Takita Family Residence (Old Shipping Family)

In detail

The Takita family, who ran one of Tokoname’s shipping agencies, built a residence facing Ise Bay in 1850, not long after starting their lucrative business. Their former home has been faithfully restored and offers a chance to learn about the family, their lifestyle, and their shipping business through its fine examples of period furniture, ceramics, and lacquerware. There are also informative displays explaining the development of local shipping history.

As the region’s industry and economy developed in the eighteenth century, Tokoname became a maritime transport center due to its location on the Chita Peninsula. The Takita family used several small wooden ships to take Tokoname ceramics and locally produced rice and sake to Edo (now Tokyo) and bring back soybeans and wheat.

Before a voyage to Edo, the ships would cross Ise Bay to the port city of Toba, in Mie Prefecture, where the crews carefully monitored the weather. When sailing conditions were favorable, they departed on the seven- to ten-day voyage to Edo. A 1:15 scale replica of one of those ships is exhibited in the house.

The last people to live in the home before the city took over its upkeep were Takita Eiji and his wife, Harumi, with their two children. Their daughter Ayuchi (1932–2005) was a well-known pioneer in the male-dominated field of Japanese aviation. She was the first female executive at Japan Airlines and later served as an advisor to the Japanese government. The Takita Residence is part of Course A on the Pottery Footpath.