Ample evidence exists to demonstrate the varied connections between Salem and Japan, both in the past and the present. Just last week, my next-door neighbor was hosting a group of Japanese filmmakers, here in town to shoot the childhood home and environment of Salem native and Japanese cultural minister Ernest Fenollosa (1858-1907). The Peabody Essex Museum has wonderful Japanese collections and a beautiful Japanese garden, no doubt due, in large part, to the advocacy of its long-term director, Edward Sylvester Morse (1838-1925). Morse was also responsible, in a way, for another tangible symbol of the Salem-Japan connection: the so-called “Japanese House” on Laurel Street.
This house was designed by the prominent and prolific Boston architectural firm Andrews, Jacques and Rantoul for a young man named Bunkio Matsuki (1867-1940), who arrived in Salem as a teenager, accompanied by a friend and armed with his acquaintance with Morse, whom he had met during one of the latter’s earlier trips to Japan. Matsuki knocked on the front door of Morse’s house (which is located right next door to the Japanese house; I’ll write about it in a future post once I figure out a bit more about its equally distinctive architectural style) and began a new life in Salem: graduating from Salem High School, setting up an import business, marrying his landlord’s daughter, and ultimately building his distinct house in 1893. Below is a photograph from the 1903 publication Prominent Americans interested in Japan and Prominent Japanese in America, and an advertisement for Matsuki’s shop in Boston from the same year.
I imagine that the architects at Andrews, Jacques and Rantoul must have relied on Morse’s 1888 book Japanese Homes and their Surroundings for their design of the Matsuki house, as it is full of plans and detailed drawings. I know that a Japanese carpenter was employed for its construction; even though he trained to be a Buddhist monk back in Japan, Matsuki was apparently from a family of craftsmen, whose contacts would serve him well over his long career. His roles as a cross-cultural ambassador, entrepreneur and preservationist of sorts is highlighted in this 1903 auction notice from the New York Times, describing objects which belong to Mr. Bunkio Matsuki, a descendant of the Tategawa family of artist-artisans and builders of temples, who has had the advantage of being a Japanese and a lover of curios. He has been able to collect objects from dismantled temples and those which were reorganized when an attempt was made from governmental sources to change the religion of Japan. The Boxer troubles in China have also thrown things his way, and the result is a very curious and interesting lot of things.
The house yesterday, during our first serious snow.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:21 am
How wonderful. i hope it is still being lived in. And out of interest -was it originally painted yellow? c
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 am
I grew up not far from this house in the late 50’s. I remember that it had 2 extremely large oriental lanterns outside , at the rear of the property. By the 80’s, it had turned into an absentee landlord owned slum. I hope that better times are finally in store for this house that really should be a nice home.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:30 am
It looks like it’s in pretty good shape but no lanterns: thanks for the memory, Nelson. Not sure about the original color.
January 23rd, 2012 at 10:44 am
What a beautiful house! I’m not a huge fan of yellow as an exterior color, but the style and details are exceptional. The illustration above is darling too – I love rabbits.
January 28th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Hello Donna,
I’m all for accurate restoration, but I’m not a purist n every way. I think a different colour combination for this house would make it look even better. Can’t quite make out the design of that stain glass window in the door, but I’m sure it’s lovely. Very much enjoyed your previous posts.
Anyes
XX
February 16th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Wow! This is really beautiful. I’ve had the opportunity to go to Salem twice, exploring both times. I imagine I could go back a hundred times and not see half of the town’s treasures.
September 21st, 2014 at 7:14 pm
This is my grandmothers house.
She still lives in this house inside has amazing woodwork. Beautiful house. It how ever was spooky as a kid
September 21st, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Hello Amy–thanks so much for commenting! It is beautiful–your family has certainly taken good care of this very unique house!
December 10th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
I just saw that this lovely house is for sale:
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/ma/salem/12-laurel-st/pid_33973747/
December 10th, 2019 at 8:34 pm
I think it’s already under agreement, Liz!
December 18th, 2021 at 8:10 am
Matsuki donated the lantern in the Boston Public Garden to the City of Boston in 1904. It’s on the edge of the lagoon and is mounted on Rockport granite.
December 18th, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Thanks Alicia, I did no know that!
July 25th, 2022 at 11:37 pm
This house is for sale again, and the listing shows all the amazing rooms inside – hope someone restores it! Plenty of room for an amazing Japanese garden too.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12-Laurel-St-Salem-MA-01970/56123090_zpid/
July 26th, 2022 at 2:45 am
Me too!
September 4th, 2022 at 12:17 am
My friend just bought this house. He’s quickly learning Aviv it’s significant place in the architectural history of Salem
September 10th, 2022 at 4:31 am
I’m interested in this house if he changes his mind, I’d like to do a full tasteful and historically researched restoration and add japanese gardens to the property…
September 10th, 2022 at 5:48 pm
Well if I can help him or you, let me know! My husband was the architect for the owners who just sold–they committed to totally restoring the property, but were not going to live there, so they were going to finance the restoration by adding another semi-attached structure and selling both as condos. The Salem Planning Board did not like this idea, so that’s why it was sold. But he knows the house well and we have other friends in Salem who do as well.
December 20th, 2022 at 10:12 am
I’m also an architect still in love with this house! I hope your friend does a sensitive restoration of the property. Your friend is living the dream.
December 20th, 2022 at 10:56 am
I am also interested in how it turns out! I’m an architect too and have been thinking about this house ever since it went on the market. I have some experience with Japanese architecture, I hope your friend is working on a sensitive renovation! The property has a ton of potential and amazing history. I wish we were in a position to make an offer at the time.