The Ogino Residence is the oldest building in Kumagawa. It consists of three different buildings – the main building, the annex, and the warehouse. This formation of three buildings is standard for the residences of the Kumagawa wholesalers. The Ogino family was at the forefront of the Kumagawa wholesale business, making all the arrangements for people, cattle, and horses.

Behind you, you can find Matsunoki Shrine. It is said that at one point, this plot of land housed a warehouse where the annual tax was collected.

At the end of the warring states period, the new feudal lords of Wakasa province decided to raise the land taxes in preparation for the construction of Obama Castle. They did this even though people were already struggling in the aftermath of the war. Many people protested this tax increase, which felt like rubbing salt in an open wound. However, their concerns were dismissed. “Just deal with it until the castle is completed.” Finally, the towers of Obama Castle rose above the town. However, there were no changes to the land taxes. “This isn’t what you promised!” The citizens once again protested in unity for the land taxes to be lowered. But they were once again dismissed. They continued their protests for nine long years, then one by one, the movement’s representatives were imprisoned and their comrades were lost. Only one man refused to give in: Shozaemon Matsunoki. Refusing to submit to the threats of the officials even when he was the only one left, he continued to protest. Eventually, Matsunoki was executed at the young age of 28. However, he exchanged his life for a miracle; the tax decreases he had fought for were finally pushed through.

“This is all thanks to Matsunoki.” The people of Wakasa were grateful to him, but there was no way they could show their gratitude to someone who had been charged as a criminal. Matsunoki’s grave took over 100 years to be made, and even then, his name was engraved not on the front of the gravestone, but on the back in small letters. The shrine that is dedicated in his name didn’t even exist until the start of the Showa period in the 1920s.