暖簾 のれん

暖簾をあげる (Noren wo Ageru)- Rising the Noren, is a metaphor used when opening a new business. 暖簾 のれん (Noren) itself is a sort of textile curtain in a rectangular format with one or several slits that marks the entrance to a shop, public bath, restaurant or bar but can also be seen as a division of interior spaces. It was originally used to protect the house from wind, dust, rain and direct sun, but with air conditioning in many of these places its functional means can be questioned. Today it has a rather traditional meaning, it is a symbol displaying the name of the business and informing customers that the establishment is open. But it also has a second layer- a subtle separation between space, most often between outside (public) and inside(semi-public/private). Before entering an establishment, the person will slightly bend, lift with the outer side of the hand one corner of hanging fabric carefully to the side without entering the space and ask for permission to be guest. Though it can be just a small piece of fabric it has a large symbolic meaning - a Japanese would rarely drink beer on the street, but behind a 暖簾 のれん many beers are possible.