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Japanese houses have some unique features, and one of them is the "玄関" (GENKAN), which is a small recessed area located right inside the front door -- i.e., an entry room, vestibule, foyer, etc., where you take off and store your shoes before stepping in to the house. Similarly, in Western countries, some homes have "mud rooms", where wet or dirty boots and coats are removed before going inside. Looking closer at the meaning of GENKAN, the kanji character 玄/GEN means "mysterious", while 関/KAN means "gateway" -- this interesting combination suggests that the GENKAN is considered more than just a simple shoe removal space. In a previous article, we explained how Japanese people are aware of a distinction between: "inside" (内/UCHI), and, "outside" (外/SOTO). What is inside one's home is safe and clean (UCHI), while what is outside can be risky and dirty (SOTO). So, the GENKAN is actually a special place where a transition from outside to inside occurs, in additional to the practical and hygienic effects of preventing dirt, germs, and other nastiness from getting tracked into one's home. In a future article, we'll explain more about what to do when entering a GENKAN, and look forward to explaining other features of your future Japanese house!

written by Goodfield