Noren, Let’s Lift the Curtain!

When walking in a Japanese restaurant, who has never had his head caught in the entrance’s curtain? Well, even though it may have been the case these little curtains called “Noren” are not meant to ruin your blow-dry in the first place.

Noren, also written暖簾, are hung either in front of the store, a house or inside buildings.

They possess three main functions:

- Serve as separation so that to the interior of a room is hidden from outside gazes.

- Protect from sunshine, cold and dust.

- Be a support for drawings or texts, especially when put in the storefront.

Generally rectangular-shaped, their size; shape; fabric and pattern can, nonetheless, vary. As well as the number of vertical slits, which are meant to allow customers to walk through. It is customary for the shop owners to hook it on the entrance before opening and to take it down after the service hours.

However, if we go back to the beginning of Edo period (1603-1868), norens were made out of woven straw ropes. As you may imagine it was a bit inconvenient for writing inscriptions on it.

Besides the practical use, it also has a symbolic meaning. As a name bearer, it enhances the fame of the brand represented. In fact, the metaphorical meaning of “noren” in Japanese is “reputation”. In the old days, people used to wipe their hands on it after finishing their meal. It is said that the popularity would increase accordingly to the amount of dirt left on the storefront curtain. I think it concerns especially the cabin-like outdoor stalls called “Yatai”. In those small stands, the small curtain is the only separation between the restaurant and the street. It usually almost touches your back when seating, so it’s easy to guess that people may have been tempted to dry their hands on it. Nonetheless, I firmly advise you against perpetuating this particular old custom.

In the Japanese language, there are many use of this term in the commercial domain. Usually, noren refers to the words “company” and/or “business”. Here are some examples:

“Noren wo ageru”, 暖簾を揚げる, literally “to rise the curtain”, corresponds to “opening of a business” in a figurative way. The opposite, “Noren wo sageru”,暖簾を下げる, on the contrary, means “going out of business”.

In both of these idiomatic expressions “noren” nominates a commercial activity but it may also be used in a sarcastic manner. The phrase “Noren ni udeoshi”,暖簾を腕押し, literally “push the curtain with your arm”, designate “a pointless act”. As when someone tries to “push water uphill with a rake”, “hitting a curtain with your arm” would be a wasted effort.

Lastly, even if we tend to pay more attention to those hanged on storefronts, they can also be found indoors. Like their cousins, their purpose is to hide or separate a room. That is why we tend to see them in front of storage rooms, bathroom or kitchens. For the latter, it helps the smoke and smell not to spread in the whole building, but I somewhat doubt about its efficiency…

Another interesting feature that I haven’t talked about is their function as signs. Despite the fact that, in often times, the drawings are mere decorations, it may also indicates the nature of a room. The perfect example is the public bathhouse, “Sento”, within which women and men need to have separated spaces. For this to happen, noren are hanged not only to point the way but also to keep some privacy. As a reminder, the color red is reserved for ladies and blue for gentlemen.

Last but not least, the noren is considered to be a barrier to evil spirits, a “kekkai”. Supposedly able to purify the air of misfortune, it’ll insure your intimate space to be rid of negative energies. As well as “tori” gates enclose shinto sanctuaries, those little curtains provide a protection to the inner part. If you’d like to create a little sanctuary at home and carry on the process : you need to empty the room of its superfluous elements, tidy up, clean your entrance with water and place two small plate filled with salt at the bottom the entrance door ! By doing so, your personal realm will be protected from unwanted intrusion !

We hope that all those little hints help you moving closer to an understanding of Japanese culture !

If you have questions or opinions on the topic, please leave a comment below ! Mata ne !