An old wooden post office building was rehabilitated as a general merchandise store.
Matching the retro style of the building
Original and creative furniture and sundry goods are lined up.

Programming in LogicGeneral store in old wooden post office building

The Kuromatsu district of Inukai-cho, Bungo Ono City, has a peaceful rural landscape surrounded by green mountains. The old wooden post office building nestled in the satoyama was brought back to life more than 40 years ago, not as a full-fledged post office, but as a general merchandise store called "Hare Koya.

The owner, Mr. Tomonori Takano, who returned to his hometown, renovated and revitalized the store himself. The sense of history of the building, the retro style of the orgeinal furniture, sundries, artists' paintings, pottery, accessories, and other items line the walls, creating a sense of freshness among the good old things.

In this report, we introduce some of the recommended sundries and furniture from the store, where a calm and gentle time flows. Don't miss the interview with the owner, Mr. Tomonori Takano.

 

Store IntroductionExterior and interior views

The wooden exterior, stained indigo rat color, gives the appearance of having withstood history, and the lamp announcing the opening of the store is quite lovely, creating a good old-fashioned atmosphere.

Once inside, the space that must have once been a post office waiting room is filled to overflowing with glassware, original concrete vases, and other miscellaneous items. The walls of the counter from the post office days can be seen through the gaps between them, leaving behind the vestiges of those days.

The store features original sundries created by the owner, as well as works by local artists and painters who are close to Takano both publicly and privately. In the back room, there are nostalgic Showa-era retro sundries salvaged from closed stores, antique-style accessories made by artists he knows, and furniture parts such as doors used in old houses.

This is a work by Naoto Kitamura, a painter who is a close friend of Takano's. He became famous for his work in the TV drama "Daytime Faces. He became a household name with his work in the TV drama "LUNCHFACE".

Kazuo Yakushiji's (Elan Studio) ceramics, also from Saiki City, Oita Prefecture

 

This is the former home of the former postmaster. The creaking sound of the tatami mats as one steps on them reminds one of the long time that has passed.

 

Renovation and original furniture makingcustom-made

The store is a "place of expression" for him, where he exhibits and sells the miscellaneous goods he produces. Due to the space limitations of the store, large furniture pieces are delivered to clients without being displayed in the store, but those who have seen the renovation power of "HANARE KOSHA" and the display shelves and other works are often asked to order original furniture production using the furniture parts displayed in the store. Many people who have seen the renovation capabilities of "HANAKOSHA" and its display shelves and other products often place orders for original furniture using furniture parts displayed in the store. For those who wish to order furniture, he uses a file of images of past works to help them build their image into an ideal shape.

File of order-made furniture

▲Renovation of a wall that has decayed and disappeared.

Wooden coffee stand

▲Wall-mounted book shelf. Can be ordered by size depending on the size of the room.

 

Pick Up Original and Recommended Products

Here are some of the original sundries created by Takano's owner.

2 ▲ tile hairpins, ¥280 Brooch, ¥950

Remake chair: 6,800 yen

Tabletop key rack, small: 900 yen, large: 1,080 yen

Memo stand (780 yen)

Driftwood vase: 2,800 yen

Concrete vase: 200-700 yen

 

Interview with Tomonori Takano, Owner

I would like to convey to many people the unique atmosphere of "Hanare Kosha," which is a combination of the laid-back climate of my hometown and good old things.

Q When did you open?

A - May 2010.

Q What made you decide to open the restaurant?

A "Originally, I had a general store called 'Cellophane' in Oita City. I have also worked in a woodworking shop and have been making and selling original furniture since then, and I have been using the "Hanarekosha" as a furniture-making workshop since around 2007.

Q Why did you move and turn your workshop into a store?

A "This Inukai-cho is where my grandmother's house was located, and I had been familiar with the area since I was a child, so I wanted to do what I could to put my feet on the ground here. When I was looking for a place to use as a workshop, I wanted to use this building, which had been vacant since it was closed when I can remember. I loved the retro space, and since it was spacious enough to exhibit, I invited artists I knew to hold events there along with the sundries I was selling at the store "Cellophane" at the time. As I continued to promote such activities, I naturally began to handle and sell sundries at the workshop as well, so I took the plunge and moved to a new location.

Q What does "Hanare Kosha" mean?

A It means "a workshop in an old post office building, far from the store (cellophane).

Q It must have been difficult to turn an old wooden structure that has long since closed into an actual store.

A "The building had been left untouched for about 40 years, so even though it could be used as a workshop, it was not in a condition to welcome guests, as the shoji screens were torn and the windows were rotten. I made most of the walls myself, but I was able to renovate it to my liking, so it is very comfortable. It's funny, it's like it came back to life and started ticking new times. The biggest problem is the "drafts" that only an old building can have. The air conditioning doesn't work in the summer, and in the winter the cold air comes in. ......"

Q. What are your own specialties in the furniture you make?

A We call it "miscellaneous furniture," meaning "furniture that looks like sundries" and "furniture that is a little bit miscellaneous. The main items in our store are small items that can be used in daily life. We also make furniture such as bookshelves and dining tables by order. We create each piece of furniture with the user in mind.

Q. What is the future outlook for "Hanare Kosha"?

A - I like old and handmade things, and I have come to know and collaborate with many artists through sundries. Before I knew it, they were in the store along with my original furniture, creating a new atmosphere for me. I myself like this place and the store (space) very much, so of course I want to continue to create works, but I also want more people to come here and feel the charm of this place, old things, and handmade things."

Thank you for your time.

 

Epilogue: After the interview

I could feel that he was enjoying his life's work, which is not bound by anything, by creating a space where he is most comfortable, "Hanare Kosha.

During the interview, we sat down with Mr. Takano in his office and enjoyed a cup of hot coffee. After the interview, we were treated to homemade dishes such as rice balls made from home-made rice, egg rolls, and tempura of wild vegetables, as if we had been invited to a friend's house, saying, "You must be hungry because there are no restaurants nearby. Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness.

 

Access

Take Prefectural Road No. 519 toward Chitose Interchange and turn right on National Road No. 57 (Higo Kaido). Turn left at the intersection with Prefectural Road 632 and go through the tunnel. Continue along the road for about 5 minutes, and you will see a sign on the left.

Address: Former Hase Post Office, 122-1 Kuromatsu, Inukai-cho, Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture
Phone: 090-7928-6008
Business hours: 11:00-17:00
Closed: Tuesdays and odd Wednesdays
Harekosha Blog:http://zakkagu.junglekouen.com/

MAP

122-1, Kuromatsu, Inukai-cho, Bungo-Ono, Oita 879-7313, Japan

 

Interview and editorial staff

Model Report: Yuka Kikkawa
Photography and production: VOKE Ltd.