Everyday Items

Objects from daily Japanese life that reflect simplicity and craftsmanship.

: Japanese traditional door "Fusuma" and "Shoji"

Fusuma, Shoji

Japanese traditional houses normally have sliding doors for the entrance and rooms. But in modern housing, swing doors are dominant and the sliding doors are only to be seen for Japanese style rooms which most of the modern house still contains one or two within. In western countries, the doors open inwardly. On the contrary, they open outwardly in Japan. The reason could be that since Japanese has a custom of taking the shoes off when stepped inside the entrance door, a certain space to take off the shoes and keep them must be secured there. Besides, the movement of ...