Where should you sit when you are welcomed in Japanese room as a guest?
Recently, there are more and more foreigners visiting Japan.
They might have chance to go to Japanese restaurant, visit Japanese people’s house or participate to tea ceremony.
I would like to tell you the manners of Japanese room for such occasions.
This time is about
“where should the guest sit when welcomed in Japanese room?”
The answer is the seat farthest from the door.
In Japan, this place is called
“Kamiza”.
There is
“Tokonoma”
in Kamiza.
“Tokonoma” is a built-in recessed space in a Japanese room where pictorial scrolls, vase or flower is displayed.
If you enter Japanese room as a guest, you should sit at the side of Tokonoma.
“Tokonoma” is regarded as sacred so it’s a place for the main guest.
Also, the host should sit on the other side, closest to the door.
This place is called
“Shimoza”.
If you are welcomed to Japanese room, please look for “Tokonoma” and sit near it.
