About
A residence standing quietly in a tranquil residential area of Kamakura. This is the home where the writer Nobuko Yoshiya spent her later years, and, according to her wishes, it was donated to the city of Kamakura as a memorial museum. Passing through the gate, a stone-paved path surrounded by trees leads to the entrance. Along the way, wells and stone lanterns are scattered about, quietly welcoming visitors.
This residence was designed by Isoya Yoshida, a leading figure in modern sukiya architecture. The main building, constructed in the sukiya style by his hand, beautifully fuses traditional Japanese aesthetics with a modern sensibility. Upon entering the entrance, a spacious reception room unfolds, and from the large windows facing the southern garden, visitors can enjoy seasonal landscapes. The Japanese-style room is set slightly higher, so that people sitting on the sofa in the reception room and those seated in the Japanese-style room naturally meet each other's gaze. The tokonoma (alcove) is simple yet dignified, and Nobuko Yoshiya’s sense of beauty is felt throughout.
The study is located on the north side, with windows offering a view of the well-maintained garden. Soft light filters in from the skylight, creating a serene space ideal for focusing on writing. The bedroom ceiling is of a unique shape called a “boat-bottom ceiling,” and there is no built-in lighting; the room is designed to be used with only natural light and the light from a lamp.
The garden features a wide lawn and an artificial hill, with a tea arbor, a water basin, and stone lanterns arranged to evoke the atmosphere of a tea garden. It is said that Nobuko Yoshiya loved this garden and enjoyed its seasonal beauty. She remained single throughout her life and lived in this house with Chiyo Monma, her secretary and lifelong partner. Their life together influenced her works and resonated with many female readers.
Nobuko Yoshiya took the world by storm with her girls’ novel “Hana Monogatari,” establishing the new genre of “girls’ novels.” She continued to publish a variety of works, such as “Chi no Hate Made” and “Ryōjin no Teisō,” and after the war, she won the Japan Women’s Literature Award for “Onibi.” After turning seventy, she wrote highly acclaimed historical novels featuring women as protagonists, such as “Tokugawa no Fujintachi” and “Nyōnin Heike.”
This memorial museum has been preserved just as it was during Nobuko Yoshiya’s lifetime, in accordance with her wishes. It is open to the public in spring and autumn, allowing visitors to experience her study, personal belongings, and handwritten manuscripts, and to connect with her life and works. It is also used as a learning facility for citizens and is beloved by many.
This residence, standing in a quiet valley of Kamakura, is a precious place that conveys the literature and life of Nobuko Yoshiya to the present day. Visitors can sense her presence and reflect on a literary world that transcends time.