Chang and John Holliday* Piss Christ* Tate Modern Museum* MoMA* Duccio* Giotto* Velázquez* Cézanne* Aristotelian Virtue Ethics This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Nicholas Boys Smith is the founder of Create Streets, a social enterprise based in London that works with neighborhoods, communities, landowners, councils, and developers across the United Kingdom. Its mission is to help create and manage beautiful places, defined by gentle density, stewardship of nature, and public well-being. Boys Smith is also the author of many books, including No Free Parking, a history of London’s streets, out now in paperback.It was a pleasure to speak with him, in no small part, because of his work as the co-chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission and co-author of the 2020 report that advised the UK government on how to increase the use of high-quality design for newly built homes and how to bring beauty forward in neighborhoods. This report, also co-authored by Sir Roger Scruton, deeply influenced my graduate thesis. It has also inspired me to methodically address the Japanese context, no doubt a complex task to which I hope to contribute in at least a small meaningful way.In our discussion, we talk about the origins of modern and post-modern architecture and how to re-introduce beauty into policy debates about city planning. We learn about how Create Streets began and what projects it is engaged in today to achieve its mission. We discuss the importance of stewardship of nature, giving voice to local residents, and how beauty satisfies our rational inclinations. Please enjoy!Please consider subscribing to the Local Japan Substack as a free or paid member starting at just $5 a month! Your contributions help me with production costs and the time required to record and edit podcasts and organize interviews. For this, I thank you always.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:* No Free Parking by Nicholas Boys Smith* Heart in the Right Street by Nicholas Boys Smith* Beyond Location by Create Streets* Of Streets and Squares by Create Streets* The Measure and Construction of the Japanese House by Heino Engel* Japanese Country Style by Yoshihiro TakishitaLinks to More Resources:* Create Streets* Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission* The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)* Kyoto Station* Gelatomania in Geneva* Tavel House Museum in Geneva* WWOOF* Sainte-Chapelle* Walkie Talkie Building in London* The Gherkin in London* Sir Roger Scruton* Yoshihiro Takishita* Check out my Kobe Ikebana Workshop on TripAdvisor! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Born in the United States, Azby Brown is an architect and accomplished author of Japanese design and architecture who embarked on a transformative journey to Japan. He recalls his story in today’s book, The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an Ancient Craft.In this episode, I go through his writings about a traditional pagoda construction at Yakushiji Temple in Nara, which took place throughout the 1980s. We learn about the guidance Azby received under master carpenter Tsunekazu Nishioka during that time, as well as the ancient knowledge, wisdom, and way of life that Nishioka practiced. The book also serves as a practical guide for learning the step-by-step process of assembling temple buildings using traditional Japanese methods. I especially enjoyed the book because it offers a rare and personal window into the life of a community of Japanese carpenters. The book also evoked a sense of somber reflection in me, as it conveyed the gradual disappearance of the invaluable craftsmanship embodied by Nishioka and his team.If you’d like to dive deeper into Azby Brown’s work, have a look at some of his most popular books below:* The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space* Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan * Small Spaces: Stylish Ideas for Making More of Less in the Home * The Japanese Dream House: How Technology and Tradition Are Shaping New Home DesignLocal Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Links to Resources:* Get The Genius of Japanese Carpentry by Azby Brown* Azby Brown* The Founders Podcast by David Senra* Minka Summit* Yakushiji Temple in Nara* Tsunekazu Nishioka* Watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi* The Four Auspicious Beasts: 4 Shrines of Kyoto (in Japanese)* Hōryū-ji* Japan Craft 21* Shin-Machiya Juku (Carpentry School)* Video of a Japanese Adze* Medieval England Joinery* How to Make a Joint with a Sumisashi and Sumitsubo* The Roof-Raising Ceremony This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I sit down with Rei Saito, the author of the Konichi Value newsletter. On Substack, Rei publishes insights into Japanese companies, real estate, and market trends with the goal of finding untapped value. With fluency in Japanese and English (and Swedish!), Rei has the added edge of being able to research Japanese news, reports, and sources. He brings this to you so that you may better understand the potential value that lies uncovered in the rising Japanese environment.We discuss Warren Buffet’s recent acquisition of several Japanese conglomerates, Japan’s low-interest rate environment, unique drivers of Japanese real estate, cultural and behavioral changes, migration trends, and legal and tax obligations you need to know before you buy real estate in Japan.The Genius of Warren Buffet’s Trade of Japanese SecuritiesFor added context and analysis, I’ll quote investor and co-host of the All-In Podcast Chamath Palihapitiya about the Buffet trade, because I think it’s fascinating:I was really curious about Buffett’s ownership of the Japanese trading companies and wanted to understand why he did it? As it turns out, the trade is really brilliant. He found a group of companies that had very low volatility, grew earnings predictably, had a good dividend yield and, in most cases, were buying back their stock. But it’s what he does next which is so awesome: As far as I can tell, he issues Japanese debt at very low rates, uses the proceeds to buy the stocks and then uses the dividends he then gets from owning these stocks (which are greater than the interest rates he’s paying to borrow in the first place) to pay the coupon! What’s left over is a near-risk less bet where he’s borrowed trillions of Japanese Yen for free to buy billions of dollars of companies growing earnings in the mid teens. And over a 10-20 year holding period, he becomes insensitive to currency vol and so really can’t lose money. He locks in the earnings gains over this period along with whatever spread he keeps between his dividends and his coupons. The only way this trade blows up, I suppose, is if the Japanese economy totally craters but these companies are sufficiently exposed to the rest of the world that this outcome is pretty unlikely. It’s inspiring to see folks act this intelligently at scale. That’s why he’s the GOAT.I’ll add a few other important numbers below for those who, like me, are interested in property acquisition in Japan. Rei and I discuss these numbers on the podcast as well:Capital Gains Tax on Property Sales in JapanShort-term capital gains are applied on periods of ownership that are 5 years or less. Long-term capital gains apply for ownership over 5 years. Learn more from this online source:* Short-term capital gains: 39.63％* (National income tax 30.63％ + Local inhabitant tax 9％)* Long-term capital gains: 20.315％* (National income tax 15.315％ + Local inhabitant tax 5％)Inheritance Taxes on Property Located in JapanCheck out this article, which I sourced, for more nuanced information. Here are the inheritance tax rates based on the amount received:* Up to ¥10 million: 10%* ¥10 million – ¥30 million: 15%* ¥30 million – ¥50 million: 20%* ¥50 million – ¥100 million: 30%* ¥100 million – ¥200 million: 40%* ¥200 million – ¥300 million: 45%* ¥300 million – ¥600 million: 50%* Over ¥600 million: 55%Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Links to Resources:* Konichi Value by Rei Saito* David Senra — Passion & Pain — Invest Like the Best* Founders Podcast by David Senra* David’s Notes of Founders Podcast* #227 The Essays of Warren Buffet — Founders Podcast* #286 Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger — Founders Podcast* Warren Buffet’s shareholder letters* Warren Buffet’s Japan trade* Rural Revitalization Corps* Anton in Japan on YouTube* Japan’s Inheritance Tax of 10% to 55%* Not a Hotel This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I revisit a story that I wrote back in 2019 when I was still an English teacher in Kyoto. Disgruntled by the ugly school buildings that defined my day-to-day work life, I wanted to get to the bottom of the question: Why do all Japanese public schools look the same?I give a little backstory and read the script, which you can also follow along in full below (To see the photos, subscribe to the Local Japan email:The click-clack of wooden sandals rings through the bamboo grove as an elder Buddhist monk leads me to the remains of a Meiji Era elementary school. The school building has been transported to this Buddhist temple from its original location three kilometers away.“We now use the old lecture hall as a place of meditation,” the monk says. He turns to me, “Not many people know of this place.”“I did some research,” I reply. “I heard that Chikkan Elementary is one of the only Meiji Era schools that still stands in Kyoto today.”The clay-tiled roof and the wood craftsmanship come into view. Chikkan Elementary’s school emblem — 竹間 — flourishes the upper ridge of the structure. When I slide my hand across the wooden gateway, I think of the many Meiji Era (1868–1912) children who once walked beneath it.As an English teacher who has been working in Kyoto for three years, I see students throughout the city commute to gray, modern buildings and study in concrete classrooms. During the course of my time in Kyoto, I have also visited the 959-year-old Ujigami Shrine and I have enjoyed the ancient music of Gion Festival. “Where — in this land of such deep history — did the schools of Kyoto go?” I think to myself.“Chikkan Elementary was almost destroyed, but the monks had the building transferred here in 1929,” says the old man.This temple in Kyoto, known as Shinnyo-do, is a private entity that managed to purchase and preserve such priceless works of historic architecture. Classic Japanese-tiled lecture halls and wooden entry gates once defined Japan’s schools. Nearly all of this workmanship has since disappeared, at the hands of a nationwide wave of demolishment during the Showa period (1926–1989).“It’s beautiful,” I say to the monk as I snap a photo from my camera.So many in our modern world thirst for beauty as they live in the concrete jungles. The Japanese also feel this dearth, but they have also been able to rely on their repositories of ancestral culture for an answer: Wandering the quiet stone pathways, I observe a young monk tediously rake the Zen rock garden. An elderly woman wearing garden boots cleans the fields of moss, picking up one maple leaf at a time. As I have experienced time and again, Japanese cities give me the opportunity to escape from their noise and rush — if only I look close enough.The schools of today, however, have blended in with the hubbub of urban life. They have shed away their clay roof tiles and wooden gateways. In the call by the centralized government of the early 1900s to prepare its people for militarization and factory work, elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools in every ward of every city of every prefecture of Japan took on uniform shape.Four-story gray cement blocks, exposing their off-white piping and random ventilation ducts protruding off the walls, shine their fluorescent lighting through rows of plastic windows. A single clock raised above the schoolyard ticks away with a watchful eye.To learn more about why these buildings today look the way they do, I take a visit to the Kyoto Municipal Museum of School History. The museum is housed in a modern school building, but its entrance flaunts an antique gateway. Framed by two smooth pillars, this wooden structure is holding onto the way things once were.“School designs are made by a government agency,” a curator at the museum explains to me. “All plans are based on a general model.”“When did this transition take place?” I ask.“Japan started building these modern-style schools around the time of World War One,” he replies. “Government centralization became so prevalent everywhere by 1941 that every elementary school in Japan became public.”I immediately thought of the very elementary school that I teach at, which celebrated its centennial birthday in 2018. It was built in 1918 — just as the Empire of Japan was stepping onto the world stage.“In fact, the government became so desperate by 1943 that they even took bronze statues from the schools and melted them to collect metal for the war effort,” the curator adds.The museum displays a rare bronze statue of Masashige Kusunoki, a famous 14th-century samurai, charging to battle on his horse. It is one of the few that survive.The tragic melting of statues on behalf of the war machine seems a fitting image to describe the demolition of historic architecture for the sake of economic output. Like in the United States, Japanese school clocks ring in 50-minute intervals. Neat rows of chairs face blackboards in the name of “practicality” so that students retain in their heads the fact that a²+b²=c² and in 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue.Passing below the wooden gateway, I exit the museum and make my way back onto the city streets. Returning to my apartment, I decide to head to my roof to catch a view of Kyoto’s cityscape. As I clutch the roof railing, I gaze forward to the high-rise next door. Through windows, I see office workers penning paper, typing on keyboards, and generating vitamin D from computer screens.My eyes move up the walls to the roof. There stands a small, wooden Shinto shrine. Throughout the year, it bakes in the summer heat, tastes the autumn rain, freezes in the winter chill, and smells the spring breeze. A salaryman has made his way to the roof for a smoke break and some sunlight. He takes one last drag and puts the cigarette out. His necktie swaying with the wind, he claps his hands and gives a bow before the shrine.In the dense cities of our modern world, beauty hangs on quietly in the small things.Links to Resources:* Udon Making Experience* Mythographers* Kyoto Municipal Museum of School History* Shinnyo-do - The True Temple of the Autumn ParadisePlease subscribe to the Local Japan Substack as a free or paid member starting at just $5 a month! Your contributions help me with production costs and the time required to record and edit podcasts and organize interviews. For this, I thank you always.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localjapan.substack.com/subscribe