It is a kominka, or a traditional Japanese folk house, but its existence in the United States is anything but traditional. When the 800-square-foot house was put together in 2024, there was no county permit process for old Japanese buildings. Japanese preservation groups estimate that tens of thousands of traditional houses disappear each year, which has sparked efforts to save them. In 2020, UNESCO added traditional Japanese architectural timber framing to its Intangible Heritage list. Outside Boston, a retired timber framer named Billy Dillon had ample experience moving barns and other old structures.