昨日は結局、札幌市西区のわが家周辺、山の手地区では断続的に降雪が続き、本日朝には家の前はグチャグチャな多水性の雪が重なっている状態。本格的に「除雪」する必要があるかどうか、というところであります。たぶんこのグチャグチャ道では早朝散歩はちょっと、なのでその分、ブログ記述後せっせと初雪かきとなることでしょう。雪、重そうであります（泣）。しょがない。北国の宿命。
　さて昨日までで、アメリカの政権選択にトランプ勝利という決定が下された。その力学が今後の日本経済にどのように影響してくるのか、予測を立てて行く必要がある。わたしも創業企業からは退隠したとはいえ、個人企業としては引き続き住宅情報関連の仕事なので、約３ヶ月ほどのアメリカの政権移行期を経て以降の経済動向を考えていく必要があると思っています。経済面で言えば、一般的にアメリカの経済政策が日本経済や金融市場に影響を与えることが多いとされるし、現実に強固な日米関係の基軸は第２次大戦以降の「経済同盟」関係であることはあきらか。
　コロナ明け以降のアメリカのインフレが反映して住宅建材価格が暴騰し、それが住宅価格の世界的高騰を招いたことが日本の住宅取得層に大きな影響を与えて、とくに今期には住宅着工減少があきらかになってきている。政治というのは基本的に経済の状況を反映するものであって、為政者には経済の相場観というものが最重要なのだと思います。仁徳天皇の民のカマド伝承の通り。
　アメリカの人びとはトランプの2017-20年の４年間の経済運営実績を踏まえてその政権を再度選択した。その後のバイデン政権とその後継を狙ったハリスにNOを突き付けたということでしょう。生活コストの急上昇に対して民は経済最優先という選択を行ったと言える。
　まだ選挙の結果が出たばかりで、そうした経済分析情報はそう多くは出てきていないけれど、今後の住宅市場を見通していくときに、大きな方向性指標がトランプ政権によって打ち出されてくることでしょう。上の図は時事通信外報部11/5配信のもの。経済面では一般的にアメリカの経済政策が日本経済や金融市場に影響を与えることが多く、簡略にまとめられていてわかりやすい。
　要注目と思われるトランプの政策としては、化石燃料拡大によるコスト引き下げという経済活性化の「方法論」を明確に示していること。トランプはさらに所得税などの「大型減税」恒久化、さらに残業手当、社会保障給付の非課税化を打ち出している。
　よく知られているけれどバイデン政権は環境・エネルギー政策のグリーン化を掲げ、それまでの「シェールガス革命」を痛撃してきていた。
　こうした方向性は第１次政権時と基本的には志向性が同じだと思える。こういう志向性と日本の為政者であった安倍政権の打ち出した「アベノミクス」が呼応していた。大きな世界経済の方向性はこういった方向に向かっていくのではないか。ただ、いま現在の日本の政権には明確な「経済施策」の考え方が希薄。あるとすれば財務省による「増税路線」。この日本の増税路線とアメリカ・トランプ政権の減税・経済活性化路線とがはたして整合するだろうか？　大きく疑問。さてどうなるか？

English version⬇

[What about economic policy and the housing market under a Trump 2.0 administration?
Politics is paramount to the economic market outlook. From Biden’s “environmental focus” that nearly stifled the shale gas revolution to the Trump administration of fossil fuel expansion => cost reductions. …

　Yesterday, it ended up snowing intermittently in the Yamanote area around our house in Sapporo’s Nishi Ward, and by this morning, the front of our house was covered with a layer of soggy, multi-level snow. We are wondering if we need to “plow” the snow in earnest. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go for an early morning walk on this muddy road, so I’ll have to shovel the first snow after writing this blog. The snow looks heavy (I cry). It can’t be helped. The fate of a northern country.
　As of yesterday, the decision to choose the U.S. administration has been made in favor of Trump. We need to make predictions on how the dynamics will affect the Japanese economy in the future. Although I too have retired from the founding company, I continue to work in the housing information business as a private firm, so I believe it is necessary to consider the economic trends after the approximately three-month transition period of the U.S. administration. In terms of the economy, it is generally believed that the U.S. economic policy often affects the Japanese economy and financial markets, and it is clear that the cornerstone of a strong Japan-U.S. relationship in reality is the “economic alliance” relationship that has existed since World War II.
　The price of building materials has skyrocketed, reflecting inflation in the U.S. since the dawn of the Corona, and this has led to a global surge in housing prices, which has had a major impact on Japanese homebuyers, especially in the current quarter, when a decline in housing starts has become apparent. Politics is basically a reflection of the state of the economy, and I believe that the view of the economic market is of utmost importance to politicians. As per the Kamado lore of Emperor Nintoku’s people.
　The American people chose that administration again based on Trump’s four-year track record of managing the economy in 2017-20. After that, they would have said NO to the Biden administration and Harris who tried to succeed him. It can be said that the people have made the choice to put the economy first against a sharp rise in the cost of living.
　Although the election results have only just come in and not much information on such economic analysis is available, the Trump administration will provide a major directional indicator for the future of the housing market. The figure above is from the Jiji Press Foreign Affairs Department, November 5, 2011. In terms of the economy, U.S. economic policies generally affect the Japanese economy and financial markets, and it is easy to understand in a simplified form.
　One of Trump’s policies that we believe is important to note is his clear “methodology” for stimulating the economy by lowering costs through the expansion of fossil fuels. Trump has also proposed making permanent “major tax cuts” such as income taxes, as well as exempting overtime pay and social security benefits from taxes.
　As is well known, the Biden administration has been pushing for a green environment and energy policy, and has been taking a hard hit against the “shale gas revolution” that had been underway up to that point.
　This direction seems to be basically the same as that of the first administration. This orientation corresponded with the “Abenomics” of the Abe administration, which was in power in Japan. The direction of the global economy is likely to move in this direction. However, the current Japanese administration does not have a clear-cut “economic policy” in mind. If there is one, it is the Ministry of Finance’s “tax hike policy. Will Japan’s tax hike policy be consistent with the U.S. Trump administration’s policy of cutting taxes and revitalizing the economy?　It is highly doubtful. What will happen now?

Posted on 11月 8th, 2024 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 状況・政治への発言 | No Comments »

Screenshot[/三木城跡]
　さてアメリカ大統領選は時差の関係もあり、帰趨の情報はまだ発信されてこない。そういうことなので、ブログ記事としては代わりに、いまなにかと話題になっている「兵庫県」で縁の深い「三木城跡」についての探訪記であります。時空をはるかに超えて、合戦・政治闘争についてのつながりか？ムリヤリ感満載であります（笑）。
　現代でも斉藤前知事の失職以降の出直し知事選さなかで、NHK党（いまはどういう名前か知らない）の立花氏が立候補して前知事の「無実」を訴えているとのこと。なにやら「新事実」が浮かび上がってきているとされている。もしそれが真実であるなら、形勢一変であり注目される。
　・・・ということですが、本日はその兵庫県のほぼ中央部の三木市に残る「三木城跡」のこと。わたしの姓が冠されていて、家系伝承でもなにかとクロスする地名・氏名（うじめい）であります。司馬遼太郎さんの記述では、兵庫県では1870年（明治3年）9月19日、すべての国民が苗字を持つことを許された時には、「おれ、三木」「オレも三木」と多数の方々がこの三木城関連の素性であると名乗り出られたという説。全国有数の「三木家」多数派地域であります。郷土への愛のひとつの共有体験として織田・秀吉軍による攻撃と城主・別所氏の決断によって城明け渡し・城主の自害・城兵の助命が大きく残像が残っていたということでしょうか。
　この三木城というのは、経済の伝統的要衝地に立地。京都からの西国への主要な街道筋を押さえる位置にあって、戦国当時もその利権を狙って山陰の戦国大名「尼子氏」に攻撃されたり、京都を押さえた三好氏にも攻撃されている。その都度、堅固に城を守り抜いていた。三木市ではいまも「金物」が名産とされているように、京大阪の需要地から交通至便ということもあって、いわば播州における経済のひとつの中心地域だったのだと思われます。神戸は明治以降、国際貿易港として経済活動がさかんになっていくけれど、それ以前には三木城が播州のひとつの中心地だったと思える。


　地図は「みき歴史資料館」所蔵の播州三木古城図と、その方向感をそろえてみた現代のGoogleマップ。城の南側の後背地には山地が迫り、北側の前面には美嚢川の流れがあって、補給の機能も備えている条件。高齢期になってきて、播州には時折訪れることが増えてきています。そのたびにふとした機縁にめぐり会わされて、血脈のなつかしさ、歴史を感じることが多いのであります。故地を遠く離れた北海道人にとって日本民族としての素性確認機会とでも言えるのでしょうか？

English version⬇
　
The Oda and Hideyoshi military units and Miki Castle at the end of the Warring States period
The development of Kobe, an international trading port, has been attracting attention, but the history of Kobe up to the Edo period shows a completely different economic trace in Miki Castle in the central part of Hyogo Prefecture. …

　Due to the time difference in the U.S. presidential election, information on the outcome of the election has not yet been released. Therefore, instead, this blog entry is about a visit to the ruins of Miki Castle, which is closely related to the much talked about “Hyogo Prefecture”. Is there a connection between the two places, or is it about battles and political struggles that transcend time and space? It is full of a sense of unreasonableness (laugh).
　Even today, in the midst of the gubernatorial rerun election after former Governor Saito lost his post, Mr. Tachibana of the NHK Party (I don’t know what it is called now) is running for governor, appealing for the former governor’s “innocence. It is said that some “new facts” have emerged. If it is true, it would be a game changer and attract a lot of attention.
　Today, I would like to talk about the ruins of Miki Castle in Miki City, located in the center of Hyogo Prefecture. It bears my family name, and is a place name and name that crosses over into family lore in some way. According to Ryotaro Shiba’s account, on September 19, 1870 (Meiji 3), when all people in Hyogo Prefecture were allowed to have surnames, many people came forward saying, “I, Miki,” or “I, Miki,” as if they were related to this Miki Castle. This is one of the areas in Japan where the “Miki family” is in the majority. The attack by Oda and Hideyoshi forces and the decision by the castle’s owner, Bessho, to surrender the castle, the owner’s suicide, and the lives of the castle’s soldiers were all left behind as a shared experience of love for one’s hometown.
　Miki Castle was located in a traditional economic center. It was located on a major highway from Kyoto to the western part of the country, and was attacked by the Amago clan, a feudal lord in the San’in region, who wanted to take advantage of its location, and by the Miyoshi clan, which held Kyoto. Each time, the castle was firmly defended. As “hardware” is still a specialty of Miki City, it was one of the economic centers in Banshu, so to speak, because of its convenient transportation from the demand areas of Kyoto and Osaka. Kobe became an international trading port after the Meiji period (1868-1912), but before that, Miki Castle seemed to be the center of Banshu.

　The map is a modern Google map that attempts to align the sense of direction with the old castle map of Banshu Miki in the collection of the Miki Historical Museum. The southern hinterland of the castle is looming in the mountains, and the northern front has the flow of the Mishu River, a condition that also serves the function of supply. In my advanced age, I have been visiting Banshu more and more from time to time. Each time I visit Banshu, I am often struck by a chance encounter and feel the nostalgia and history of my bloodline. For the people of Hokkaido, far away from their homeland, it is an opportunity to confirm their identity as Japanese people.

Posted on 11月 6th, 2024 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 歴史探訪 | No Comments »

　さて南方熊楠の自邸を６回ほどのブログ記事で見て来たのですが、そういう南方が日本史のスポットライトを浴びたのは、生物学に造詣を深められていた昭和天皇が、南方熊楠の学問追求を知って、紀州を訪れてかれから直接「進講」を受けられたいと希望されたこと。
　昭和４年６月１日と日付のある「大阪毎日新聞」紙面では、天皇の紀州行幸は640年ぶりという見出しを振って１面記事として報道している。生物学者としての調査活動として田辺湾の神島に上陸され実地調査をされたのに対して、南方は神島でお迎えして参観ポイントを整理してご説明した後、天皇の「御座船」であった戦艦長門上で、ご進講を行った。
　前記したけれど、南方熊楠はこれ以前に政府が進めていた全国の神社の統廃合に対して明確に反対をとなえて活動を行っていた。昭和天皇のこの行動は、皇国史観による行きすぎた行政対応を緩和させる方向に働いていったとされている。行政府の対応に対して明確にそれに異を唱えた人物に対して、その意見をリスペクトし進講を受けられた天皇の行動には興味を惹かれる。
　
　平安期、多くの天皇退位後の上皇たちは「熊野詣」を繰り返していた。皇位としての行動制限から自由になった上皇たちは、はるか遠隔の地である熊野三山などを踏破してきていた。実際に「熊野古道」などを歩いてみれば、上皇たち自身も、みずから歩き巡っただろうことが想像される。なにかに突き動かされるかのようなそうした心理が民衆にも伝わって、蟻のようにという枕詞まで冠せられて、熊野詣は日本民族全般に及んでいった。空海や一遍上人など、多くの宗教者たちもこの紀州にリスペクトし、学ぶようになる。空海などは紀州の一帯・高野に根本道場の地を定め、みずからも「入定」している。
　それぞれの行動にはある一貫性があって、南紀の自然風土の特異性に対しての特別な思いがそこに投影されているのだろうと思われる。たしかにわたし自身も、そういった心理は自らも体験することで、いわば体感的に納得させられている。火山列島地形が黒潮によって永い時間、強く影響されてきた自然観に、同じ日本人として共感を強く持つのだ。ネイティブ北海道人としての自分としても、この多くの人びとの行動について、深い納得と共感を持つ。
　昭和天皇の行動には、そういった「民族性」が強く感じられる。そしてこの行動は、南方熊楠の人生とその事跡にとって、決定的なことがらになっていった。

English version⬇

The Emperor Showa’s Landing on Kamijima and his Lecture on the Battleship Nagato Minakata Kumagusu-7
Nanki-Kumano welcomed the Emperor for the first time in 640 years since the Heian period. In the age when a battleship was considered as a throne ship, the Emperor showed his respect to Minakata Kumagusu as a biologist. …

　We have seen Minakata Kumagusu’s residence in about 6 blog posts, but what brought Minakata into the spotlight of Japanese history was that Emperor Showa, who was deepening his knowledge of biology, was aware of Minakata Kumagusu’s academic pursuits and wished to visit Kishu to receive a “lecture” directly from him.
　The Osaka Mainichi Shimbun, dated June 1, 1929, carried a front-page article with the headline, “The Emperor’s first visit to Kishu in 640 years. While the emperor landed on Kamijima Island in Tanabe Bay to conduct a field survey as a biologist, Minakata welcomed him on Kamijima Island, explained the points of interest, and then gave a lecture on board the battleship Nagato, the emperor’s “throne ship”.
　As mentioned above, Minakata Kumagusu had been clearly opposed to the consolidation of shrines in Japan, which had been promoted by the government. It is said that this action of the Showa Emperor worked in the direction of mitigating the excessive administrative response based on the imperialist view of history. It is interesting to note that the Emperor respected the opinions of those who clearly disagreed with the executive branch’s response and accepted their lectures.
　During the Heian period, many emperors after their abdication repeatedly made pilgrimages to Kumano. Freed from the restrictions of the imperial throne, these emperors had traversed the Kumano Sanzan (three mountains of Kumano) and other far-flung places. In fact, if one actually walks along the “Kumano Kodo,” one can imagine that the emperors themselves must have walked the route themselves. The people of Kumano were also moved by such a spirit, and the pilgrimage to Kumano, which was even referred to as “like ants,” spread throughout the Japanese people. Many religious figures, such as Kukai and Ippen Shonin, came to respect and learn from Kishu. Kukai, for example, established his fundamental dojo in Koya, an area in Kishu, and himself “entered the Buddhist monastery” there.
　There is a certain consistency in the actions of each of them, and it seems to me that their special feelings toward the uniqueness of the natural climate of Nanki are reflected in their actions. Indeed, I myself have experienced this kind of mentality myself, and I am convinced of it from first-hand experience. As a Japanese, I strongly sympathize with the view of nature that has been strongly influenced by the Kuroshio Current for a long time on the volcanic island chain. As a native Hokkaidoian, I also have a deep understanding and sympathy for the actions of many of these people.
　In the actions of Emperor Showa, I strongly feel such “ethnicity. And this action became a decisive factor in the life and legacy of Minakata Kumagusu.

Posted on 11月 4th, 2024 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 歴史探訪 | No Comments »

　写真は、南方熊楠邸のなかの「書斎」周辺の様子。わたしが南紀に強く惹かれるようになったのは、記紀伝承での神武東征譚にどのような空間的な「蓋然性根拠」があるのだろうか、という探究心からでした。そこから難波から迂回して神武帝の一統がふたたび上陸したとされる楯ヶ崎を実際に足で踏破してみた。
　まさか、そういう神話的なポイントが「観光地化」されていないとは夢にも思わず、ほんの５−６台程度の駐車場から、実際に楯が海にそそり立っているような楯ヶ崎の柱状節理地形を見て驚かされた。
　太古の巨大火山噴火によるカルデラ地形が太平洋の黒潮による浸食を受け続けた南紀の風土地形を見て、北海道の層雲峡と同等以上の「自然崇拝」を呼ぶに違いない荒々しさに心を奪われてしまったのです。そういった荒々しい地形と皇統神話が歴年にわたる天皇家による平安期の「熊野参詣」を生起させていった事情も、ひとつの日本史の「地学的」断面として納得感が湧き上がっていった。北海道ネイティブ人間からすると、北海道の大自然とも通底するような「自然」パワーを感じさせられていた。
　そこにはアマテラス、イザナミなどの神話に蓋然性を与えるようなパワーがあった。独特の熊野信仰の基底にそういった部分を色濃く感じさせられたのですね。そういった「自然崇拝」こそが日本の「国生み」譚とも結びついた側面を見せられた次第。
　今回参観している南方熊楠さんの自邸、その経歴のなかで特筆すべきは、昭和天皇が深くかれの自然探求に共鳴されて、戦艦・長門に乗船されてこの地におもむき、南方熊楠はこの南紀の植生について「ご進講」したということ。昭和帝はながく植物研究されていたことで知られていますが、その基礎には南方熊楠の研究へのリスペクトがあったのだと思います。さらに南方熊楠は、明治期の政府が全国の神社を統廃合しようとしたのに対して、怖れることなく反対の声を上げた人物としても知られる。かれは全国の神社空間が日本の国土の自然保全にとっていかに重要な空間であるかを怖れることなく言挙げした。昭和帝はそういった流れを踏まえてなお、南方熊楠にリスペクトされていた事実。
　このような近現代史のひとつの大きな側面のなかで南紀の風土が、なにがしか大きな背景を構成していることに気付かされたのです。

　日本の中央政権はこのような南紀・熊野の自然からその山並みを越えた大和平野から始原する。そしてアマテラスのような自然崇拝、さらに興味深いスサノオという人物譚を始原神話として持っている。そういった背景からやはり南紀の風土性についてより深く知りたくなった。旅は永く続きそうです（笑）。　

English version⬇

Amaterasu “Nature Worship” and the Climate of Nanki, Kumagusu Minakata Residence-5
The huge caldera topography of Nanki-Kumano has an important geological aspect in the creation tale of this country. The Kuroshio Current has been crashing wildly into this landform. …

　The photo shows the area around the “study” in the residence of Minakata Kumagusu. I became strongly attracted to the Nanki region because of my curiosity about what kind of spatial “probability basis” there was for the tale of the Jimmu expedition in the Chronicles of the Chronicles. From there, I detoured from Namba and actually stepped on foot to Tategasaki, where the line of the Emperor Jinmu is said to have landed once again.
　I had never dreamed that such a mythical point had not been “turned into a tourist spot,” and was surprised to see the columnar-jointed topography of Tategasaki from a parking lot with only five or six cars, where a shield actually seems to tower over the sea.
　Seeing the endemic topography of Nanki, where the caldera topography caused by a huge volcanic eruption in ancient times has been continuously eroded by the Kuroshio Current of the Pacific Ocean, I was fascinated by the ruggedness that must call for “nature worship” equal to or greater than that of Sounkyo in Hokkaido. The fact that such rugged terrain and the myth of the imperial lineage gave rise to the “Kumano Pilgrimage” by the emperors over the years during the Heian period (794-1185) also made sense to me as a “geological” cross section of Japanese history. As a native of Hokkaido, I was made to feel the power of “nature” that is commonly associated with the great nature of Hokkaido.
　There was a power that gave probability to the myths of Amaterasu and Izanami. You were made to feel such aspects strongly at the base of the unique Kumano faith. Such “nature worship” is also connected to the Japanese tale of the “birth of the nation”.
　It should be noted that Emperor Showa deeply sympathized with Minakata Kumagusu’s nature study, and he boarded the battleship Nagato to visit this place, where Minakata Kumagusu gave him a lecture on the vegetation of this Nanki area. The Showa Emperor is known to have been a botanical researcher for a long time, and I believe that his respect for the research of Minakata Kumagusu was the foundation of his research. Furthermore, Minakata Kumagusu is also known as a person who voiced his opposition to the Meiji government’s attempt to consolidate shrines throughout Japan, without fear. He was unafraid to speak out about the importance of shrine spaces throughout Japan for the preservation of the country’s natural environment. The Showa Emperor still respected Minakata Kumagusu in light of this trend.
　I realized that the climate of Nanki constitutes a significant background in one of the major aspects of modern and contemporary history.

　The central government of Japan originated in the Yamato Plain beyond the mountain range of Nanki-Kumano. It also has a nature worshiper like Amaterasu and an interesting tale of Susanoo as its origin myth. Against this background, I wanted to know more about the Nanki region. It seems that my journey will continue for a long time (laugh).　

Posted on 11月 2nd, 2024 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 住宅マーケティング, 歴史探訪 | No Comments »

　南方熊楠さんの自邸探訪その２であります。こちらの敷地はおおむね400坪ほどで、江戸期に紀州藩の「支藩」であった安藤氏の城下町というのが街区の由来。旧邸で質問にお答えしていただいた女性からの伝聞では、南方家というのは、この安藤氏の家臣の家系であって熊楠氏の父親は明治以降、金融業で財を成したのだという。そういった経済的背景で次男であった熊楠氏は、夏目漱石や正岡子規などと同時期に東大の予備門で学び、そこから海外遊学にまで旅立って行ったとのこと。明治という時代の雰囲気、その空気感がかれの学業・探究に大きな基礎を形成していたことがわかる。
　その家系環境の中で、南方家の財産分与のようなカタチでこの400坪の屋敷地は熊楠氏にわたった。さすがに郷土を代表する人物について地域を挙げての調査活動がされていて、上のような「当時の街区地図」までもが公開されていた。わたし的にはそういった地道な調査活動に驚かされた。全国のこうした住宅探訪は、わたしの一種の「ライフワーク」化してきているけれど、ここまでの詳細ぶりははじめて。
　その街区地図、おおむね1916年のこの南方熊楠邸の建設当時、このような環境で日々を暮らしていたということがリアリティを持って伝わってくる。地図に赤い矢印を付けたので、位置関係がお分かりいただけるでしょう。今日の住宅建設では当然のこととして「立地環境調査」が自明のように行われるけれど、こうした「古民家」探訪での手掛かりは非常に貴重。街区図には「めし屋」「辻の餅」「木村パン」といった店舗の所在までが推定できる記述に出会う。さらに先日の訪問では、レンタカーのカーナビ案内で白浜方面からの道で左折した交差点の名前が「銀座」だった。紀伊半島の海上交通の要衝として金融業というものの存在感が地名にまで残っているのだろう。父親、南方家の状況もそうした街並みの様子からも伺えてくる気がした。南方さんの家からほんの3-400mほどの距離。
　昨日のブログでは南方さんの毎日の食事生活・台所、流しの場もわかった様子を書いたけれど、こうした周辺街区の詳細も見えてくると、より具体的な生活実相がみえてくる。世界的な植物学者・科学者を生んだ地域の誇らしさが感じられて、自然と好感を持たされる。
　さらに南方さんの家の5-6軒南側には「原秀治郎・原豊次郎」というお宅の所在も確認できた。実はわたし自身の家系伝承で、この「紀州の原家」というのはひとつのミッシングリンクなので、強く引き込まれてしまっていた。ひとつの探訪が、またさらに古層の探究のきっかけになる。まことに醍醐味（笑）。あ、この件は今回の南方熊楠さん探訪から激しく逸脱するので、横道探訪はいたしません（キッパリ）。

English version⬇

[108 years ago, in the early Taisho era, Nanki-Tanabe City, Nanki-Tanabe City, and the present
A “street” map of the time when Kumagusu Minakata lived in this city has been researched and published. The sincerity of the people of the entire community is amazingly informative. ・・・・.

　This is the second visit to Minakata Kumagusu’s own residence. The site of this residence is about 400 tsubos (about 1,000 square meters), and the name of the town was derived from the castle town of the Ando clan, which was a “branch clan” of the Kishu clan in the Edo period. According to the legend of the woman who answered our questions at the old residence, the Minakata family was a family of vassals of the Ando clan, and Kumagusu’s father made a fortune in the financial business after the Meiji era. With such economic background, Kumagusu, the second son, studied at the Tokyo University Preparatory School at the same time as Soseki Natsume, Shiki Masaoka, and others, and even went abroad to study. It is clear that the atmosphere of the Meiji era formed a great foundation for Kumagusu’s academic studies and research.
　In this family environment, the property was given to Mr. Kumagusu as if it was a share of the Minakata family property. As one would expect, the whole community was involved in the research activities on the local representative of the local people, and even a “street map of the time” like the one above was published. I was surprised by such a steady research activity. Although this kind of house-hunting has become a kind of “lifework” for me, this is the first time I have seen such a detailed map of the area.
　The map of the area, which shows the conditions of the Minakata Kumagusu residence at the time of its construction in 1916, conveys the reality of daily life in such an environment. I have added red arrows on the map so you can see the location. Although “location and environment surveys” are conducted as a matter of course in today’s housing construction, the clues provided by such “old minka” explorations are extremely valuable. On the street map, we found descriptions of stores such as “Meshiya,” “Tsuji-no-mochi,” and “Kimura Bakery,” which we could even guess where they were located. Furthermore, on a recent visit, the name of the intersection where I turned left on the road from Shirahama, guided by a rental car, was “Ginza. The presence of the financial industry as a key point of maritime transportation in the Kii Peninsula is probably preserved in the name of the place. I felt that the situation of the father and the Minakata family could also be heard from the appearance of the streets. It is only 3-400 meters away from Minakata-san’s house.
　In yesterday’s blog, I wrote about how I could understand Minakata-san’s daily meals, kitchen, and sink area, but when I could see the details of the surrounding area, I could get a more concrete picture of his daily life. The pride of the area that gave birth to a world-renowned botanist and scientist can be felt, and this naturally makes one feel good about the area.
　Furthermore, five or six houses to the south of Mr. Minakata’s house, I was able to confirm the location of a house called “Hara Shujiro and Hara Toyojiro. In fact, the Hara family in Kishu is a missing link in my own family history, and I was strongly drawn to it. One visit to the family’s house triggers further exploration of the ancient layers of the family. It is truly a real pleasure (laughs). Oh, I will not go on a side trip, because this matter deviates from this exploration of Mr. Kumagusu Minakata.

Posted on 10月 31st, 2024 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 住宅マーケティング, 歴史探訪 | No Comments »