The Todoroki Family’s Residence: Genkan and outside view from Chap. 25 and Ep. 44
Manga and anime sometimes present two different versions of the Todoroki residence, sometimes those versions are STRONGLY different, sometimes just a little.
As if this wasn’t enough, the anime also tend to retcon his own version of the Todoroki residence, making things even more complicate.
For now I’ll just pause and analyze each of them and which Japanese elements we can see in it.
So we have
THE TODOROKI RESIDENCE
Todoroki Tei (轟邸 “Todoroki residence”): That’s how the Todoroki residence is called in the manga. ‘Tei’ (邸) or ‘yashiki’ (屋敷) is the word used for a grand and rich house built in a traditional way, either Japanese style or in the other foreign countries’ ways where it’s possible to assume servants would work.
MAIN BUILDING
(I am actually not sure if this is the main building or a wing behind the main building)
Moya (母屋 “main building”): central building on the property, or the main house or store.
Ōmune (大棟 “top ridge of a roof”): the main central ridge of the roof, the highest section of the house. It encloses the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge beam”). Once the post and beam framework of the house is completed and the ridge beam finally put in place, a ‘jōtōshiki’(上棟式 “ridge beam-raising ceremony”) is held to bless the house and pray for its safety.
Ōmune onigawara (大棟鬼瓦 “top ridge of a roof demon tile”): decorative roof tiles found at the ends of a main ridge.
Yane (屋根 “roof covering”): A generic term for various types of roofs, roof styles, and roofing.
Kirizuma yane (切妻屋根 “gabled roof”): one of the simplest types of roof, with both sides spreading outward at an angle from the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge”), and terminating with their ‘hisashi’ (廂 “eaves”) extending beyond the walls. The edges of the gable ends are called ‘kirizuma’ (切妻) hence the name.
Renjimado (連子窓 “lattice window”): a window with vertical or horizontal wooden laths or bamboo, called ‘renjiko’ (連子子) or ‘ko’ (子), that are lined up at given intervals. ‘Shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) can be placed behind the wooden laths.
Marumado (円窓 “round window”): a circular window with a flat bottom edge.
Shinkabe (真壁 “natural wall”): they’re ‘kabe’ (壁 “wall”) with exposed ‘hashira’ (柱 “(timber) pillars”). They can be a ‘tsuchikabe’ (土壁 “clay wall”) or a ‘shikkuikabe’ (漆喰壁 “plaster wall”).
WING BUILDING
Yokutō (翼棟 “wing”): how do you call the wing (of a building).
Renjimado (連子窓 “lattice window”): a window with vertical or horizontal wooden laths or bamboo, called ‘renjiko’ (連子子) or ‘ko’ (子), that are lined up at given intervals. ‘Shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) can be placed behind the wooden laths.
Engawa (縁側/掾側 “veranda/balcony”) or En (縁): a Japanese style veranda or balcony with an ‘enkōita’ (縁甲板 “strip flooring”) usually made of wood or bamboo which may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building. Usually, it is outside the ‘shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) but inside the ‘amado’ (雨戸 “storm shutters”) (when they are not packed away) which is why it’s usually considered an extension of the indoor space to the outdoors. Modern architecture often encloses it with sheet glass.
En-no-Shita (縁の下 “under-floor space”): a crawl space under the house, created to provide ventilation and reduce humidity inside the house. Some are completely enclosed with baseboards to prevent dead leaves and debris from accumulating under the house, while others have gaps between the boards to improve airflow. This is a favorite place for cats and dogs to retreat from the heat of the day.
Enkōita (縁甲板 “strip flooring”): a Japanese-style floor used in the corridors and walls of traditional Japanese houses. Originally, softwoods such as cypress, cedar, and pine were used, but recently broadleaf trees and imported wood have also come to be used.
Engawa-bashira (縁側柱 “veranda pillar”) or En-bashira (縁柱 “veranda pillar”): the pillars at the outer edge of the Engawa.
Kutsunugi-ishi (沓脱石 “shoes removal stone”): A flat-topped stone used for taking off one’s shoes before entering the Engawa. It is placed below the section of the Engawa from where one enters or exits the structure.
Tesuri (手摺 or 手すり “handrail”): a fence-like or crossbar-like structure attached to ‘hashi’ (橋 “bridge”), ‘kaidan’ (階段 “stairs”), ‘okujō’ (屋上 “rooftops”), ‘engawa’ (縁側/掾側 “veranda/balcony”), ‘hekimen’ (壁面 “wall surface”), ‘mado’ (窓 “windows”), ‘rōka’ (廊下 “corridors”), etc. to prevent people from falling or to aid movement. In a narrow sense, it refers to the ‘kasagi’ (笠木 “top rail”) a horizontal beam that is placed over the parapet of a ‘Saku-jō’ (柵状 “railing”) to be held by the hand, but it can also refer to the entire structure, and is made of wood, bamboo, metal, stone, and other materials.
Shōji (障子 “translucent screen”): they are sliding doors, windows or room dividers used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of translucent (or transparent) paper sheets on a lattice frame.
Shinkabe (真壁 “natural wall”): they’re ‘kabe’ (壁 “wall”) with exposed ‘hashira’ (柱 “(timber) pillars”). They can be a ‘tsuchikabe’ (土壁 “clay wall”) or a ‘shikkuikabe’ (漆喰壁 “plaster wall”).
Kirizuma yane (切妻屋根 “gabled roof”): one of the simplest types of roof, with both sides spreading outward at an angle from the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge”), and terminating with their ‘hisashi’ (廂 “eaves”) extending beyond the walls. The edges of the gable ends are called ‘kirizuma’ (切妻) hence the name.
Ōmune (大棟 “top ridge of a roof”): the main central ridge of the roof, the highest section of the house. It encloses the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge beam”). Once the post and beam framework of the house is completed and the ridge beam finally put in place, a ‘jōtōshiki’(上棟式 “ridge beam-raising ceremony”) is held to bless the house and pray for its safety.
Washitsu (和室 lit. “harmony room” generally means “Japanese-style room”): a room which usually have ‘shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) doors/windows or ‘fusuma’ (襖 “sliding screen”) doors and a ‘tatami’ (畳 “mat”) floor.
You might have already noticed differences between the image in Ep 15... but also with the image in chap 39.
In fact the Kaidan (階段 “stairs”) are now replaced by a Kutsunugi-ishi (沓脱石 “shoes removal stone”). Also, the room we see was likely meant to be closed by multiple Shōji (障子 “translucent screen”) doors, but in the image in chap 39 we only see single Shōji doors.
THE GARDEN
Niwa (庭 “garden”): an ornamental park or garden that can be found in residences and temples. A full-scale garden is usually called ‘teien’ (庭園 “garden park”), if it’s in Japanese style it’s usually called ‘wafū teien’ (和風庭園 “Japanese style garden park”). A front garden is called ‘maeniwa’ (前庭 “garden in front”) while a back garden is called ‘uraniwa’ (裏庭 “garden in back”).
Wafū teien (和風庭園 “Japanese style garden park”): a full-scale garden which mainly consists of a ‘ike’ (池 “pond”) usually situated at the center, a ‘tsukiyama’ (築山 “artificial hill/mountain”) and variously combined ‘niwa-ishi’ (庭石 “garden stones”) and it aims to symbolically reproduce a landscape of nature. Its history has been deeply influenced by religious ideas introduced from the continent such as Pure Land Buddhism and Zen.
Roji (露地 “path through a gate/garden” Lit. “dewy ground”): the path that cross a garden. It can be made with large ‘tobiishi’ (飛び石/飛石 “stepping stones”), or be a ‘nobedan’(延段 lit. “prolong step”) path, a type of garden pathway composed of various sizes of stones and stone slabs that form a paved way.
Tobiishi (飛び石/飛石 “stepping stone”): stones placed in gardens for walking.
Ike (池 “pond”) or Koike (鯉池 “carps pond”): a pond in a typical Japanese garden. It’s usually filled with ‘koi’ (鯉 “carps”), or, more specifically, ‘nishikigoi’ (錦鯉 “brocaded carps”), which are colored varieties of the Amur carp (cyprinus rubrofuscus) that are generally kept for ornamental purposes and have plenty of varieties, distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, orange, yellow, blue, brown and cream, besides metallic shades like gold and silver-white (‘platinum’) scales.
Araiso (荒磯 “rough reefy coast”): technically it refers to a rocky coastline where waves crash violently against the shore but it's known as a motif in Japanese garden ponds, with rocks set at a water’s edge to mimic a rugged seashore with the mean of expressing strength.
Jari (砂利 “gravel”): gravel, small stones or pebbles. Traditionally gravel has many uses including: garden paths, sometimes in conjunction with large stones; simulating flowing streams in ‘karesansui’ (枯山水 “dry landscape”) gardens (also called zen gardens); ground cover raked into patterns in temple gardens; courtyards etc.
Niwa-ishi (庭石 “garden stones”): stones that are the structural elements of Japanese gardens. They are considered the backbone of Japanese gardens because while plants and other elements tend to change, stones are unchanging and best convey the gardener’s intentions with their quality and placement determining the look of a garden.
Shibafu (芝生 “lawn” ): an area in a Japanese garden where grass is planted and carefully pruned.
Ichī (イチイ/一位 “yew”): a plant in the genus Taxus of the family Tazaceae. An evergreen tree or large shrub with lanceolate, flat, dark green leaves, arranged spirally on the stem, but with the leaf bases twisted to align the leaves in two flattish rows either side of the stem except on erect leading shoots where the spiral arrangement is more obvious. The entire yew bush, except the aril (the red flesh of the berry covering the seed), is toxic. In Japan though, when using this name they are usually talking of the Taxus cuspidata, also known as the Japanese yew or spreading yew.
Matsu (マツ “pine”): A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. These evergreen conifers are associated with permanence and longevity. Plus ‘matsu’ is also the pronunciation for the word “to wait” so pines also suggest the idea of waiting for a lover -- or for the resolution of a frustrating or impossible situation. The pines usually found in Japanese gardens are ‘kuromatsu’ (クロマツ “pinus thunbergii”) the Japanese black pine, native to the seashore, ‘kkamatsu’ (アカマツ “pinus densiflora”) the Japanese red pine, native to mountainous areas and ‘goyōmatsu’ (ゴヨウマツ/五葉松 “pinus parviflora”) also known as five-needle pine, or Japanese white pine, native to Japan. In the manga the 2 trees in front of the house (1 in the anime) seem to be Goyōmatsu which underwent ‘niwaki’ (庭木 Lit. “garden tree”), a method of to topiary where trees and shrubs are pruned into shapes that resemble clouds to fit seamlessly into the landscape of Japanese gardens.
Later we see another image of the Todoroki residence, one showing the front side.
Roji (露地 “path through a gate/garden” Lit. “dewy ground”): the path that cross a garden. It can be made with large ‘tobiishi’ (飛び石/飛石 “stepping stones”), or be a ‘nobedan’(延段 lit. “prolong step”) path, a type of garden pathway composed of various sizes of stones and stone slabs that form a paved way.
Tobiishi (飛び石/飛石 “stepping stone”): stones placed in gardens for walking.
Jari (砂利 “gravel”): gravel, small stones or pebbles. Traditionally gravel has many uses including: garden paths, sometimes in conjunction with large stones; simulating flowing streams in ‘karesansui’ (枯山水 “dry landscape”) gardens (also called zen gardens); ground cover raked into patterns in temple gardens; courtyards etc.
Kaidan (階段 “stairs”): one or more steps composed of a ‘fumi-ita’ (踏板 “tread”) and a ‘kekomi-ita’ (蹴込み板 “riser”). Stairs, a stairway, a staircase, or a flight of stairs which allow access to a ‘engawa’ (縁側/掾側 “veranda/balcony”) or connect two or more stories.
Ōdo (大戸 “entrance door”): The door leading inside the house, which in the Todoroki house case is a sliding one.
Genkan (玄関 “entryway”): A traditional Japanese entryway areas for a house, apartment, or building, a combination of a porch and a doormat. It is usually located inside the building directly in front of the door. The primary function of genkan is for the removal of shoes before entering the main part of the house or building. Genkan has always two levels. The first, lower level whose floor is called Tataki (三和土) is where you step onto as you step through the front door. It may be made of tile, concrete, stone, (or packed dirt in a very old traditional house). This is the level where a person steps with his regular shoes, never in bare feet or socked feet, or while wearing inside-the-house slippers. The second level of the genkan is the higher level (I’ve seen it being called Genkan Hall (玄関ホール) but I’m not sure this is correct), one or two steps above the lower part of the genkan. This is the level a person steps onto once his shoes are off. By the way, in Japan, when coming back home, people always says ‘tadaima’ (ただいま) which actually means “just now”, as it’s the short for ‘tadaima kaerimashita’ (ただいま帰りました) which means “I just came home”. The answer is always ‘okaeri’ (おかえり) or the more polite ‘okaeri nasai’ (お帰りなさい/おかえりなさい), both meaning “you have returned” but that you can translate as “welcome back”. Those two are two standard stock phrases.
Kirizuma yane (切妻屋根 “gabled roof”): one of the simplest types of roof, with both sides spreading outward at an angle from the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge”), and terminating with their ‘hisashi’ (廂 “eaves”) extending beyond the walls. The edges of the gable ends are called ‘kirizuma’ (切妻) hence the name.
The anime decided not to show the inner garden but to go straight for the entrance.
Roji (露地 “path through a gate/garden” Lit. “dewy ground”): the path that cross a garden. It can be made with large ‘tobiishi’ (飛び石/飛石 “stepping stones”), or be a ‘nobedan’(延段 lit. “prolong step”) path, a type of garden pathway composed of various sizes of stones and stone slabs that form a paved way.
Shibafu (芝生 “lawn” ): an area in a Japanese garden where grass is planted and carefully pruned.
Kaidan (階段 “stairs”): one or more steps composed of a ‘fumi-ita’ (踏板 “tread”) and a ‘kekomi-ita’ (蹴込み板 “riser”). Stairs, a stairway, a staircase, or a flight of stairs which allow access to a ‘engawa’ (縁側/掾側 “veranda/balcony”) or connect two or more stories.
Ōdo (大戸 “entrance door”): The door leading inside the house, which in the Todoroki house case is a sliding one.
Ranma (欄間 “transom”): a rectangular opening, longer in the horizontal direction, usually constructed between a door and the ceiling. Its name changes depending on its location, purpose, and decorative pattern. One placed between the ‘engawa’ (縁側/掾側 “veranda/balcony”) and an ‘heya’ (部屋 “room”) serves the purpose of ventilation and lighting and is called ‘akari-tori ranma’ (明かり取り欄間 “light receiving transom”) and it’s usually a ‘ranma shōji’ (欄間障子 “transom translucent screen”). One placed between two ‘heya’ (部屋 “room”) often serve the purposes of ventilation and decoration and therefore can be a ‘chōkoku ranma’ (彫刻欄間 “carved transom”) or ‘kumiko ranma’ (組子欄間 “nail-less woodworking transom”), which express intricate patterns by joining pieces of wood vertically and horizontally and dividing them into regular sections to form pattern that can be the hemp leaf pattern, diamond pattern, cherry blossom pattern and tortoiseshell pattern.
Shinkabe (真壁 “natural wall”): they’re ‘kabe’ (壁 “wall”) with exposed ‘hashira’ (柱 “(timber) pillars”). They can be a ‘tsuchikabe’ (土壁 “clay wall”) or a ‘shikkuikabe’ (漆喰壁 “plaster wall”).
Koshiita (腰板 “wood paneling”): A wainscot, a paneling on the lower part of the walls of a room or of a ‘shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) which is about 35-70cm high. ‘Shōji’ with a ‘koshiita’ are called ‘koshiita shōji’ (腰板障子) or ‘koshi shōji’ (腰障子). The wainscot may be made of thin wood panels with a decorative or straight grain. If the ‘koshiita’ on the ‘shōji’ is about 60 cm high (or approximately one third of its overall height), they’re called ‘koshidaka shōji’ (腰高障子) if they are 35cm high, they’re called ‘koshitsuki shōji’ (腰付障子)
Renjimado (連子窓 “lattice window”): a window with vertical or horizontal wooden laths or bamboo, called ‘renjiko’ (連子子) or ‘ko’ (子), that are lined up at given intervals. ‘Shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) can be placed behind the wooden laths.
Kirizuma yane (切妻屋根 “gabled roof”): one of the simplest types of roof, with both sides spreading outward at an angle from the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge”), and terminating with their ‘hisashi’ (廂 “eaves”) extending beyond the walls. The edges of the gable ends are called ‘kirizuma’ (切妻) hence the name.
Omogegyo’ (本懸魚 Lit. “main gable pendant”): a decorative gable pendant ‘gegyo’ (懸魚) which covers the ridgepiece at the crest of the roof gable.
Ōmune (大棟 “top ridge of a roof”): the main central ridge of the roof, the highest section of the house. It encloses the ‘munagi’ (棟木 “ridge beam”). Once the post and beam framework of the house is completed and the ridge beam finally put in place, a ‘jōtōshiki’(上棟式 “ridge beam-raising ceremony”) is held to bless the house and pray for its safety.
Monooki (物置 “storage shed”): A general term for a small room or simple structure where objects such as items of equipment, tools, containers and utensils, personal possessions and kindling are kept when not in use. The Todoroki house has one. According to “School Briefs” it’s where they keep the food for the fishes but also the old ball (or one of the balls as there’s a ball also in the Butsuma) with whom the children used to play.
Niwa-ishi (庭石 “garden stones”): stones that are the structural elements of Japanese gardens. They are considered the backbone of Japanese gardens because while plants and other elements tend to change, stones are unchanging and best convey the gardener’s intentions with their quality and placement determining the look of a garden.
Matsu (マツ “pine”): A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. These evergreen conifers are associated with permanence and longevity. Plus ‘matsu’ is also the pronunciation for the word “to wait” so pines also suggest the idea of waiting for a lover -- or for the resolution of a frustrating or impossible situation. The pines usually found in Japanese gardens are ‘kuromatsu’ (クロマツ “pinus thunbergii”) the Japanese black pine, native to the seashore, ‘kkamatsu’ (アカマツ “pinus densiflora”) the Japanese red pine, native to mountainous areas and ‘goyōmatsu’ (ゴヨウマツ/五葉松 “pinus parviflora”) also known as five-needle pine, or Japanese white pine, native to Japan. In the manga the 2 trees in front of the house (1 in the anime) seem to be Goyōmatsu which underwent ‘niwaki’ (庭木 Lit. “garden tree”), a method of to topiary where trees and shrubs are pruned into shapes that resemble clouds to fit seamlessly into the landscape of Japanese gardens.
HALLWAY
Genkan (玄関 “entryway”): A traditional Japanese entryway areas for a house, apartment, or building, a combination of a porch and a doormat. It is usually located inside the building directly in front of the door. The primary function of genkan is for the removal of shoes before entering the main part of the house or building. Genkan has always two levels. The first, lower level whose floor is called Tataki (三和土) is where you step onto as you step through the front door. It may be made of tile, concrete, stone, (or packed dirt in a very old traditional house). This is the level where a person steps with his regular shoes, never in bare feet or socked feet, or while wearing inside-the-house slippers. The second level of the genkan is the higher level (I’ve seen it being called Genkan Hall (玄関ホール) but I’m not sure this is correct), one or two steps above the lower part of the genkan. This is the level a person steps onto once his shoes are off. By the way, in Japan, when coming back home, people always says ‘tadaima’ (ただいま) which actually means “just now”, as it’s the short for ‘tadaima kaerimashita’ (ただいま帰りました) which means “I just came home”. The answer is always ‘okaeri’ (おかえり) or the more polite ‘okaeri nasai’ (お帰りなさい/おかえりなさい), both meaning “you have returned” but that you can translate as “welcome back”. Those two are two standard stock phrases.
Ōdo (大戸 “entrance door”): The door leading inside the house, which in the Todoroki house case is a sliding one.
Shinkabe (真壁 “natural wall”): they’re ‘kabe’ (壁 “wall”) with exposed ‘hashira’ (柱 “pillar/timber pillar”). They can be a ‘tsuchikabe’ (土壁 “clay wall”) or a ‘shikkuikabe’ (漆喰壁 “plaster wall”).
Hashira (柱 “pillar/timber pillar”): generic term for any type of pillar, column, post, pier and strut which are the basic members of Japanese timber architecture. The character, itself, is made up using the kanji for ‘ki’ (木) meaning “tree/wood” and, by extension “building timber”; and ‘shu’ (主) meaning “main/chief/master”. In traditional construction, pillars are erected first and then all the structural parts including tie beams, roof framework and covering are added. ‘Kabe’ (壁 “wall”) are not supporting structures. Traditionally stone ‘hashira’ (柱 “pillar/timber pillar”) are not used in traditional buildings.
Koshiita (腰板 “wood paneling”): A wainscot, a paneling on the lower part of the walls of a room or of a ‘shōji’ (障子 “translucent screen”) which is about 35-70cm high. ‘Shōji’ with a ‘koshiita’ are called ‘koshiita shōji’ (腰板障子) or ‘koshi shōji’ (腰障子). The wainscot may be made of thin wood panels with a decorative or straight grain. If the ‘koshiita’ on the ‘shōji’ is about 60 cm high (or approximately one third of its overall height), they’re called ‘koshidaka shōji’ (腰高障子) if they are 35cm high, they’re called ‘koshitsuki shōji’ (腰付障子)
Getabako (下駄箱 “shoe cupboard”): A Japanese shoe cupboard. The Todoroki have a large one in their Genkan but prefer to leave their shoes on the floor.
Tataki (三和土 “earthen floor space”): It’s how the floor in the lower part of the Genkan, and one must solely step on it with his shoes, never barefoot. The one in the Todoroki Mansion is made with tiles and the Todoroki use to leave their shoes on it.
Kutsunugi-ishi (沓脱石 “shoes removal stone”): A flat-topped stone used for taking off one’s shoes before entering the Engawa. It is placed below the section of the Engawa from where one enters or exits the structure.
Enkōita (縁甲板 “strip flooring”): a Japanese-style floor used in the corridors and walls of traditional Japanese houses. Originally, softwoods such as cypress, cedar, and pine were used, but recently broadleaf trees and imported wood have also come to be used.
Waku (枠 “frame”): a frame for displaying paintings, photographs, certificates. In the manga we can not exactly see what is contained but it is probably a ‘shōjō’ (賞状 “award/merit certificate”) a certificates printed on paper that commend achievements, efforts, and the acquisition of skills and knowledge so it could be a ‘Shūryō shōsho’ (修了証書 “completion certificate”) like Enji’s ‘U.A. Kōkō Sotsugyō Shōsho’ (雄英高校卒業証書 “U.A. High School Graduation Certificate”) or his ‘HERO nintei kyoka-shō’ (ヒーロー認定許可証 “Hero Certification Certificate”) or a ‘Shōjō hyōshōjō’ (賞状・表彰状 “award certificate”) like the one for winning the sport festival with the ‘MEDAL’ (メダル) included as generally if you win a sport festival in Japan you will get a certificate plus the medal and all of those are accomplishments that Enji might wish to showcase in the Genkan as it acts as a welcoming area that represents the home to visitors. In the manga the writing in the frame seems to hint to a graduation certificate or a Hero certification certificate while in episode 130 of the anime though, it seems to contain a medal so it is likely an award certificate.
The anime for this side of the Genkan seems to be a faithful reproduction of the room of the manga, the only thing it seems they changed is that now we can see different things on the Getabako.
Ikebana (生け花 lit. “making flowers alive” means “flower arrangement”) or kadō (華道, ‘way of flowers’): The Japanese art of flower arrangement but it can also refer to the flowers which were arranged.
Tetsubin (鉄瓶 “iron pot/kettle”): Japanese cast iron kettle. Traditionally used to boil water for tea, often on a charcoal brazier, they are made of cast iron without an interior enamel coating, which allows iron to infuse into the water. Placing it in a Genkan is a common, aesthetic choice in Japanese interior design, representing warmth, hospitality, and a blending of art with daily life.
Ōdo (大戸 “entrance door”): The door leading inside the house, which in the Todoroki house case is a sliding one.
Getabako (下駄箱 “shoe cupboard”): A Japanese shoe cupboard. The Todoroki have a large one in their Genkan but prefer to leave their shoes on the floor.
Tataki (三和土 “earthen floor space”): It’s how the floor in the lower part of the Genkan, and one must solely step on it with his shoes, never barefoot. The one in the Todoroki Mansion is made with tiles and the Todoroki use to leave their shoes on it.
Kutsunugi-ishi (沓脱石 “shoes removal stone”): A flat-topped stone used for taking off one’s shoes before entering the Engawa. It is placed below the section of the Engawa from where one enters or exits the structure.
Enkōita (縁甲板 “strip flooring”): a Japanese-style floor used in the corridors and walls of traditional Japanese houses. Originally, softwoods such as cypress, cedar, and pine were used, but recently broadleaf trees and imported wood have also come to be used.
Waku (枠 “frame”): a frame for displaying paintings, photographs, certificates. In the manga we can not exactly see what is contained but it is probably a ‘shōjō’ (賞状 “award/merit certificate”) a certificates printed on paper that commend achievements, efforts, and the acquisition of skills and knowledge so it could be a ‘Shūryō shōsho’ (修了証書 “completion certificate”) like Enji’s ‘U.A. Kōkō Sotsugyō Shōsho’ (雄英高校卒業証書 “U.A. High School Graduation Certificate”) or his ‘HERO nintei kyoka-shō’ (ヒーロー認定許可証 “Hero Certification Certificate”) or a ‘Shōjō hyōshōjō’ (賞状・表彰状 “award certificate”) like the one for winning the sport festival with the ‘MEDAL’ (メダル) included as generally if you win a sport festival in Japan you will get a certificate plus the medal and all of those are accomplishments that Enji might wish to showcase in the Genkan as it acts as a welcoming area that represents the home to visitors. In the manga the writing in the frame seems to hint to a graduation certificate or a Hero certification certificate while in episode 130 of the anime though, it seems to contain a medal so it is likely an award certificate.
Tsuitate shōji (衝立障子 “folding screen”): A partitioning screen which was often used in traditional style mansions between the Genkan and the front hall or to partition a section of a room.
Mairado (舞良戸 “wooden sliding door”): Wooden sliding door constructed of a single wooden panel, the Wataita (綿板), and set into a timber frame, the Kamachi (框). It is characterized by the addition of thin parallel crosspieces, the Mairako (舞良子) set horizontally on both sides of the panel. In the anime the door of the training hall seems to be one.
Ikebana (生け花 lit. “making flowers alive” means “flower arrangement”) or kadō (華道, ‘way of flowers’): The Japanese art of flower arrangement but it can also refer to the flowers which were arranged.
Marumado (円窓 “round window”): A circular window with a flat bottom edge.
The anime instead preferred to change this part, adding a corridor behind Fuyumi.
Gōtenjō (格天井 “coffered ceiling”): The simplest type of Japanese coffered ceiling is constructed with intersecting chamfered ribs (格縁 ‘gōbuchi’), which form relatively large square spaces up to about one meter square called ‘gōma’ (格間) or ‘gō-ita’ (格板). The spaces are closed with plain wood panel backing called ‘ura-ita’ (裏板).
Mairado (舞良戸 “wooden sliding door”): Wooden sliding door constructed of a single wooden panel, the Wataita (綿板), and set into a timber frame, the Kamachi (框). It is characterized by the addition of thin parallel crosspieces, the Mairako (舞良子) set horizontally on both sides of the panel. In the anime the door of the training hall seems to be one.
Shōji (障子 “translucent screen”): they are sliding doors, windows or room dividers used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of translucent (or transparent) paper sheets on a lattice frame.
Shinkabe (真壁 “natural wall”): they’re ‘kabe’ (壁 “wall”) with exposed ‘hashira’ (柱 “pillar/timber pillar”). They can be a ‘tsuchikabe’ (土壁 “clay wall”) or a ‘shikkuikabe’ (漆喰壁 “plaster wall”).
Hashira (柱 “pillar/timber pillar”): generic term for any type of pillar, column, post, pier and strut which are the basic members of Japanese timber architecture. The character, itself, is made up using the kanji for ‘ki’ (木) meaning “tree/wood” and, by extension “building timber”; and ‘shu’ (主) meaning “main/chief/master”. In traditional construction, pillars are erected first and then all the structural parts including tie beams, roof framework and covering are added. ‘Kabe’ (壁 “wall”) are not supporting structures. Traditionally stone ‘hashira’ (柱 “pillar/timber pillar”) are not used in traditional buildings.
Tsuitate shōji (衝立障子 “folding screen”): A partitioning screen which was often used in traditional style mansions between the Genkan and the front hall or to partition a section of a room.
Enkōita (縁甲板 “strip flooring”): a Japanese-style floor used in the corridors and walls of traditional Japanese houses. Originally, softwoods such as cypress, cedar, and pine were used, but recently broadleaf trees and imported wood have also come to be used.
