Natsuko had told me that it is a current Japanese value to always want a new item. A new house always more desirable than an old 'used' house. Nobuko (Natsuko's mom) knocked down an old house (her parent's) and built a new house on the same location. Quite central in Yamagata in an older area near the train station. Her address reads 'Mikkamachi'; she says that refers to 'area of temples' Indeed four of her neighbors are temples; she has varying attitudes about each one. She does not own the land of her house; it belongs to one of the temples. Her father's small clinic or hospital was located in the parcel now occupied by a parking lot for one of the temples. Nobuko does have a car; her parking is one lot over.
Actually the title to land in Japan is ambiguous. Actually this parcel originally belonged to now unknown 17 farmers and their descendants but as they are unknown, it's just considered that the land belongs to the temple.
She mentioned that her house was more western or 'European Style' than her contemporaries. She and Takeshi built it for their lives together after their children have grown; however Takeshi died prematurely of cancer of the esophagus 4 or 5 years ago at the age of 63. Part of the house is designed to be public, as always a spot for removing shoes and a Japanese style room where we slept which also contains a shrine, an office (now full of her late mother's possessions and a room with a toilet. Doors open from the Japanese room and the hallway into the more private area of the house. She has a western style floors, dining table, kitchen, bed, living room furniture. But still a low table where visitors may choose to sit on the floor.
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