The former Shioya Demise is a historic building located in Chizujuku, Chizu-cho, Yazu-gun, Tottori Prefecture. Rebuilt as a branch family home of the Ishiya family before the war, it comprises a merchant's house, a Western-style building, a Japanese garden, and a wall. The merchant's house was constructed around 1897. The second floor, with its low ceiling and boat-shaped ceiling typical of houses from the 1870s, and the first floor, built in a shoin-zukuri style (a traditional Japanese architectural style), features a room facing the Japanese garden that operates as a cafe and restaurant called "Kaihiko Yamahiko".
The Western-style building, constructed around 1930 in the Japanese garden, was built as a sanatorium for the son of the fourth head of the family, Aizo Ishiya, who suffered from tuberculosis. After his death, it was also used as a Christian church.
Currently, it serves as a memorial hall (Katsumi Nishikawa Film Memorial Hall) for Katsumi Nishikawa, a film director from Chizu-cho who directed films such as "Izu no Odoriko" (The Dancing Girl of Izu), "Zessho" (The Ballad), and "Ippai no Kake soba" (A Bowl of Buckwheat Noodles). Both buildings are registered as nationally important cultural properties.
Chizujuku, a former post town with charming streets lined with lattice-windowed buildings, once thrived as an important route connecting Tottori domain and Inaba province. The former Shioya Demise is a precious building that embodies the history and culture of Chizujuku and commemorates the achievements of film director Katsumi Nishikawa. It's highly recommended for film enthusiasts, as well as those interested in history and architecture. Please visit the former Shioya Demise to experience the history and culture of Chizujuku and the world of film director Katsumi Nishikawa.
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