Abstract
The village of Ouchijuku in Fukushima Prefecture has become famous for its numerous traditional thatched buildings from the Edo period that line its main street. Within these well-preserved 300-year-old buildings, residents have also incorporated the attitude of the people of that time period modifying their lifestyles and businesses to fit the environment. The area is designated as a Traditional Architectural Preservation District of Japan. This paper introduces the research I conducted in this village, and presents interviews with people who have been key in reviving it, in terms of sustainable housing and living practices. In particular, the paper focuses on how residents are : 1) following the same lifestyle as that of the Edo Period, including lowered incomes and decreased information access ; 2) following styles of architecture and building that is in line with traditional Japanese carpentry ; 3) following a ‘local community system’ type of structure. The case of Ouchijuku particularly sends out an important message regarding recycle-oriented communities, low-carbon societies, and the natural symbiosis that exists between society and the natural world. It also demonstrates how Japanese housing policies can become tools for new economic growth strategies.
