The Modern Japanese House

Classic biru (Western-style building). Although the bonsai trees usually do not require bamboo support like this one, they do often have wires to keep the branches in the right spot.

This house is possibly a modern addition to a refurbished old house. Note the upturned eves, ornamentation of the left roof, and the highlighting strips of wood strips; also the carvings behind the tree in the center. The main glass entryway is to the right (and an orange posuto almost hidden by the tree to its right).

Most of the newer houses have a distinctly Western style, although not American by any stretch of the imagination. For the most part these houses are two story boxes with a roof slanting from one side to the other (either front to back or vice-versa). However, the houses of the more well-to-do rural citizens, by which I do not mean the aspiring upper middle class in the cities, are distinctly more interesting. These houses seem to me to be much more American in style, although they would still seem quite foreign to our cities, as they retain a number of uniquely Japanese elements.

Some of these houses appear to be either an upgrade of an existing house or a new house in imitation of the old style. These houses typically have a metal roof, usually red, not dissimilar to the thatched roof. Invariably there is some ornamentation on the peaks and often an imitation of temple ribs. The rest of the house, though, is modern stucco-style siding with glass windows, a second story (or at least a second story with windows) and of course, the glass entryway. Since these are the wealthier class, there is usually a low wall, or occasionally hedge surrounding the property, and plenty of bonsai trees.

This house is of the blue persuasion. Unusually, focus is on the horizontal in contrast to the historical vertical. Note, however, the traditional adjuting compartments on the corner.

Garden and parking lot. This is unusually big; an entire lot fits in this land in the city.

The more common newer house takes elements from the old houses but is an entirely new structure. These appear to be a “cookie cutter” sort of affair, as the same facade can be seen throughout the countryside. These houses are notable for their symmetry, with the center of the house rising to a peak, often with laundry drying on the second floor balcony. Another notable observation is the large beams, or appearance thereof, supporting the roof. Sometimes there is an origami crane or the Japan Airlines crane just below the roof. These houses generally come in one of three colors: red, blue, or grey, although there are no doubt variations.

For one accustomed to the North American love of grass, the Japanese yard is a barren wasteland. Except in the country, where land is plentiful enough for large vegetable gardens, the “yard” is divided between a Japanese-style garden and a paved parking lot, with the garden generally no larger than the paved area. The garden is mostly barren dirt with some flowers, bonsai trees, and in the wealthier houses, rocks, a pond, and a stone lantern. Grass is never seen except in unused plots of land. I asked Mrs. Ghent about the lack of grass and it appears to be a desire to replicate the natural scenery, which, unlike North America is mountainous and not prone to large swaths of grass.

Crane decoration. Note the prominence of the roof beams. The railings around the windows are also reminiscent of the traditional decorations.

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