The program "Platinum Family: A Glimpse into the Lives of a Glamorous Family" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 7 PM *excluding some regions) introduces the lifestyles of "glamorous families." On June Getsuku, the program will air a "Platinum Family & Tuesday's Yoshizumi Kotaro Combined Special," featuring a large mansion in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture.
The owner of the mansion is Yoshio Murakami. The property, including the mountains and fields, is said to cover approximately 10,000 tsubo (about 33,000 square meters). Before him, the estate was maintained by his father-in-law, Kinji Ohara, a world-renowned camellia researcher, and the estate still contains valuable treasures related to Katsu Kaishu and Yamaoka Tesshu.
Having noticed the remarkable architectural techniques used in his own home, Mr. Murakami has dedicated himself to researching the history and construction methods of the Ohara family, and has been promoting their value. As a result, six buildings, including the main house, have been registered as national tangible cultural properties. While acknowledging that being registered as a cultural property doesn't necessarily make maintenance easier, he says, "I want people to see the buildings," and is striving to pass on their value to future generations.
Murakami is an elite in the architectural world, having been involved in the design of a "giant building" that is known to every Japanese person, and that gigantic building will also be revealed.
