sodekōran 袖高欄

Small wing-like balustrades placed at an open angle to the right and left of the bottom of the steps leading to the veranda of a shrine or temple building, and at each end of some railed bridges. They are set approximately at a 45 degree angle to the newel posts at the bottom of the steps. The rails are inserted into small newel posts at the outer ends of the steps and into the high posts at the base of the steps. The area between the two wing-like balustrades is called sode-no-ma 袖の間.