Minka

This beautiful short documentary film tells the story of an 18th-century minka–the traditional Japanese post-and-beam farmhouse–that was rescued, dismantled, and rebuilt as a modern home.

Minka from Birdling Films on Vimeo.


The film is dedicated to the house’s late owner, John Roderick, an American journalist stationed in Japan during the 1960s, whose account of the experience was published in 2007. The story is told by Yoshihiro Takishita, who assisted Roderick in the project, and who went on to make a career of modernizing these magnificent old buildings.–b.d.s.

About the Author

Bruce D. Snider

Bruce Snider is a former senior contributing editor of  Residential Architect, a frequent contributor to Remodeling. 

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