A former residential building tucked in the backstreets of Kagurazaka, Issuriyo is a masterpiece of Showa period (1926–1989) architecture. The two-storey house was built in 1951 by the architect Hiroshi Takahashi for the carpenters who came in and out of town to work with him.
Characterised by its corrugated galvanised iron roof, the house was registered as a Designated Tangible Cultural Property by the government in 2013. Now run by the architect's grandson, the building is currently hosting a contemporary art exhibition featuring 12 Japanese artists and artist duos. Because the building has 12 rooms, each artist has been given their own room to turn into an exhibition space.
In one room, Nozomi Suzuki posts black and white murals of Kagurazaka's former townscape on old panel doors to give visitors a glimpse of the view the house's residents might have had from the windows several decades ago. In another room, Kazuaki Yamane presents his deconstructed bicycle sculpture 'Reform', which references how the Japanese-English word for 'apartment' is 'apart'. Here, Yamane contemplates the types of separation that we experience in aspects like work and home, as well as in our relationships with the people around us. If there was ever a place in Tokyo to ponder the passing of time and compare the past with the present, Kagurazaka is the neighbourhood to be in.