VOL.2
The story of the tokonoma

2021/1/7

Isn't the tokonoma the space that has symbolically disappeared in modern homes?
In the old days, all houses had a Japanese-style room and a tokonoma alcove.
Even during the postwar home-ownership boom, most homes had at least one Japanese-style room and tokonoma alcove.
However, as apartment complexes and condominiums became the norm, at some point Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats disappeared, and tokonoma alcoves disappeared from homes.
The living room became a living-dining room with wooden flooring, the bedroom went from futons to beds, and the tatami mats became an uncomfortable space.

It is impossible for a tea room to not have a tokonoma (even a wall with just a wooden floor can serve as a tokonoma), but in residential homes the tokonoma has become an unnecessary fixture.

So, when did the tokonoma come about, and how has it become involved in Japanese life? Let's take a look.

The History of Tokonoma

The origins of the tokonoma date back to the Muromachi period.
The tokonoma started out as a space where Buddhist statues were placed on a push board and shelf as Buddhist decorations, and was born as a floor decoration for placing Buddhist paintings and Buddhist altar implements.
Later, features such as staggered shelves and attached shoin studies were created, and tea room architecture evolved into shoin-style and sukiya-style buildings.

As the Shoin-zukuri style of architecture was established, the "Jodan no Ma" (upper room) and "Gedan no Ma" (lower room) were created to represent rank. The lord sat in the "Jodan no Ma" and his retainers in the "Gedan no Ma".
The vassals also wanted to build a similar "jodan no ma" in their own homes, but due to housing circumstances, they made it as small as possible and turned it into a tokonoma alcove in a corner of the tatami room.

On the other hand, in the homes of monks, Buddhist paintings are displayed, and in front of them are placed the three Buddhist altar utensils: an incense burner, a vase, and a candlestick, which are placed on a stand called an "oshiita." A bay window is installed next to the paintings to let in light and serve as a desk for reading and writing.

The shoin-style style was developed by combining the samurai's "jodan no ma" style and the monks' "oshiita" style.
Furthermore, shelves were needed to store calligraphy and writing implements such as inkstone cases, and so shelves were built next to the alcove. Later, the function of the shoin as a desk became meaningless and it became a place for decoration, and the alcove with shelves was completed, unlike the tokonoma alcove of the attached shoin in the main room as seen today.

Furthermore, with the development of the tea ceremony, sukiya-zukuri architecture came to be favored, and the tokonoma alcove became a stylish, grass-hut-like space with freer ideas.

Even as times change, the tokonoma remains the most important part of the house and an indispensable space in Japanese homes as a way to welcome guests.

It will be built to face either south or east, and positioned so that light from the shoin comes from the east or south.

Highlights of the Tokonoma alcove

The highlight is how the tokonoma alcove is constructed by combining various materials, including the toko pillar as the main part, the toko frame, drop shelf, staggered shelves, and shoin shelves.

The alcove pillars are made from a variety of natural woods, including polished cedar logs, squeezed logs, cypress, ebony, rosewood, chestnut-like oak and red pine, and the alcove frames, drop-down shelves, staggered shelves and shoin shelves are also made from natural wood with a lacquer finish.
(In the past, they were all solid wood, but nowadays there are artificial materials that are glued on, so please be careful.)

The choice of materials to use and how to build it will depend on the owner of the house's preferences.
(This may be difficult for modern people who no longer understand rules or materials, but it is the joy of architecture, so please give it a try!)

In addition, in the soan teahouse, there are also the ultimate alcoves, such as the "Hotoko" invented by Rikyu, which have no alcove pillars, drop hangings, or alcove frames. There are also alcoves that represent the pinnacle of "beauty of imperfection", with everything stripped away to highlight hanging scrolls and flowers.

We hope that you will experience the world of "Shu-Ha-Ri," a concept that only by understanding and pursuing tradition can one break conventions and pursue ever greater beauty.

The role of the tokonoma

Unfortunately, it has become common for modern homes to lack a tokonoma alcove, let alone a Japanese-style room.

Since the Muromachi period, the tokonoma has been a symbol of authority and a place of culture. Furthermore, it has been decorated in various ways to symbolize the seasons and annual events.

I think this is where the inheritance of culture to the next generation and family ties were born. In today's world, where tokonoma alcoves no longer exist, there is nothing to replace that space. (If I had to say, perhaps a decorative shoe rack in the entrance or a TV stand in the living room would be a good idea. Too bad!)

Our company has been building many tea rooms recently, and this is because we want to see tokonoma alcoves built in ordinary homes, more than just as places for the tea ceremony.
I would love to bring back the tokonoma culture to Japanese homes.
We will also continue to spread the "TOKONOMA" culture to the world!

Cape Copanello on the toes of the Italian peninsula.

Here, the Gatti family runs a farm that grows olives in their natural state without using any pesticides or fertilizers. Introducing the rare olive oil that is made by squeezing the early picked olives of this rare Gatti family at low temperature.

ガッティ家のオリーブオイル

Tthe "Hokuso" area has been blessed with the abundant water of Kasumigaura and the Tone River since ancient times.

Rice has been cultivated since the Edo period, and in the olden days, rice was supplied to Edo via the Tone River.

We are reclaiming fallow fields in this area and working to regenerate delicious rice and paddy fields.

北総のお米「美人米」

The delicious rice grown in the Hokuso region has brought a lot of wealth to the region. The homes of rice farmers in the area are also very valuable from an architectural point of view.

Unfortunately, the Hokuso area is also experiencing population outflow and aging, and as a result, these high-value buildings are also being devastated.

We regenerate these old folk houses with our knowledge and know-how as an architect and provide them as accommodation facilities.

北総の古民家ステイ