NOREN- THE JAPANESE TRADITIONAL CURTAIN (2)

1. NOREN - TRADITIONAL JAPANESE FABRIC DIVIDERS WHAT IS NOREN? Noren curtains are traditional Japanese fabric dividers, hung in doorways, windows, on walls and between rooms. It comes in various sizes, materials, colors and designs. It was originally used to protect a house from wind and dust; they are also used by shops and restaurants for marketing purposes, to display a shop's name or logo. Nowadays, there are more and more noren with modern designs. In Japanese, the word ‘Noren’ is written in kanji that literally means “warm curtain.” It is thought that noren originally appeared during the Heian Period (794-1185), where they were used to keep houses cool, or retain heat during colder weather.

2. Gradually, businesses started using them to guard entrances from dust, dirt, bad smell and smoke; a function they still carry out today. Noren are also hung in the front entrance to a shop to signify that the shop is open for business and they are always taken down at the end of the day. Hot-spring Spas Onsen in Japan, as known as hot springs, are highly popular destinations for locals and visitors. If you

3. have been to a Japanese onsen, you might have noticed some noren hanging outside of the entrance. Actually, it is known as Yu-Noren, which Yu( 湯 ) refers to hot springs. It is also used as a sign that separates men’s bath from women’s bath. Usually, women’s bath is behind the red noren and a navy blue noren is used for men’s bath. WEDDING- It is called Hanayome Noren which is a bridal custom that started in Noto, Kaga, and Ecchu provinces of

4. the Kaga Domain (Kaga han) going back to the end of the Edo and Meiji periods (19th century). On the occasion of marriage, the curtain is hung at the entrance of the Buddhist alter room in the broom’s house and the bride goes through it, passing through the hanayome noren means you are greeting the ancestors. Mostly technique, these expensive and gorgeous curtains are an exclusive luxury used only once and are usually put in a chest of drawers after the wedding. made using a traditional Kaga-yuzen

5. At home, noren can also be used for decorative purposes or for dividing a room into two separate spaces. Also, some people choose to use noren to cover their wardrobe or a storage room. Through these images, you can compare these spaces with and without noren and decide what kind of noren will look best at your place.

6. Having a noren in the living room, office or kitchen changes the vibe of the space. This is a simple way to create the impression that the space is tidy by partially covering the room that’s a little cluttered such as kitchen.

7. Choose a proper color and design to match your home, besides having a practical function, noren are also meant to add an air of beauty to any scene! After reading this article, we hope that now you know more about noren. If you are interested in having a noren, feel free to visit our online shop and check out our latest noren collection with beautiful designs and various materials! Reference: https://medium.com/@novmtl.team/noren- traditional-japanese-fabric-dividers- 9b7e935651d1