CHARACTER HOME PAGE

tatami; to fold; pile up
Kanji 1419

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Find out how 畳 can represent both rigid tatami mats and foldable items. See how the mats relate to cobblestones, sardines, wives, and bald priests. Learn to discuss room size in terms of these mats, even if the room contains none. Read about formerly X-rated restaurant waiting rooms. And discover why two famous directors dissed documentaries, despite having made them. 

Revision history:

Dec. 9, 2022: p. 4: Added a 2nd sidebar with info. about measuring living spaces in 坪 and in square meters.

June 4, 2021: p. 8: Changed Sake to Saké!

Jan. 22, 2020: p. 6: Changed the definition of 料亭 from "traditional restaurant for entertaining guests" to "traditional Japanese restaurant (esp. a luxurious one))."

Nov. 9, 2019: Originally published.

Comments

Add comment

Log in or register to post comments
Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 1419 on 畳 (tatami), "Foldable Japan"
Mini Profile
JOYO ON-YOMI
ジョウ
JOYO KUN-YOMI
たた-む, たたみ
STROKES12
RADICAL田 (102: rice field)
JLPTN1
HALPERN1659/2249
HENSHALL1419/1519
SPAHN5f7.3