FOLK HOUSING IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

JAPAN?

• Island in the Pacific
• Dense Cities
• Imperial Palaces
• Mountainous National Parks
• Thousands of Shrines and Temples

ECONOMY?

• Agriculture
• Second Largest Agricultural Importer in the World
• 38% of the Land is Devoted to Rice/Grain Farming
• Housing? Culture and Housing embedded into the Economy

MATERIALS

• Folk Culture- Use of Resources Available in the Environment
• Bamboo (Infrastructure)
• Grass (Zabuton)
• Straw (Roof Shingles)

HOUSING

• Used to Store Grains
• Elevated Floor- Food Does Not Spoil from Heat and Humidity
• Cattle and Oxen were Accounted for Inside
• Boundries: Never Needed Due to Isolation
• Bamboo Columns (Support)

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS

• Do Not Use Chairs- Zabuton
• Sloped Roofs- Allowed Rain Water to Flow Off
• -Dependent of Rain (Rice/Grain Crops)
• Farming Tools/Blades = Construction Tools

DIFFUSION

• Relocation
• Trade Routes (Chain Movement)
• -Spread of Best Housing Methods/Ideas (Stimulus)
• Ex. Keeping Animals Inside the House and Elevated Floors

JAPAN CONSULATE

• Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Dallas, United States
• Telephone: (972)-713-8683
• Mr John Stich, Honorary Consul General
• Could Not Attend, However Provided Feedback
• " Japanese Traditional Housing is very difficult find today...when creating the model make sure to use authentic house as your inspiration rather than the many houses that make been recreated to mimic the traditional culture." Website:
• http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/cultural/experience/