There is a stylish Western-style building near Futaba Station. It is a two-story wooden building that was built around 1922, originally serving as the Sanmiya-do Tanaka Clinic. Located along the old Rikuzentakata Highway in front of Futaba Station, it remains a symbolic presence in the town, showcasing the retro Western architectural style of the Taisho era with its exterior plaster peeling and entrance porch. It is currently designated as a registered tangible cultural asset of the country.

For many years, it was cherished as a reliable local doctor, but it closed due to changes in the times. After that, it became the residence of the family.

This area was spared from tsunami damage, and although the strong tremors of the earthquake caused some roof tiles and exterior plaster to crumble, the building's framework itself did not collapse and held firm. It is said that Western-style architecture from the Taisho era possesses unique strength against tremors due to the fusion of traditional Japanese house techniques and Western truss structures.

However, following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Futaba Town was completely evacuated. Buildings without residents typically deteriorate rapidly. Many buildings in the surrounding area were forced to be demolished. However, this building miraculously escaped fatal structural damage and continued to endure.

In fact, the town had been preparing for cultural asset registration since before the disaster (2011), but all investigations came to a halt due to the nuclear accident.

In 2017, the area where the building is located was designated as a "Specific Reconstruction and Regeneration Base Area (Reconstruction Base)," leading to concentrated decontamination and infrastructure development.

As a result, cultural asset investigations in the area, which had been restricted for 11 and a half years, were finally resumed. The investigation revealed that although there were scars from the disaster, its value as a "precious hybrid architecture preserving the charm of the Taisho era" was once again recognized, leading to its registration in 2022 with the premise of renovation and preservation.

The town is utilizing reconstruction grants and receiving technical support from UR to advance renovation work, which was completed in June 2023.

This building can truly be said to be a miraculous Western-style building that has survived the disaster due to the intersection of "strength as a building that survived the disaster" and "the town's reconstruction plan" overcoming the time stop and the crisis of weathering caused by the complete evacuation of the town.

Currently, the building is operated by the Futaba Project, a general incorporated association commissioned by the town, and is open as a "Futaba Town Migration and Settlement Consultation Center" and a交流 space where potential migrants and general visitors can casually enter.

Business hours and basic information

・Business hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

・Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and year-end and New Year holidays

・Admission fee: Free

・Phone number: 080-1752-9353

・Access: 2 minutes on foot from JR Joban Line "Futaba Station"

No prior reservation is necessary. Visitors can directly visit the site during opening hours and freely view and use the renovated old examination room full of Taisho romance and the交流 space with residents.

On January 22, 2026, I was able to visit this Western-style building and speak with the Futaba Project. The details of that occasion will be covered in the next article.