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Kyoto State Guest House [SP] Kyoto State Guest House [PC]

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  1. State Guest Houses
  2. Kyoto State Guest House
  3. Juraku no Ma

Juraku no Ma

A photo of the whole of Juraku no Ma, photographing the room diagonally. Bright red chairs are lined up against the walls. On the pedestal in the center flowers are arranged in a flower vase.

Candlelit Ambience of an Old Machiya

When banquets and ministerial meetings are held at the Kyoto Guest House,
this space is used as a waiting area for dignitaries or accompanying staff.
The character ju carries with it the concept of gathering together,
and raku means "relaxed" or "enjoyable." Juraku no Ma is intended as a place where things both restful and joyful convene.

Highlights

A woven flower vase is in the center of the photo. The vase's design is made with countless bamboo strips woven together. The vase is in the shape of a jar, but the top is made to open wide to accomodate flowers.

A Bamboo Craft Flower Vase

When entertaining guests, a floral arrangement, ikebana, is displayed in this hanakago (flower vase) atop a decorative stand. The vase is the work of the late Hayakawa Shōkosai V, a Living National Treasure.

In this photo, a flower arrangement can be seen in the foreground, and comfortable chairs can be seen lined up in the background. One can tell that the chairs are quite large.

Comfortable chairs Stand Ready for Guests

The chairs that line the wall were constructed without nails or metal parts, using Kyoto's traditional joinery technique. The vivid crimson upholstery, woven in Kyoto's famed Nishijin district, bring a touch of opulence to the space.

A photo of the pedestal beneath the flower vase. The pedestal is octagonal. The table foot also has eight sides. The side facing front is made of strips of lacquered wood and mother-of-pearl, evenly lined up. The faces of the pedestal base on either side are decorated with woven patterns of finely sliced bamboo.

A Decorative Stand Rich with Many Traditional Crafts

The centrally-placed decorative stand is ornamented with lacquer, raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), bamboo crafts, etc.

This photo is taken with a nail head covering from Juraku no Ma at its center. The nail head covering is black in color, and is made in the shape of a

Ornamental Mounting Designed for Peace

The design of the kazari-kanamono, which hides nailheads, was inspired by a knot called chiyo-musubi. The motif symbolizes a desire for bringing people together in peaceful harmony and friendship.

For those who wish to pay a visit