Kiri no Ma

A Japanese Banquet Room Emblazoned with Goshichi no Kiri

Kiri-no-ma, designed specifically for Japanese-style banquets, seats a maximum of 24. Kyoto cuisine is served during these banquets.
An emblem known as goshichi no kiri is seen in the ornamental mounting, karakami paper of the sliding doors,
and other design elements. Formerly used as the secondary emblem of the imperial family, goshichi no kiri is now associated with the Japanese government.
The banquets are further enlivened by entertainment,
such as koto (Japanese harp) performance and exhibition of traditional dancing by geiko and maiko.

Highlights

A close-up photo of the lacquered low table. Even the slightest roughness has been polished from its surface, giving it a reflective sheen like a mirror, in which the beautiful grain of the ceiling wood in reflected. Around the table, legless chairs are arranged with seat cushions.

The Freshness of Japanese Architecture, Balanced with Deep Black Lacquer

The table is a continuous piece of lacquered wood, 12 meters in length. Its mirror-like surface reflects the verdant garden and the ceiling design, creating a rich landscape in the room. The floor is lowered so as to better accommodate guests unused to kneeling in the Japanese style.

Tatami extends in all directions. The tatami is put together with a traditional technique called

Tatami Flooring Created Through Traditional Artisanship

In a traditional technique called nakatsugi-omote, only the top-quality part of igusa rush plant is joined together in the middle to weave a complete tatami. The borders of each tatami mat are made from hemp dyed with natural indigo.

A close-up photo of the back of one of the legless chairs. The

Japanese-style Chairs Painted with Goshichi no Kiri

The legless chairs feature a goshichi no kiri in makie lacquerwork. The leaves of the kiri (paulownia) subtly vary in color, with no two chairs quite alike.

A photo of the sliding doors, shot diagonally. White paulownia crests shimmer on white fabric, and the polished black lacquer edge shines.

Paulownia Emblem on the Sliding Doors

The paulownia emblem is rendered in shimmering white mica on the white karakami paper of the sliding doors, giving the room a deep, nuanced feel.

A photo of the transom paneling, as shot from below. The transom is decorated with

Sun and Moon: Kirikane in Two Designs to Ornament the Transom

Like the stage doors in Fuji-no-Ma, the ranma (transom) of Kiri no Ma is ornamented using kirikane technique. The name of this piece is Nichigetsu (Sun/Moon), and the dual motif is laid out to present a different aspect depending on the direction of the light.

For those who wish to pay a visit