HIGASHI-OSAKA, Osaka Pref. -- It's the usual shopping arcade stretching from a train station, a sight seen anywhere in Japan, except that a castle comes into view between arcade ceilings. Kosaka Castle.

Kenichi Isono with his castle

Some 15 km southeast of Osaka Castle, which was built by feudal warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the five-story miniature Kosaka Castle stands atop a barbershop owned by Kenichi Isono in the Kosaka district in the downtown area.

Instead of a moat for defense, the castle sports a standard barbershop sign, indicating the place is for cutting hair, not for hara-kiri.

The lord of the castle, Isono, 64, appeared in a "kamishimo" silk feudal ceremonial costume because it was Monday, a traditional day off for barbers.

By recycling materials from dismantled homes, Isono completed his castle 15 years ago. He likes history and traditional Japanese architecture so much that, after researching various historical records, he could not help but build his own castle.

On top of the 70-year-old two-story wooden shop, he built a third-floor golden tea room, like the one Hideyoshi had. Unlike Hideyoshi's tea room, which was gilded in real gold, Isono's is adorned with gold paper. The keep, used as a storeroom, stands above the tea room.

Isono said that it is customary for him to make and serve green tea for his close friends on New Year's Day and to read haiku in the tea room.

Isono said. "This castle will never be completed, because it keeps evolving as long as there are discarded housing materials in the neighborhood."