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Places where cats sit
Yesterday, a stranger came to look at the house we’ll be leaving when we move up to 555. It’s still months away, but we’ve put the word out that we’re looking for someone to replace us. Mr. Yasuda, our landlord, will appreciate continued rent income and this is a good “starter house” for someone new…
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Busy morning at 555
I went up to the genba this morning to check in. I knew the electrician was due to arrive and I wanted to talk to him. I was surprised by how many people came in the three hours I was there! Sasaki-san and his brother were laboring, of course. They are busy working on floor…
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Cosy cats
Cats are masters of seeking comfort and warmth. Here are some shots of Maura, Fritter and Beryl showing off their skills.
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Scale Model Roof
Teramoto-san and Sasaki-san have been sharing expertise and techniques since the start of the project. I feel like 555 is their practice house; its design and construction involve a lot of experiments on both sides as the vernacular construction of southern Chiba meets modern design process – and add in a dollop of foreign preferences,…
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Rethinking the Kitchen
Can you believe I am considering changing the kitchen layout? It shouldn’t be a big deal, since nothing is in play yet – no pipes installed and no orders placed. Why? Well, three reasons. So what do I want now? The kitchen wants a counter with stools along side facing the dining area. That was…
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Happy 2023
Due to a death in the family in 2022, we did not send nengajou this year. However in the interest of keeping the 12 year series complete, I drew one for posting today. Let’s make 2023, Year of the Rabbit, memorable in the best way.
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2022 at 555
A month-by-month retrospective summary in photos and notes. January While waiting for Teramoto-san to finalise the drawings and hand over to Sasaki-san, Tod & I laid out a temporary boundary to see where the house should be placed. It was an interesting exercise. We made a lot of decisions that day which I used months…
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Bankiya-san
The bankiya-san is our roofer. I have no idea what his name is and I will probably never learn it because I will refer to him by his job role. This is commonly done for tradesmen, and so a lot of the people who will work on 555 will be nameless. It is highly convenient…
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Roofline
555 has a hip-and gable roof. In Japanese the style is called irimoya 入母屋 and it’s mostly used for temples, castles, public buildings, and as one source says “rich peoples’ houses.” And now our house, too. Our irimoya has an extra special architectural twist: the gable ends are windows. It is a complex roof design…
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Jotoshiki, the ceremony
Not everyone has a jotoshiki ceremony when they build their house. However, I’m all for ritual and for blending Japanese tradition with my own creative take. I’ll grasp at any excuse to honor the gods and have a party, especially when it is personally significant and memorable. But this exceeded my expectations. In fact, it…
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