The program "Junin Jyuuni-iro ~As Many Family Forms as There Are Houses~" (MBS, Saturday 5pm, Kansai local and other stations) hosted by talent Mika Mifune and actor Taro Suruga will feature the "90-year-old two-house tenement house" in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture, which has been updated to a modern style while still retaining its traditional scenery.
The owner is a family of four with two children. Three years ago, they moved into a house in Nara, her husband's hometown. The house, which turned 90 years old this year, is a two-family home complex known as a "two-family row house," where two houses share a roof and walls. While the building appears to be a single house, half of it is where the owner lives, and it has been "restored and renovated" to bring it up to date with a modern feel while retaining the charm of an old-fashioned house.
The main space of the house is a large living/dining/kitchen area that connects two rooms, a Western-style room and a Japanese-style room. Stairs and storage have been installed on the side facing the neighboring house to prevent noise from being a concern. The house has also been made strong enough to stand on its own even if the neighboring house is demolished. The large-capacity pantry at the back of the kitchen can be walked around in one go, and also serves as a circulation route that allows access to any space in the shortest distance.
In the dirt floor outside where bicycles and outdoor equipment are stored, there is a well that was discovered when the house was demolished, and the husband likes to water the plants in the garden with this water. Since living in this house, the husband has noticed a change in his lifestyle, saying, "I'm from my hometown, so I'm happy to be back, but I also feel like I can relax more." The children also enjoy playing in the garden.
"Jyunin Jyuiro" is a program that visits homes all over Japan and introduces the residents' preferences and charms for their homes. After broadcast, it will be available on TVer for one week.
