The Former Nakajima Residence ( The Founder of the Subaru car company )

A few weeks ago a friend took me to an historical Japanese house that was owned by Chikuhei Nakajima, one of the founders of the Subaru car company. I have lived in this town for over a decade and I had no idea this place existed. It is said that Nakajima built the house for his parents as a show of gratitude. Come along as I dive into the history of this great house, the visionary that brought it to life and of course some photos of the structure.

The Nakajima residence, also known as the Nakajima Family Old Residence (中島家住宅), is a designated cultural property in Gunma Prefecture. It is a traditional Japanese house that reflects the architecture of the Meiji period (1868-1912). Interestingly, after World War II, the Nakajima residence was used by the United States forces. Following the end of the war, Japan was under the occupation of Allied forces, primarily led by the United States. During this period, many properties and facilities, including private residences, were used by them for various purposes. I was told by my friend that it was even used for BBQs as well as concerts by the Americans. Not sure how factual that is but just being on the huge lawn in the moment, I couldn't help but imagine.

The Nakajima family, particularly Chikuhei Nakajima, did not have direct involvement in World War II. Though he eventually became involved in politics. The Subaru company itself, which was originally established as the Nakajima Aircraft Company ((中島 知久平, Nakajima Chikuhe) in 1917, was primarily focused on manufacturing aircrafts during the war. As a matter of fact, one of these aircraft is proudly displayed on the lawn of one the many Subaru factories in the town as a reminder and as I would like to think, a taste of things to come. (Flying cars anyone?)

During World War II, the Nakajima Aircraft Company played a significant role in producing military aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. They manufactured various models, including the famous Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" fighter plane and the Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" fighter. These aircrafts were extensively used by the Japanese military during the war. I know what you are probably thinking: "Are these the Kamikaze airplanes?" Well not quite, those planes were made by Mitsubishi and a company called Yokosuka.

It's worth noting that many Japanese companies and individuals were involved in supporting the war effort during that time due to the government's mobilization and industrial requirements. However, the specific actions and roles of the Nakajima family members in relation to the war are not widely documented or associated with direct wartime activities beyond the manufacturing of aircraft.

• Source: Wikipedia

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And now lets take a look at the Nakajima Residence

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The residence's entryway, which resembles that of a temple, is visible in the picture above. You can envision the level of riches the family had or has as not many homes were constructed in this manner. The mansion is believed to have cost more than 1 billion yen (about $7.15 million USD). The large, expertly constructed, and elaborate entrance to the mansion ( the picture below) is the first thing you see as you walk through the gate. Despite being quite old and weather-tested, the wood on this structure was extremely robust.

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In addition to the historic structure, the expansive lawn truly drew my eye. It was roughly the size of a soccer field and a half, and in all my time living in Japan, I had never seen a bigger lawn space for a house. And the grass was genuine. The grass was also well maintained and looked like that of a golf course.

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The traditional Japanese houses never seem to go out of style, and many people have been renovating these magnificent structures since they possess a certain quality that modern homes simply lack. They are also constructed using materials and craftsmanship of the greatest caliber. Modern homes are constructed more from a financial standpoint.

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The Interior

All the materials, fixtures and fittings in the residence are the original from almost a century ago. By looking closely at the wood in the picture below, we can see it has many more years of grace left. The chandeliers are also the originals, though they look quite new. The sliding doors, art-wallpaper, flooring and ceiling all have that high quality essence.

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Here is a scale model of the house so you can get a better perspective of the layout. There is a Japanese-style rock garden in the middle. It didn't seem to be managed very well, but then again, a rock garden is a rock garden. I believe they made an effort to keep it looking as it did and avoided over-fancying it.

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The rock garden I was talking about.

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This room surprised me, I didn't really expect it at all. But the first thing that came to mind was; "This must have been where the allied forces had meetings when they occupied the residence. That marble fire place ( is that marble? ) must have cost a fortune.

Ok, let's step back outside after a quick tour as the kids are nagging to go to the park. Look at that foundation in the picture above. I have no doubt that the Nakajima residence will be here for many more years to come. I hope you enjoyed the photos of this magnificent piece of architecture and the little history lesson. The picture below was on the wall of the residence. It shows the history of the house as well as a biography of Chikuhei Nakajima. Zoom in to take a closer look. Until next time, walk good.