Higurashi Villa Memorial Museum

Copper mining at Besshi began in 1691. In the late 19th century, the mine underwent rapid modernization largely through adoption of Western technologies, and output increased dramatically. To cope, smelting operations were shifted from the mountain down to larger facilities by the coast. But before long, sulfur dioxide emissions from the new smelter started causing serious pollution to the surrounding farmlands. To resolve the problem, Sumitomo took the decision to relocate the smelter once again, this time to Shisakajima, an island 20 kilometers offshore in the Seto Inland Sea. Ironically, however, the pollution problem only worsened, with emissions affection a broad swath of northwestern Shikoku.

One year after the new smelter went into operation at Shisakajima, Higurashi Villa was constructed on the island as a second home where the head of the House of Sumitomo, Tomoito (1865-1926), could monitor emissions from a high vantage point. Its construction thus demonstrates the company’s strong determination to conquer the pollution problem. Even so, it took considerable time—until 1939—and massive efforts to eliminate the smoke pollution completely. But the unwavering resolve shown by Sumitomo’s leaders in those early days reflects the Sumitomo Business Spirit that continues to guide all Sumitomo Group operations today.

Over the course of the century following its construction, Higurashi Villa suffered significant physical deterioration caused by years and years of wind and rain. In response, twenty Sumitomo Group companies*, recognizing the structure’s historic significance, decided to cooperate in relocating the villa to Niihama. Today reborn as the "Higurashi Villa Memorial Museum," this important witness to Sumitomo’s history tells visitors the story of its creation and the role copper smelting played in the development of the entire Sumitomo Group. Its carefully chosen location offers a distant view of Shisakajima.

Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co.,Ltd. and Sumitomo Forestry Co.,Ltd. carried out the 30-month relocation project that ran from April 2016 to September 2018. The Higurashi Villa Memorial Museum opened to the public on November 1, 2018. Only the upper floors of the villa’s original Western-style wing were relocated.

External walls, including clapboards, window fixtures, roof tiles and the like, were newly made. The designs of the roof, windows and so forth were faithfully recreated. In order to ensure conformity with the aseismic performance and durability required by the current building code, new structural components, such as pillars and beams, were used. On the other hand, interior components were reused to the maximum extent possible. Components of the building were dismantled one by one, revealing its structural integrity, with a unique number assigned to each dismantled component to enable faithful reassembly. Some 10,000 pieces of the interior elements—floors, fittings, ceilings, wainscots, stone blocks for fireplaces, and bricks—were dismantled and transported, with approximately 95% of them being reused.

Every effort was made to conjure up an atmosphere akin to that of the villa’s original setting on Shisakajima. Visitors walk up a winding path to the museum whose hillside location offers a view reminiscent of that from the original villa on the island.

*Twenty Sumitomo Group Companies:: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, The Sumitomo Warehouse Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd., NEC Corporation, Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Joint Electric Power Co., Ltd.; (Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. changed its name to Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. in April 2022.)

Exterior

Designed by Magoichi Noguchi, a leading architect of the Meiji Era, Higurashi Villa was highly regarded as a fine example of the dignified architecture associated with that period. He designed the villa shortly after returning from studies in England and the villa’s simple yet refined modern design shows the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, which was popular in late 19th century England. Both the exterior and the interior of the villa feature Western-style designs, such as sash windows, casement windows, chimneys, and a reception room with bay windows, fireplaces, and an atrium—all of which were novel at that time.

A Western-style dormer window is set in the gently sloping roof. The intricately designed chimneys were recreated using newly fabricated tiles. The bricks for the chimney caps were dismantled and reused. The newly fabricated onigawara gargoyle-style ridge-end tiles feature the igeta well-curb design, Sumitomo’s trademark, and the outer walls for the ground floor were recreated using sliced slag blocks from Shisakajima.

Interior (1st Floor)

The reception room has two fireplaces. One is made from the highly prized Oshima stone from a quarry at Oshima, Imabari City. The original fireplace was dismantled and then the stone blocks were reassembled. The other fireplace, which is below the staircase, has an inglenook with side benches.

The unusual designs carved in relief on the newel posts are suggestive of the cross-sections of fruit. The dining room’s coffered ceiling is notable for its delicate latticed cedar beams. The pieces of wood are joined using the traditional shachitsugi method. Cedar bark wainscoting from the original villa is used. All the interior fittings are also from Shisakajima. The distorted glass is of unmistakable authenticity.

Interior (2nd Floor)

In the corridor at the top of the stairs, the exhibits present an overview of the history of Sumitomo and Shisakajima. The First Exhibition Room is devoted to Sumitomo’s quest to vanquish smoke pollution. Exhibits include a document prepared by Teigo Iba for the head of the House of Sumitomo recommending relocation of the smelter to Shisakajima, a specimen of smoke-damaged local rice, and a document confirming the termination of the smoke pollution drawn up at the final meeting between Sumitomo and the parties concerned. A diorama shows the Shisakajima Smelter, designed by Monnosuke Shiono, as it was around 1909. The Second Exhibition Room traces the history of copper smelting, which is the origin of Sumitomo, from the traditional Japanese copper smelting method in the Edo Era, the Nanban-buki copper refining technique that enabled Sumitomo to establish a commanding presence in the industry, and the several improvements introduced at Shisakajima to the technological developments capitalizing on expertise gained at Shisakajima that enabled the Toyo Smelter to be one of the most advanced facilities of its type in the world. A slide presentation and a diorama are devoted to the everyday life of the 5,500 people who lived on Shisakajima at its peak.

Viewing Platform

On a hill to the west of the museum is a viewing platform offering superlative views of Old Besshi, Niihama, the Seto Inland Sea and, on clear days, Shisakajima 20 kilometers offshore. The low circular wall is of identical dimensions (9.7 meters) to the base of the large smokestack formerly at Shisakajima.

The Higurashi Villa Memorial Museum, here shown illuminated at night, has become a popular new landmark of Niihama.

Access

                  
                    Address
                    1-11 Oji-cho, Niihama-shi, Ehime Prefecture 792-0008, Japan
                  
                    Hours
                    9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
                  
                    Closed
                    Mondays, national holidays (except Sundays), October 17 and 18 (local festival), December 29 through January 3 
                  
                    Admission
                    free
                  
                    TEL
                    +81-897-31-5017
                  
                    FAX
                    +81-897-31-5018