The words printed on the stone pillars are the names of the people who live there. The owners of this house bear the name “Ōshime”, which means “giant sacred rope”. It was one of a few trade names that the priests gave themselves, since it is a word related to the Shinto belief. Nowadays, however, there are lots of people who use that name as a last name. “Jōmonji”, which means “Foregoing taking office”, is a similar kind of name. Within Japan, these are unusual names you might not find anywhere else but in Kamiyoshida.

By the way, there is a house on the opposite side of the street that’s called “Ōshimeya”, which means “Ōshime’s house”, but the family name on the pillar is “Ozawa”. Perhaps the family that lived there chose not to take the priests’ titles as their last name.