Japanese architecture

By Arsh and Nathan

Japanese Castles

Were used as Fortresses

Were built to guard strategic and important sites

There used to be 5000 castles in Japan

50 castles remain today

Were first made in the 7th centaury

Declared Japans national treasures

Defense

Most of the castles were used as defense

Were built on hills, so they could see the attackers coming

Spaces in the walls for firing were called Sama

Sama were used to pour hot liquids on attackers climbing the wall

Some had moats

Stone walls to prevent attackers

Early Fortifications

Were primarily made of wood and earthworks

Used natural defenses for defense( hills, landscaping)

Most were influenced by Chinese and Korean Architecture

Were built on higher grounds to give it an imitating look

Himeji Castle in Japan.

Modern Times

Most of the castles were destroyed in World War 2

Many castles today are rebuilt versions

All castles were turned over to the Meji government in 1871

All of the castles are opened as museums today

Most castles in the south of Japan are in Kyuushuu

Himeji CastleIs located on a flat-land mountain

Named the First National Treasure

Known as “The White Heron Castle” Because of the white exterior

Greatest Defense is a maze leading to the front of the castle

Has appeared in many movies like “You only live twice”

Panorama view of Himeji

Catles

Walkthrough

Now we will take a walkthrough through a Japanese Castle

Housing In Japan

In Modern day Japan there are two styles of housing, a detached single family home and a multi-unit building (apartment).

Traditional days there were two types of housing.

Minka, a typical freestanding house.

Nagaya, row house.

Inside the House

Genkan:

Also know as the entrance. In this area the shoes are removed to prevent the tatmani mats from being damaged and placed into little cupboards. The tatmani mats where what traditional home floors were covered with.

トイレ :

Also known as the bathroom. In a Japanese bathroom there a two rooms, one for undressing which also has a sink and actual bathroom with a shower and deep bathtub.

Kitchen

Modern Japanese kitchen include stoves and broilers.

Have electric exhaust fans.

Built in dishwashers are uncommon.

Includes hot and cold running water faucets.

Washitsu

A traditonal styled room in modern homes. They include tatami flooring, shoji that cover the window, and a wooden ceiling. This room could be used in a variety of ways due to it being common for it being unfirnished.

Construction and Materials

Traditonal Homes: Kitchen usually had dirtfloors, wood was used to construct the building. There were some options for roofs, they could be thatch, cypress bark, tile, or bare wood.

Modern Homes: For most freestanding houses today wood frames are popular. For the extirior ceramic tile is most common , the intirior is very similar to the common Candian home. Apartments are usually made of concrete, as for the roof ashhalt and synthetics.

One Room Mansion

A Japanese apartment style with only one small room

Usually around 110sq ft.

Include a compact bathroom

Often rented by one person due to the very small size.

Heating

Modern Heating:

Unlike most houses where central heating is used to heat the home, in Japanese homes space heating is used. As most Japanese homes have space heating the equipment is usually taken when they move.

Traditional Heating:

The kotatsu is a traditional type of heater that is still widely used today. A light duvet cloth is used to keep the heat it.

Walkthrough

Now we will take a walkthrough a traditional Japanese home.