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VOL.２
Tokonoma Story

2022 / 2 / 25

Japanese Tea Room | Chashitsu | Tokonoma |Tsubaki Architectural Design Institute

The space that has symbolically disappeared in modern houses is the tokonoma, or alcove. In the old days, every house had a Japanese-style room and an alcove.
Even in the postwar home boom, there was a Japanese-style room and an alcove, even if it was only one room.
However, as apartment complexes and condominiums became the mainstream, Japanese-style tatami rooms disappeared and alcoves disappeared from houses.
The living and dining rooms were replaced by wooden flooring, and the bedrooms were changed from futon beds to beds, making the tatami room a narrow space.

Although it is impossible for a tea ceremony room not to have an alcove (a tokonoma can also be a wall with a wooden floor), the alcove has become a superfluous item in a house.

So, when was the tokonoma born and how did it come to be a part of Japanese life? Let's take a look.

The History

Japanese Tea Room | Chashitsu | Tokonoma |Tsubaki Architectural Design Institute

The origin of the tokonoma dates back to the Muromachi period (1333-1573). The alcove started as a space where Buddhist statues were placed on oshiban (wooden boards) and shelves as decorations for the Buddha, and then tokonoma was born as a floor decoration for Buddhist paintings and ritual articles.

Later, the teahouse architecture developed into the shoin-zukuri and sukiya-zukuri, with the creation of kawaridana (different shelves) and tsukei-shoin (attached study rooms).

In the process of establishing the shoin style, the "shodan-ma" and the "shudan-ma" were created to indicate upper and lower ranks of status. The sovereign would sit in the upper chamber, while the vassals would sit in the lower chamber.
The vassals also wanted to build this "upper-dan-ma" in their homes, but due to housing conditions, the size was kept to a minimum and changed to an alcove in a corner of the tatami room.


On the other hand, in the homes of Buddhist monks and other priests, Buddhist paintings are displayed, and in front of them are the three utensils of incense burner, vase, and candlestick, and the stand on which they are placed becomes an "oshiban". A bay window for a desk for reading and writing is placed beside it to let in light.


The "shoin" style was created by fusing the cultures of the samurai family's "jodan-ma" and the Buddhist priests' "oshiban" style.
In addition, shelves were needed to store calligraphy and writing instruments such as inkstone boxes, and shelves with different sizes were built beside the floor. Later, the function of the shoin as a desk was reduced to a desk and it became a place for decoration.

With the development of the tea ceremony, the sukiya style came to be favored, and the alcove also became a chic space in the style of a hermitage with a free conception.


Even though the times have changed, the alcove has remained the most important space in a house and is an indispensable part of the Japanese home as a stage for entertaining guests. The alcove should be oriented so that it faces south or east, and light from the shoin should enter from the east or south.

The Highlights

Japanese Tea Room | Chashitsu | Tokonoma |Tsubaki Architectural Design Institute

The main attraction of the alcove is the alcove post and stile, drop rail, shelves, and shelves in a combination of various woods.

The floor post is made of various natural woods such as polished cedar logs, shibori logs, cypress, ebony, ebony, chestnut, and red pine, etc. Similarly, the floor stile and rail, ochikake, tegakidana, and shoin-dana are also made of natural wood and lacquered.
(In the past, all of them were solid wood, but nowadays, some of them are made of artificial materials.)


(In the past, all the shelves were made of solid wood, but nowadays there are artificial materials that have been kneaded.
(This may be difficult for modern people who no longer understand the rules of engagement and materials, but it is one of the most exciting aspects of architecture, so please be particular about it!)

In the Souan Tea Room, there is also the ultimate alcove without a floor post, toshikake, or floor frame, as in the "Doro-Doko" style invented by Rikyu. There are also alcoves where everything has been stripped away so that the hanging scrolls and flowers stand out the most, the ultimate in "beauty of lack.

We hope you will experience the world of "Mori-Ba-Ri," the pursuit of further beauty by breaking promises only after understanding and pursuing tradition.

The Role

Japanese Tea Room | Chashitsu | Tokonoma |Tsubaki Architectural Design Institute

Unfortunately, most modern houses do not have an alcove or even a Japanese-style room.

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

It is here that cultural traditions were passed on to the next generation and family ties were formed. Today, with the disappearance of the tokonoma (alcove), there is no longer anything to replace this space. (If I had to say something, it would be a shoe box shelf in the entryway or a TV stand in the living room. What a pity!)

We have built many tea rooms in our company, and this is also because we want to make the alcove more than a place for tea ceremony in ordinary homes.
We would like to bring back the "tokonoma" culture to Japanese homes.
We will continue to spread TOKONOMA culture to the world!

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