日本の家
The following are some of the most attractive features of Japanese houses.
- High humidity control function
Traditional Japanese houses are made of natural wood, clay, plaster, and other building materials that have a higher humidity control function than plywood or vinyl. These materials are used to maintain good air quality and humidity naturally, as if the house breathes.
- Highly Functional Tiles
"Tiles" protect the house and are known for their heat insulation, soundproofing, fire resistance, and ventilation properties. It is also said to have protected the high durability of Japanese houses. In recent years, lighter-weight roofing materials have been introduced to match the construction of today's houses.
High durability, flexibility, and earthquake resistance
Houses made of wood are highly durable, and there are many examples of historical buildings that are still in good condition after more than 100 years.
One of the reasons for this is the highly sophisticated techniques used to build columns and beams, but there is also the fact that wood is light and flexible.
This flexibility also translates directly into improved earthquake resistance.
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- Tatami room
Tatami rooms are a typical floor plan of Japanese houses. It is a comfortable place to sit without a rug and without chairs or other furniture.
Tatami rooms also have the advantage of being used as a bedroom with a futon laid out, as they allow the moisture from the futon to escape. As many people say, "I love the smell of tatami," and it can be a room that gives people a sense of healing.
There are unique spaces such as veranda, tokonoma (alcove), shoin (drawing room), etc.
- En-gawa (veranda)
A boarded area overhanging a Japanese-style room
- Tokono-ma (alcove)
A space in a corner of a Japanese room that is one level higher than the tatami floor. It is used to display hanging scrolls, ornaments, and flower arrangements.
- Shoin
This is a room decoration built next to the tokonoma and has a shoji window. It is shaped like an overhang on the porch.
縁側（えんがわ） 和室 から張 り出 した板 張 りの部分
床 の間（とこのま） 和室 の一角 につくられる、畳 の床 より一段 高 い場所 。掛 け軸 や置物 、生 けた花 など を飾 る。
書院（しょいん） 床 の間 の横 につくられる座敷 飾 りで、障子 窓 がある。縁側 に、はみ出 すような形 になっている。
There are also innovations to keep cool in the summer and to enjoy the scenery outside.
The "Entrance Doma" structure
The entranceway is an earthen floor (a floor with no flooring). In the modern era, the entrance is finished with stone, concrete, or tiles to make it more manageable and comfortable to live in.
In the past, the earthen floor was connected to the kitchen, a place to do farming, and a place to put those tools. Today, it can be used as a place to store bicycles, baby strollers, outdoor equipment, and hobbies, and is being reevaluated as a function of the entranceway.
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"Fusuma" can change the layout of a room.
A fusuma is a sliding door that divides a room, but because it can be removed more easily than a door, it is useful for creating a larger space only when necessary. In the old days, when people often invited relatives and neighbors to their homes for events, fusuma were used to change the size of a room.
ふすまは
The layout of a Japanese house is divided by "fusuma" sliding doors, allowing the size of the rooms to be changed as needed. The tatami space in such a Japanese house is called "tano-ji" style and is characterized by contiguous rooms. They are separated by sliding doors, and the size of the rooms can be freely changed as needed. The continuity of the rooms creates a sense of depth, making the rooms seem more spacious than they actually are. In addition, every room faces the outside, specializing in lighting and ventilation and enabling bright living spaces. The Japanese house, with its different concept from modern houses that emphasize privacy, still offers many advantages suited to the climate.
プライベート を
"Sliding Doors" is Do Not Consume Space.
The "sliding door" is a uniquely Japanese cultural practice. Doors require space to open, but sliding doors can be opened and closed without such space by attaching a rail along the wall. This allows for greater flexibility in floor plans and furniture placement.
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The "engawa" (veranda) is a unique and tasteful feature of the Japanese house layout. It is also called "nure-en" (wet-edge). The veranda, which gently connects the inside and outside of the house, is an ambiguous space that cannot be called either inside or outside of the house. It is a place where one can enjoy the changing seasons while at the same time feeling the security of being inside the house and the openness of the outside. The porch, which extends out over the edge of the house building, has the advantage of keeping the strong summer sun away and allowing the winter sun to penetrate into the living room. It is a buffer space that protects the environment of the house and can also be used as a sunroom in winter.
A lattice door is often seen at the entrance of Japanese houses. The exterior of a house made of natural materials such as muku wood or plaster is often decorated with wooden latticework to softly catch the eye. Lattice doors can be used in a variety of styles, from Japanese to Western, depending on the proportions and the way the wooden frames are assembled. Lattice doors block direct light and create a soft light environment. They are also characterized by their Japanese style, which allows sound and presence to be conveyed while blocking the line of sight.
Resent Japanese houses
These days, there are fewer houses built in the traditional Japanese style. However, even today, most Japanese houses are built from wood. The layout of a house is shown in formats such as 2LDK. This means that there are two bedrooms, one living room, and one dining room / kitchen.
げんかん 玄関 Entrance hall
There is a step at the entrance hall going up into the house. The step divides the inside of the house from the outside. In Japan, you must take off your shoes when entering a house. Take off your shoes, then go up the step into the house.
わしつ 和室 Washitsu (Japanese-style room)
A washitsu is a traditional Japanese room. The floor is made of tatami mats (traditional Japanese flooring made from rush or rice straw). Some washitsu also have a space called toko no ma (an alcove). The storage space is called oshiire (a closet). The oshiire holds bedding and other items. The oshiire has a fusuma (sliding door made of paper) that is opened and closed. Sometimes, washitsu rooms are also separated by a fusuma. Instead of curtains, the windows of a washitsu usually have shooji (a paper screen). These are wooden frames covered with paper. Nowadays, fewer houses have a washitsu room.
トイレ Toilet
The toilet is usually in a separate room from the shower / bath. There are now
very few Japanese-style toilets and most are Western-style. Many toilets are now also equipped with warm water electric bidets. When entering a toilet, people usually put on toilet slippers.
トイレ は、
和式（わしき）トイレ
日本では古いトイレがあります。
使い方は
１．ドーム状の部分が前です。下着を下ろして、しゃがんだ体制で使用します。
使用する時の向きに注意して下さい。
風呂（ふろ） Bath
Japanese houses usually have bathtubs. However, you do not wash yourself in the
bathtub. Before entering the bath, you wash your hair and body outside the tub. After washing, you soak yourself in the bathtub to warm yourself and relax.
ふとん Futon
Japanese people generally sleep in beds these days. However, when sleeping in a washitsu, they sleep on a futon that is laid on the floor. It is also possible to buy a wooden bed frame and place a futon on it. The futon is still widely used now.
The futon is made up of two parts. One is the shiki-buton, which is the bedding that you lie on. The other is the kake-buton, which is the quilt that you cover yourself with. Some people place a thin mat- tress under the shiki-buton. This is how you prepare the futon.
1. Lay out the mattress. Lay out the shiki-buton on
Cover the shiki-buton with a sheet.
マットレスをしいて、
2. Place the futon on top of the mattress.
Add a pillow and kake-buton.
マ ット レ ス の
If you sleep on a futon, put it away every day. If you leave it out, it can get damp, become moldy, or grow bed bugs. Put the futon out to dry regularly. You can also use a futon drier to dry it. This will make it more comfortable to use.
