Please find below a brief description of each type of component you can use to create your own Japanese Space.
Closeness to nature is the ultimate goal of your Japanese Space
| Fusuma: Sliding doors covered with a thick opaque paper or cloth on a wood frame grid, used to separate tatami rooms (wall to wall doors). Traditional doorways are usually about six feet high. They are often painted with beautiful natural scenery on one or both sides. Sometimes fusuma referred to as sliding paper doors. They usually could be removed to make a larger room or reception area out of two rooms. Think of a movable wall. | |
| Ranma: Ranma or transom are carved on both sides and used between Shoji and the ceiling to provide air circulation and light. They come in a variety of sizes. In the west they can be used as headboards, wall decorations and be made into tables. They can be placed over the shoji, on a wall, with lights behind them as decorations. Lights can be placed behind the ranma to highlight the design. |
|
| Shoji: Sliding doors covered with a thin paper, pasted over the wood grid and frame door. The wood is normally unfinished. They are usually six feet high. Shoji normally come in sets of four. The primary traditional function is to divide interior space from exterior space. In more modern homes they are used to partition areas where house slippers are worn from tatami rooms where house slippers are not worn. | |
| Tatami: Tatami mats are usually three by six feet and made of tightly woven rice-straw pads from 1 ¾ - 2 ½ inches thick. They are covered by finely woven mat on top, edged with cloth. Rooms are built to contain a certain number of these usually three by six foot mats, and the size of the room is referred to by the number of mats. A four and a half mat room, for example, would be nine by nine feet. A formal Japanese tea room is four and a half mats. The mats weigh between 15 and 20 pounds each. Sometimes tatami are referred to as Japanese "straw carpets" in the west. Tatami from Japan usually come in three grade levels and uses. You can clean them using a damp cloth or with a vacuum cleaner and a special brush attachment. Shoes and house slippers are not worn on tatami. Many tatami mats available today are copies that are not as tough or wearable as an authenitic Japanese mat, which should last 20 to 25 years. | |
| Tokobashira: These are decorative posts or poles that are part of the Tokonoma alcove. This is the alcove pillar. This should be made of an attractive rounded wood pole. Square bamboo poles are often used in Japanese homes today. | |
| Tokonoma alcove or corner: Usually contains a scroll (kakejiku) or picture and a flower arrangement (ikebana). The tokonoma is reserved for treasured items, like a piece of fine ceramics or ironwork. Your treasured art pieces are not displayed all at the same time. Using different articles to be displayed on separate occasions, according to the season, can create different settings and atmospheres. In Japan scrolls too are changed to reflect the four seasons. | |
| Tokonoma shelves: These are often placed on the bottom and inside of the alcove or corner. They are made of natural wood with natural wood shapes and forms. The wood textures and grains are important considerations in selection. The upper shelf or shelves are staggered. The bottom shelf is generally raised slightly above the tatami. | |
| Reed doors: These are sliding doors made of reed. They can be used as room dividers, wall accents and more. They are used in the summer instead of shoji. | |
| Wooden doors: Heavy slated doors make great tables or desks. Large heavy wooden doors from Japanese store houses can be used as a main entrance door into a home or made into dinning room tables. They are usually found in country homes in Japan. | |
Accessory Items
|
A room kit would include Tatami, Shoiji and/or Fusuma, Ranma, Tokonoma Pole and shelves.
All these authentic Japanese components and other accessories can be used in many ways, both traditional and non-traditional to create a Japanese atmosphere for your rooms.