Imai Shoyu
Around the end of the Edo period (1603-1868),Seikichi Imai founded the predecessor of the Imai Shoyu. During the Edo period, the store was operating as a fishmonger and a grocery store in this area. According to the map of Tenjin district (Tenjin-machi-ezu) from 1823, there was a foodstuff merchant named Sakana-akinai-Buhei in the area. Similarly, the existence of a foodstuff merchant named Seikichi is noted in a map from sometime around 1830-1844. It is said that the business began brewing soy sauce during the end of the Edo period in the age of the fourth head of the family named Seikichi. Currently Imai Shoyu is run by the 8th president.
With a sikkui wall, the storehouse features the zashikigura style and the traditional kiritsuma and hirairi townhouse architecture is applied to the store building.Both of them face the old Osyu Road and present a unique site as they are unified into a single structure. The zashikigura was built in Meiji 26 (1893), and the store and the main house are the renovated version of the fishmonger store from the Edo period. The current exterior that is now seen was restored in the late 1950’s and 1960’s.
Designated as a Historically Scenic Landmark by Shirakawa City on July21st, 2011.
Building information
Location
Tenjinmachi
neighboring area
Era of construction
Edo／Meiji／Showa
Open to public
External view only
Business at time of construction
Fermentation (miso and soy sauce)