"Queen of Ruins" Mayakan How to save and utilize!

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April 1st 16:15

The ruined "Mayakan" is located on the mountainside about 4 km northeast of Sannomiya, the center of Kobe.

It has recently been decided that it will be registered as a national registered tangible cultural property.

Apparently, this is the first time that the ruins have been registered.

But how are you trying to preserve and utilize the desolate ruins as a cultural property?

(Kobe Broadcasting Station reporter Megumi Taguchi)

Ruins "loved" by fans

"Mayakan" on Mt. Maya in Kobe city.

The official name is "Former Maya Kanko Hotel".

It is well known to ruins fans all over the country.

I picked it up three years ago on a local program on the evening of NHK Kobe Broadcasting Station, where I work, and I remember feeling sad and drawn in by the appearance of a decaying building surrounded by vegetation.

The point of cultural property registration is

Mayakan, which is introduced as "an old hotel of Art Deco sitting on the hillside of Mt. Maya" in the materials of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, is a reinforced concrete two-story basement and two-story building built in 1945.

The eaves on each floor emphasize the curved surface, and the stage and Western-style rooms have Art Deco-style designs.

You can see the history of Mt. Maya prospering as a resort area.

It was used as a hotel and training camp until 1993, and after that it was not used and became desolate, but due to its decaying appearance, it is also called the "Queen of Ruins" by fans all over the country.

Is ruins a cultural property?

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Cultural property registered this time.

There is no ruins other than Mayakan.

I asked the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

There are about 13,000 registered tangible cultural properties nationwide, but are there any other ruins?

"Basically, there isn't one," he said.

As I thought it's like that….

So why did you decide to register?

"Even if the building is valuable, the one that is simply left unregistered is not registered. In addition to the value of the building, the NPO ensured safety while maintaining and repairing the skeleton such as preventing rain leaks. I have been touring on the ground and taking advantage of the atmosphere. That was highly evaluated. ”(Agency for Cultural Affairs)

I have been interviewing cultural properties, but most of them are modern in the Meiji and Taisho eras. Modern architecture and old folk houses that retain the atmosphere of the Edo period.

All of them convey the atmosphere at the time of construction, and it seems that many of them were used as tourism resources such as restaurants and hotels.

"In most cases, I think Mayakan has no choice but to preserve and utilize new cultural properties." (Agency for Cultural Affairs)

Why be loved?

Ruins have the image of a "local nuisance facility," but why did Mayakan become so popular?

I was able to talk to the one who created the opportunity.

Yohei Maebata, the representative of "J-heritage", an NPO in Kobe that promotes the recording and utilization of modern heritage.

Mr. Yohei Maebata, Representative of J-heritage

"Originally, Mayakan was well known to ruins enthusiasts, and the scenery created by chance due to the nature of Mt. Maya and the man-made objects of the building is very attractive. The imagination is aroused one after another as to why it has decayed. The beauty that has matured over time. I really wanted to keep it. "

Therefore, I consulted with Mr. Nagaki Matsubara of Kobe City's NPO "Hyogo Heritage Organization H2O Kobe", which is working on the excavation and preservation of historic buildings.

He asked the owner to intervene and appealed to the owner, "I want you to leave it."

With the cooperation of the three parties, the movement toward the preservation and utilization of Mayakan will begin in earnest.

Crowdfunding will be implemented in 2017.

About 7 million yen, which greatly exceeds the target of 5 million yen, was collected, and it seems that it was possible to take measures for crime prevention and rain leaks.

Mayakan who was "negative movable property"

So how did the owner who brought the story take it?

We talked to Masahiro Sannomiya, the representative of the real estate management company "Nippon Service" in Osaka.

Real estate management company Masahiro Sannomiya

"Because we are a real estate company, we inevitably see buildings at market value. Mayakan was a" negative movable property "that did not generate profit for the company. It is very difficult to demolish or repair. It costs a lot of money. I was wondering what happened. "

According to Mr. Sannomiya, the group company acquired the ownership in 1973.

The basic way to get to Mayakan is by foot or cable car.

There is no road.

Refurbishment costs a lot of money.

He was repeatedly warned by the police and fire department that he should manage it properly.

Under such circumstances, Mr. Maehata told me that "Mayakan is said to be a" sanctuary "among ruined fans," and he was very surprised.

Mr. Masahiro Sannomiya, a real estate management company

"I received high praise for what I thought was a nuisance to the community. I can't spend much money, but I want people to see what they are as they are, ensuring sufficient safety. It makes sense if it contributes to the community, and I definitely wanted to work on it. "

To rediscover the charm of the town

How did the locals accept this registration?

We contacted Mr. Kenichi Ji, the secretary-general of the "Mayasan Revitalization Association" made up of locals who have been touring Mayakan since 2017.

Mr. Kenichi Ji, Secretary General of Mayasan Revitalization Association

"I'm glad I was registered. It

's

like getting endorsement. I know that the response is good on SNS, but nothing suddenly changed. When I come next year, If you come three years later, if you come five years later, it may be in a different state. I hope you enjoy seeing such realities such as mono no aware and mono no aware. "

that?

Somehow a surprisingly calm reaction.

But when I listen to the story ...

Mr. Kenichi Ji, Secretary General of Mt. Maya Revitalization Association

"What I was most happy about this time was the local reaction. Neighbors said" I saw it in the news ". The number of tourists on Mt. Maya will decrease. Among them, there was a desire to work to liven up the local area. This registration made me realize the charm of the city. The most important thing was that the feeling of valuing familiar things spread. "

One stone for the ideal way of cultural properties

This registration is also highly evaluated by Assistant Professor Kazuto Kasahara of Kyoto Institute of Technology, who is familiar with the history of modern architecture.

Kazuto Kasahara, Assistant Professor, Kyoto Institute of Technology

"When preserving it as a cultural property, the most important thing so far has been" the pure appearance when completed ", and it has been said that it is valuable. Mayakan was also praised for its decaying time. I think it was a big topic because it is different from traditional cultural properties. Many people think that the decayed appearance is beautiful. Now that I understand, I think that I have become a good person to think about how to preserve and utilize cultural properties in the future. "

Diversified value of cultural properties

Mayakan is graceful and mysterious in nature.

The circle of passion of those who were moved by the charm of the building spread, which resulted in the registration of the national registered tangible cultural property.

"It gave us different perspectives and options for the ruins that had to be destroyed until now. Isn't it unusual for cultural properties to have pros and cons, such as" Is there any value in ruins? " I want to ask you "(Mr. Maehata)

"There are many buildings in Japan that cannot be demolished or are difficult to handle. I think this registration will be a hint," (Mr. Sannomiya).

It remains beautiful and decays.

The preservation and utilization of Mayakan, which began with the desire to extend the time for that purpose.

Will this discussion spread and deepen by becoming a registered tangible cultural property?

Would you like to watch over the "Queen of Ruins" together?

Kobe Broadcasting Station Reporter　

Megumi Taguchi

Joined the

Prefectural Board of Education in

2017 I am interested in industrial heritage and old townscapes and interviewed