The program "Jūnin Toiro ~Ie ni Aru Kazoku no Katachi~" (MBS, Saturdays at 5pm, Kansai local broadcast, etc.), hosted by talent Mifune Mika and actor Taro Suruga, will feature a renovated house in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, that was inherited from a family with fond memories of their grandfather's home, and which was renovated within a limited budget, in its June 13th broadcast.
The residents are a family of three with a one-year-old child. They inherited and renovated a 98-year-old row house with four units that had previously belonged to the wife's grandfather, while they were still in their twenties. A row house with four units is a type of apartment building where four units share a roof and walls. The couple faced numerous challenges inherent to row houses, such as darkness, cramped spaces, and noise problems, and created their ideal space with a budget of 15 million yen.
Due to budget constraints, the exterior remained unchanged. The main space was transformed by combining three separate rooms into one continuous area, eliminating any feeling of confinement. Furthermore, glass windows were installed in the walls to allow natural light from the earthen floor side. On the second floor, which previously had three rooms, the wall of the Japanese-style room next to the stairs was removed to widen the landing. A new wall and entrance were added to the Japanese-style room, transforming it into a large walk-in closet. The adjacent bedroom had its ceiling removed and the walls repainted white, creating a spacious and open feel.
In their previous home, the grandfather, who was looking forward to his grandchildren coming to stay, had installed a toilet on the second floor inside a closet. Thanks to the existing plumbing, they were able to build a new toilet next to the bedroom without spending any money. The house holds many memories of the grandfather, and sometimes "you can smell the old scent." Looking ahead, the wife says, "I hope it becomes a home where everyone can easily drop by," and the husband adds, "I hope we can take good care of it so that it can eventually be passed on to the next generation."
"Jūnin Toiro" is a program that visits homes across Japan and introduces the unique features and charms of the homes of their inhabitants. After the broadcast, it is available for streaming on TVer for one week.
