Don't Japanese want Japanese style house anymore?

Question

TokyoLiv_in09's tatami Q make me think still ppl make "engawa" in new house? How about shouji? In U.S, we can buy tatami, shouji, tansu etc..even old style lamp. Japanese, it seems to me, are no longer intrested in traditional style. =( ( I won't argue about getting rid of old style japanese toilet.)

Answer 1

Probably most Japanese thinks the modern day houses are also Japanese house. They have shouji and tatami rooms, but rare seeing engawa.
If you wanna built traditional wooden Japanese house, which don't use metal nails at all, no modern external wall and roof materials, it would cost double to modern house. And the construction period would be more than a year.
This doesn't fit to Japanese life.

However, rich people in country side have a tendency to prefer traditional Japanese house.

Answer 2

Some people may not like traditional style.
Including my house, most newly-erected houses consist of several youshitsu(Western-style) room and one washitsu (Japanese-style) room. I rarely see engawa in new house, but almost all washitsu equipped shouji. Tansu is not a component of house (it's furniture!)
, most people use it.

Traditional house is suited for Japanese climate, I think many Japanese would still like traditional house.
I can sleep better and feel cooler (like this extremely hot summer) in Washitu than Youshitsu.

Answer 3

some love japanese style houses. of course.
tatami needs lots of care and we have to worry about scratches.
i see lots of new houses with engawa and shouji. but some use plastic or metal engawa. not wood.
some shoujis are not traditional shouji any more. used white plastic plate instead of white washi paper.
do you want old american style house?
we use shouji since nara era (710~), tatami since heian era (794~). very old right?

Answer 4

I think it drifted away during Japan's economic boom when western things were suddenly affordable. However, I think many Japanese are beginning to feel a little nostalgic for things from the past. Every culture goes through it at onet ime or another, or else I'm wishful thinking. (however, a pure Japanese style house is almost impossible in modern Japan unless they can find a way to retro fit one into a modern 30th floor condo.)

Answer 5

uh. I'm sure everyone wants new things.
But, my friend that lives in japan stil uses some traditional furniture.
She sleeps on a bed but still uses the short table with the heater under it in the living room.