Since the foundation of the business in 1550, the successive masters of the Konishi, or the heads of Konishi Brewing, have been deeply involved in cultural and artistic activities of Japan, while diligently attending to the business.

Through close association with contemporary writers, warriors, and artists, who lived impassioned lives, masters of the Konishi have contributed to the creation of the best cultural environme nt at every stage of the Japan's history. We have also been committed to the establishment of business philosophy and aesthetics.

'Yakkai Nagaya', or troublesome row houses in Japanese, are rows of houses where various people sojourned whenever they visited the Konishi.

Among those who stayed at 'Yakkai Nagaya' were writers, warriors and artists who left their names in the history of Japan including Musashi Miyamoto, an outstanding swordsman of the beginning of the Edo era (early 17th century), Monzaemon Chikamatsu, a prominent writer of 'joruri' (a ballad drama) during the middle Edo era, Saikaku Ihara, a prominent writer and poet during the first part of the Edo er a, to mention a few. However, with the severe damage brought on by the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, 'Yakkai Nagaya' were to be demolished.

Taking the opportunity with our creation of Fujiyama NET, we have reproduced 'Yakkai Nagaya' in the cyberspace of the Internet to carry on the tradition of the Konishi as well as to create a new cultural environment for a new era to come. In addition, through the home page of 'Konishi Library', we will successively publicize pieces of the work that was left with 'Yakkai Nagaya' by the historically renowned visitors including writers,warriors and artists.

With the reconstruction of 'Yakkai Nagaya' on the Fujiyama Net, we are pleased to invite any person from around the world who works in any creative field to the newly provided rooms in 'Yakkai Nagaya'. Please feel free to register your name on thefollowing visitors' register and leave your literary or artistic footprint at the new 'Yakkai Nagaya'. We are very much looking forward to your visits.

Staff members Internet Planning Office
Konishi Brewing Co., Ltd.

An excerpt from series No. 2 of the 'Oral History of Kendo (Japanese traditional fencing)' as testified by the late Shizuko Konishi, the wife of Shinuemon Konishi, the present Chairman of Konishi Brewing, and the former President of the Japan Halberd League.

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.... Well, you can see it from there, the other side of the yard. The place is now under construction as a warehouse.

But, just until two months ago, there stood rows ofhouses. Though called 'rows of houses', they were not like the so-called 'rabbithutches', as sometimes quoted in the foreign news coverage. Two-storied Individual houses with a common roof on top.

Each house had its own porch and yard, and rooms were provided with luxuries. Houses on the one side were demolished. There must have been five houses. On the other side were a couple of houses, which still remain. We used to host swordsmen dropping by during their errantry travels around the country at these houses. They were reconstructed in the Meiji era (1868 ~1911).

Not only those swordsmen on errantry, but also writers or artists stayed at the houses.

Their sojourns usually lasted one month at the shortest. It was not unusual that their stays exceeded a month or so, according to what I have heard. Visitors were attended by the employees of the Konishi.

They named the houses 'Yakkai Nagaya'. (literally means troublesome row houses) laughter But, please do not misunderstand. We didn't mean that visitors were troublesome by calling the houses 'Yakkai Nagaya'. They were instructors of the martial arts, writers,artists, etc. Some were very celebrated, and some were difficult to please. .. "How can we please them. It's kind of difficult to entertain them." It was the reason why they named the houses 'Yakkai Nagaya', I guess.

Let's say, in the neighborhood, the streets were lined up with very old buildings andhouses until recently. In the past, location units often came here for shooting 'Samurai'films.

The development was gradually advancing, changing the streets. The fate of 'Yakkai Nagaya' is one of such typical examples. It was a bit sad, but, an outcome of necessity, and we had to accept it.