Tokonoma

A tokonoma with a kakemono and ikebana flower arrangement
Detailed view of a tokonoma and aspects of a Japanese room
View from the side of a tokonoma
Tokonoma at Tenryū-ji

A tokonoma (床の間),[1] or simply toko (床),[2][3] is a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed. In English, a tokonoma could be called an alcove.

  1. ^ Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary, Kenkyusha Limited, ISBN 4-7674-2015-6
  2. ^ Kōjien Japanese dictionary, entry for tokonoma.
  3. ^ Genshoku Chadō Daijiten Japanese encyclopedia of Chanoyu. Iguchi Kaisen, et al., supv. eds. (Kyoto: Tankosha, 1986 10th ed.) entry for Toko.