#genkan

Minka doma guest room

In American homes, the wearing of shoes in the house, and more specifically past the front hall or foyer is a common practice and not looked down upon. That is with the exception of people who want to keep their new floors or white carpets clean. And of course, unless someone has particularly dirty shoes and the mother says to take them off at the door. Most Americans would say that it is more of a courtesy to take one's shoes off and not something that is done unless asked to. This has become a very standard American practice, to leave one’s shoes on while in one's own or another’s house. However, when you think of Japanese culture, it is a traditional practice to take one's shoes off when entering into their own or another’s house and put-on slippers that are meant to only be worn while inside the house.

           Traditional Japanese-style homes use bamboo floor mats called tatami and as a way to keep them clean, they do not wear outside shoes in the home. This is a typical practice of public schools and certain public buildings even though they do not have tatami flooring. Taking off outside shoes is also seen as a way of being clean because of all the different bacteria that can be on the bottom of shoes. Japan is a country that prides itself on cleanliness so it would only make sense that this practice is done in Japanese homes. In Japan, most homes have a small entryway called a “genkan”.

(An example of a genkan in a Japanese home)

This is typically lower than the rest of the house and sometimes has small cubbies where guests can keep their shoes in replacement of slippers that are provided by the host. This same practice is done in hotels, schools, and other public buildings. They all have a separate room where outside shoes are taken off and slippers are worn then after. In Japanese homes, there is often another pair of slippers that must be worn but only when in the bathroom. Yet another way of Japanese culture preserving their cleanliness mantra.

(In Japanese public schools students have small lockers specifically for their outside shoes to be stored)

           The only similarity I have determined is that in an attempt to organize shoes, American homes sometimes have small cubbies where shoes can be stored, whether they be a guest or member of the household.

(An example of an American style entryway with an organizer for shoes and coats)

           The concept of etics and emics is one that is very similar in context but differs entirely. Etics are those aspects of life that appear to be the same across different cultures, or things that are universally accepted. Emics are aspects of life that seem to be different between cultures. The wearing of, or lack thereof, outside shoes in the house would be considered an emic because when comparing American and Japanese cultures, they differ in this way.

https://goodyfeed.com/why-is-it-asian-culture-for-us-to-remove-our-shoes-before-entering-peoples-houses/