• City of Oita
  • Buildings・Former Residence
  • Townscape

Hoashi Honke and the Townscapes of Hetsugi Honmachi

Photography／MIYAJI Yasuhiko

a Glimpse of the Prosperity Till Present

　Go south on National Route 10 from downtown City of Oita and cross the Ono River, and you will find the Hetsugi district. It is flat land due to soil carried by the Ono River, and the land is rich and the soil deep, suitable for planting vegetables. “Hetsugi Gobou (burdock)” is quite famous.

　Because of this richness, it formed the core of Hetsugisou, which had long spread to the southern region of the City of Oita. Furthermore, a market was established in the Edo period since it was at the key point of transportation for Hyuga Kaidou and Ono River Waterway. It was then called Hetsugishi Village, and later prospered as Hetsugi Honmachi placed opposite of the castle town. The feature of the town is still intact in the townscape.

　If you take a step from the wide Hyuga Road, now National Route 10, into smaller streets, you will see many housings reminiscent of the old times. They say it is a miracle that the traditional buildings remain so intact, but that was because the main road going inside the town was bypassed to avoid the townscape.

　The center of the townscape is the Hoashi Honke. The family started as the vassal of the Otomo clan, managed the town as Ojouya (governor of multiple villages) for the Usuki clan, and created a fortune by going into the sake brewery industry later on. The main building for the head family, Fushunkan, is registered as a Nationally Designated Tangible Cultural Property. The sake storehouse has been donated to the city, and the city conducts a landscape restoration project throughout the Honmachi area.

　In addition, a community development committee is organized mainly by the residents, where they promote various projects including establishing roads, parks, streetlights, and signs that match the historic scenery, as well as rebuilding more than 40 buildings.

　In addition, the Hoashi family also had interaction with Chikuden Tanomura, a Bungo Nanga artist and his friend, Rai Sanyou. They also brought Kyouu Hoashi, who was the pupil of Chikuden. Sanyou says “Kyouu’s painting is rich. He inherits the right talent of Chikuden.” 2010 was the bicentennial celebration of Kyouu.

　The neighborhood is also the site of the Battle of Hetsugigawara, which is the Shimazu army against the Shikoku army who supported Otomo in the middle ages. Now, they host events such as the Ono River Battle Festival.

Hoashi Honke, the center of the townscape of Hetsugi Honmachi. The family managed the town as Ojouya (governor of multiple villages) for the Usuki clan, and created a fortune by going into the sake brewery industry later on.