majikiri 間仕切

A partition. The partitioning or dividing of an interior or an individual room into separate spaces, allowing for tremendous usage flexibility. Fixed partitions are considered walls and can be made of plaster or paneled wood. In Japanese traditional architecture movable partitions are common, and include sliding screens and doors such as *shōji 障子 and *fusuma 襖. All are removable partitions. Fusuma are often removed during the summer months, and in part at least, replaced by bamboo matchstick blinds *sudare 簾, which provide protection from the sun and allow air to circulate. Traditionally, shōji also are removed so that almost the entire building is open to the outside. Movable rainshutters *amado 雨戸 are closed during inclement weather.