Comments on: Ask an Architect: Insulation

By: Keiji Ashizawa

Keiji Ashizawa — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:14:58 +0000

Thank you Matt-san.
It’s not Dirty at all.
ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.

By: Matt TREYVAUD

Matt TREYVAUD — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:05:39 +0000

Quick and dirty translation of Keiji’s post:

“I don’t know about ‘Nihonjinron’, but I do think that that living in wood and paper houses for so many years has resulted in a certain ‘Japanese manners/way of doing things’ (日本人の作法). Part of this would be feeling the seasons whether you like it or not. Perhaps finding beauty in the voices of insects is also a sensibility fostered by the Japanese home and its close union with the outside.
I think that the reason that the average Japanese child is (was?) so well-behaved is not only that they lived in such delicate houses but also because their parents taught them not to damage the shoji or fusama. It’s also often said that [Japanese homes] have no privacy (i.e., rooms have no locks and are separated only by thin doors), but in general, before you open the fusama you call out to the person inside to let them know. If you go to a ryokan or ryotei [upscale restaurant], these ‘ways’ (作法) can still be observed. I believe that this style of interaction is connected to how people live. Perhaps the rareness of crime (of course, the ‘myth of [Japanese] safety’ is gradually crumbling) is also the ‘soil’ which allows paper and wood houses to exist. Until about the time when I was in junior high school, most people didn’t even carry a key around. Even today I often forget to lock my door.”

By: Insulation, insulation « giacomo butte in tokyo

Insulation, insulation « giacomo butte in tokyo — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:28:19 +0000

[...] Insulation, insulation that’s one of the key to understand japanese house design! [...]

By: Keiji　Ashizawa

Keiji　Ashizawa — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:34:43 +0000

I would like to write a reply in Japanese and hope that someone trancelate them in English.
日本人論“Nihonjinron”は、わたしに答えられるような代物ではありませんが、長年　木と紙の家にすむこと、住み続けることによって、生まれてきた日本人の作法というものはあるのだろうと思っています。いやおなく四季を感じるということはそのうちの1つでしょう。虫の声を、美しいと感じるのも日本人の家があまりにも外部と一体化していたために培われた感性かもしれません。
（かつでの？）一般的に日本の子供が、行儀がいいのは、そのような繊細な家に住まううえで、親から障子やふすまを壊さないように躾けられたということはあるのだろうと思います。また、プライバシーのない家（つまり部屋に鍵もなければ薄い扉でしきられているので。）だと指摘されることは多いのですが、一般的にふすまをあけるまえに一声かけいます。旅館や料亭などにいくと、そのような作法はまだ残っています。このように人との関わり方も、住まいとの関係はあるだろうと思います。また犯罪がすくないといことも（徐々に安全神話はこわれつつありますが。）紙と木で出来た家を成立させている土壌かもしれません。私は中学生くらいまで、鍵をもちあるく習慣がありませんでした。そして、いまだによく鍵をかけ忘れます。

By: Hlem

Hlem — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:02:40 +0000

Someone I worked with in Japan used to frequently assert that the lack of double-pane windows was due to pressure from power companies eager to sell more juice.

He also frequently asserted rather crazy things about Jews and 9/11 though, so I wasn’t sure if I should take his insulation dirt seriously.

By: Matt TREYVAUD

Matt TREYVAUD — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:53:29 +0000

Some people think that sleeping on a futon on the floor is suffering. It all depends on your perspective. I don’t have AC in my home, and I like it that way.

By: W. David MARX

W. David MARX — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:19:11 +0000

I feel this piece did not really get to the bottom of the insulation issue

I kind of agree, but was confused on what follow-up questions would really lead to a definitive answer. The mystery deepens…

By: James

James — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:11:56 +0000

“Am I wrong to think that the Japanese residential ideal is based on suffering through the seasonal extremes as a way of “experiencing” their aesthetic?”

I’m glad someone made this point.
I suspect this has a lot to do with the lack of efficient insulation more than the “shock house” theory.

I feel this piece did not really get to the bottom of the insulation issue (to no fault of the interviewer)

Is this another mystery that can be assigned to the Japanese aesthetic or culture or am I traversing into “Nihonjinron” territory?

James T.K

By: The Link Farm | .craig

The Link Farm | .craig — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:51:00 +0000

[...] Probe listed out the top 10 interesting Anime movies. Spirited Away gets my vote. And finally, Neojapanisme – Ask An Architect: Insulation – An insight about why there is so little insulation in Toyko homes (random article [...]

By: W. David MARX

W. David MARX — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:31:58 +0000

Am I wrong to think that the Japanese residential ideal is based on suffering through the seasonal extremes as a way of “experiencing” their aesthetic?

Is Hokkaido exempt because it’s not in the sacred 四季 (four season) zone? Should other people at 35˚40′ N (like in South Carolina) also feel bad about being warm in winter?