It’s easy to overlook the transom — in this case, an opening constructed between the lintels of the frame for the ceiling — on the staircase leading up to the second floor of the Seienkaku Residence. Carved from a single large piece of zelkova wood, the transom depicts a beautifully carved plum blossom tree.
It was created to commemorate the overnight stay of the Crown Prince (Emperor Showa) at Seienkaku on 14 October 1925, and was carved by Takahashi Tamekichi, a Buddhist priest in the neighbouring town of Yuza in Sakata. Tamekichi was a prolific craftsperson and is said to have had ties with the Homma family. (The drafts and drawings for the transom were said to have been done by someone associated with Ise-jingu Shrine.)
With plum blossoms carved on both sides, the transom is strikingly beautiful when viewed ascending or descending. It takes great skill to create such expressive carvings of the delicate petals and dynamic branches on hardwood; a single plum blossom took at least one day to carve.
Another fascinating detail here is that the shadows of the plum blossoms resemble a bush warbler (uguisu in Japanese). As there are no surviving documents relating to the transom, it is unclear whether this was intentional or a happy accident. However, this design is characteristic of the Homma’s family enduring respect for the imperial family, as the combination of plum blossoms and bush warblers has long been associated with friendly relations, having the meaning of “a match made in heaven.”