Also written 木舞. In the Shōsōin Monjo 正倉院文書 it appears as 古麻比 komai and in other old documents as 古万比. The lath used on top of rafters *taruki 垂木, beneath sheathing *noji-ita 野地板, and roofing materials. Sometimes the lath is made of bamboo, especially for thatched roofs *kayabuki 茅葺. If there is no ceiling and the lath is exposed or if it is under the eaves *noki 軒, it is given a smooth finish. Often ordinary lath and bamboo are used together. Lath strips and supporting bamboo are set like latticework, about every 30 cm apart and secured to the penetrating tie beam *nuki 貫. The bamboo lath is bound together with rope called komainiwa 小舞庭 or waranawa 藁縄 about every 3-4 cm. A roof lath is called yane komai 屋根小舞. A lath used under the eaves is called *hirokomai 広小舞 because it is wider than ordinary laths. The Komai is named according to its location, use and shape: *nokomai 野小舞 is a hidden lath, nukikomai 貫小舞 a lath that penetrates other members, warikomai 割小舞 a split-board or split bamboo lath, and shikikomai 敷小舞 a lath that is meant to be seen for its ornamental quality. It is located underneath the ordinary type. The decorative lath is commonly used in sukiya style architecture *sukiya-zukuri 数寄屋造 and tea architecture. Laths are also used as a support under plaster or daub walls. They form a common substructure for a wall style called *shinkabe-zukuri 真壁造.
