STORY 2

Living in the Land of Rain

• Japan is a land of rain. Annual rainfall amounts to approximately 2,000mm per year, two to three times that of Germany or France. Rain is no doubt a blessing without which human beings cannot survive, but it also brings with it humidity, which increases the risk of illnesses and diseases.

• Since ancient times, Japan's abundant rainfall has made weathering one of the most important considerations in housing development. Through generations, the Japanese have passed on the philosophy of embracing nature as it comes and devised ways to live healthily and comfortably during months of long and heavy rain and humidity.

• Before Western-style houses were introduced to Japan in the late 19th century, Japanese homes had no windows and few internal walls. Instead, traditional Japanese houses were equipped with movable fittings such as sliding doors and panels made of thick paper called fusuma to partition off rooms and ensure ventilation. Another key feature of traditional Japanese architecture, engawa (wooden corridor), not only protected the house by preventing rain from coming in but also served as a buffer space between the inside and outside of the house. From the engawa, people also enjoyed the view of the surrounding nature, or shakkei (borrowed landscape), from inside the house.

• Various other features, such as deep eaves, steep sloped roofs, storm shutters, and the Japanese style hearth, are examples of how the Japanese incorporated mechanisms to reduce humidity inside the house and live comfortably in their homes. While living in modern Western style houses today, the focus on ways to live comfortably alongside nature and rain remains a priority for Japanese lifestyles, and is core to LIXIL's product innovations and its Passive First philosophy.

Looking from the courtyard, deep eaves and engawa surrounding the house are prominent in this traditional Japanese farm house. The house was built by a wealthy farmer in Tono, Iwate, in the late 19th century. (Tono Furusato Village, Iwate © HIROSHI KURODA / SEBUN PHOTO / amanaimages)

• As seen in the photo of Shisendo in the previous page, the wooden corridor surrounding the room, engawa, effectively marries the garden with the room. Inspired by the concept of engawa, LIXIL provides various window and garden room products that connect the inside of the house with the outside, providing a comfortable way of living.