Episode 02 of Snow Country Stories Japan* transports us to Togari, Nagano to chat with Rich Morgan. Rich and his wife Maiko are engaged in the ongoing restoration of their home, a 200 year old traditional farmhouse. Known as ‘古民家 / kominka’ in Japanese, the Japan Kominka Association defines these houses as buildings built before 1950 using traditional post and beam construction methods. In the snow country, kominka acted much like lifeboats within the vast and heavy snow; satellites of life that allowed families to sustain themselves through winter. They provided both living and working spaces for families, not to mention animals - both domesticated and wild - that also took refuge inside the houses to escape the snow. Though lifestyles have changed and kominka are no longer built anew, the skill and strength of the construction required to withstand the snow means that kominka survive to this day. Sadly however, many are now abandoned and under threat of collapse or demolition.

No two kominka are the same and all are notorious for the surprises that wait for anyone foolhardy enough to renovate one. Rich and Maiko purchased their kominka in Togari in 2016 and today, in 2023, continue its renovation or perhaps better said, rebirth. Interwoven into the tale of breathing new life into an old house, Rich tells his own story including how he knew Maiko was the right woman for him and once in Japan, how he found his way to the deep snow and an old house in Nagano. We discuss the ongoing restoration of the house including the tantalising prospect of a ‘katana’ (sword) hidden above, surprises below and just why these buildings are worth saving - an eloquent argument for which Rich makes at the close of the interview.

Maiko was unable to join us on the day of the interview but it’s important to say that this story is as much hers and that I hope to return to Togari in future to chat with Rich and Maiko together. As Rich references during the interview, while converting the old house into their home they are also experimenting, to test what is possible and in doing so, further the work Maiko does in restoring kominka with the compamy Sachi-ya - see the link below for details.

I’d like to again express my gratitude to Rich for making time to speak with me and agreeing to record the interview in their home. He’s an exceptionally easy person to chat with and I would have happily sat for hours talking to him. In fact I had to keep reminding myself to stay on point and that I was there for a reason. I hope you enjoy the episode.

You can find more information at:

http://sachiya.net/

*please note, at the time of upload of this episode, the name of the podcast was 'Snow Country For Old Men'. It has since changed to 'Snow Country Stories Japan'. For more information about that change, listen to the special announcement uploaded on April 24th 2023.