On February 26, "Fushikino" and "Kotaiji" in Nishimeya Village, Aomori will celebrate their 20th anniversary as a cultural property of the village.

Both Fusiki no Tou and Hirotai Temple are brick structures, which were built in 1912 (Taisho 1) and 1913 (Taisho 2). Located in Kawaratai, Nishimeya Village, it is closed in winter.

Fusiki no Tou is a tower that stands on the top of Yakeyamadaira at an altitude of 300 meters, and has a height of about 20 meters and a base diameter of about 6 meters. It is said to have a shape that is based on the important cultural property "Million Tower" in Horyuji Temple, Nara. Kotaiji Temple is located at the foot of Yakiyamadaira, and according to Nishimeya Village, it was the first temple in Japan to be a red brick main hall, and it is still rare for temple architecture.

It was built by Hirosaki businessman Tsukasa Saito. Born in Hirosaki as the eldest son of the Tsugaru feudal clan, he succeeded as a surveying and civil engineer and focused on developing the Kawaratai area of Nishimeya village. Efforts in paddy field development, tree planting projects, and road excavation. The lord Saito died in 1919 (Taisho 8), but from his will, the body was preserved by injecting formalin under the altar (underground) of the Fusiki no Tou, and was enshrined until 1980 (Showa 55).

In 1998 (Heisei 10), Nishimeya Village preserved and renovated the aging Kotaiji Temple. The Fusiki no Tou was also planned to be renovated from 2000 (Heisei 12), but it was not implemented due to cost issues. A person in charge of the village board of education said, "There was a plan to reinforce with filling materials, but the cost is a big problem. Even if it is repaired, it is difficult to maintain a unique brick tower."

The village was designated as a tangible cultural property of the village in February 2002 in order to pass it on to posterity as a cultural heritage. The village says that the reason for the designation is "a building that is outstanding at that time in all aspects such as the appearance of bricks and the construction method." Currently, the tower is fixed by a steel frame, and it is not possible to see the exterior or enter inside.

According to the person in charge, at present, maintaining the status quo is the highest priority for the Fusiki no Tou, and there are no plans to renovate it in the future.