About
In a quiet residential area of Ichikawa City, in a corner of Higashisugano 2-chome, once stood the house where the literary master Kafu Nagai spent his later years. In December 1948, Kafu purchased a small 18-tsubo house in this area and began living alone. Having lost his home in Tokyo to the ravages of war and wandered from place to place, he finally arrived here, which became a place of peace for him.
Around the house, there was a landscape reminiscent of the Edo atmosphere that Kafu loved. It is said that on hot summer days, he would seek shade and cool off under the trees in the precincts of the nearby Shirahata Tenjin Shrine. Also, at Daikokuya near Keisei Yawata Station, he could be seen enjoying katsudon for lunch. These places blended into Kafu’s daily life and influenced his works.
In this house, Kafu continued to write his diary, “Danchotei Nichijo.” In it, he meticulously recorded the sights of Ichikawa and the events of his days. For example, he described strolling along the nearby paths between rice fields, sensing the changing seasons, and having small exchanges with local people. These records have become valuable materials that convey the postwar appearance of Ichikawa to the present day.
Kafu’s house was located near what is now 2-9-11 Higashisugano. Educational institutions such as Showa Gakuin are scattered around the area, giving it the character of an academic district. Here, Kafu quietly continued his writing activities and passed away at the age of 79 on April 30, 1959.
Today, Kafu’s study has been relocated and restored inside the Ichikawa City Hall’s main building, where visitors can see the place where he created his works. The study has been recreated with his favorite desk and bookshelves, creating a space where one can sense Kafu’s presence. Ichikawa City carefully preserves Kafu’s legacy and passes on his literary heritage to future generations.
If you walk through the quiet streets of Higashisugano, you will notice that the scenery Kafu loved and the scenes depicted in his works are still alive today. By tracing his footsteps and strolling through the city of Ichikawa, you can experience the literary world of Kafu Nagai.