Changes

The home itself is elevated a short step above the ground, like Japanese homes, and is held up by wooden pillars, with most if not all of the walls separating rooms being comprised of sliding panels (i.e. sliding doors). Many of these are left open, especially in summer, in order to allow breezes to pass through to ameliorate the high temperatures and humidity typical of Okinawa's climate. A porch running along the front of the house, under the eaves, known as ''amahaji'' and facing the front yard, provides a breezy and shaded space to sit. More rural homes might have additional buildings, or additional areas within the walls, including livestock sheds, pigsties, vegetable gardens, and/or a well.

The home itself is elevated a short step above the ground, like Japanese homes, and is held up by wooden pillars, with most if not all of the walls separating rooms being comprised of sliding panels (i.e. sliding doors). Many of these are left open, especially in summer, in order to allow breezes to pass through to ameliorate the high temperatures and humidity typical of Okinawa's climate. A porch running along the front of the house, under the eaves, known as ''amahaji'' and facing the front yard, provides a breezy and shaded space to sit. More rural homes might have additional buildings, or additional areas within the walls, including livestock sheds, pigsties, vegetable gardens, and/or a well.

The interior of the home itself might typically consist of four to five rooms, plus a kitchen. As in traditional Japanese homes, the kitchen is located in an earthen-floored area, a step down from the elevated wooden floor, but immediately adjacent to another room, and contained under the same roof. The hearth (''irori'') is often located in a room with bare wooden floorboards, known as ''ita no ma'' ("planks room") in Japanese. Two "front rooms," known simply as the ''ichibanza'' ("first room") and ''nibanza'' ("second room"), serve as rooms for entertaining guests. These spaces typically have [[tatami]] on the floor, and contain the ''[[tokonoma]]'' and family altar (''butsudan''), respectively. Behind these rooms, towards the rear of the house, are typically a pair of "rear rooms," known simply as ''ichiban'' (number one) and ''niban'' (number two) ''uraza'' (rear room). These serve as the family's bedrooms and private spaces.

The interior of the home itself might typically consist of four to five rooms, plus a kitchen. As in traditional Japanese homes, the kitchen is located in an earthen-floored area, a step down from the elevated wooden floor, but immediately adjacent to another room, and contained under the same roof. The hearth (''irori'') is often located in a room with bare wooden floorboards, known as ''ita no ma'' ("planks room") in Japanese. Two "front rooms," known simply as the ''ichibanza'' ("first room") and ''nibanza'' ("second room"), serve as rooms for entertaining guests. These spaces typically have [[tatami]] on the floor, and contain the ''[[tokonoma]]'' (O: ''tuku'') and family altar (''[[butsudan]]'', O: ''buchidan''), respectively. Behind these rooms, towards the rear of the house, are typically a pair of "rear rooms," known simply as ''ichiban'' (number one) and ''niban'' (number two) ''uraza'' (rear room). These serve as the family's bedrooms and private spaces.

An additional structure known as an ''asagi'' or ''mae no ie'' is sometimes located nearby, serving as residence for an older member of the family, such as the retired former head of household, or his wife or widow, mother to the current head of household; such a space might also be used to house other family or guests.

An additional structure known as an ''asagi'' or ''mae no ie'' is sometimes located nearby, serving as residence for an older member of the family, such as the retired former head of household, or his wife or widow, mother to the current head of household; such a space might also be used to house other family or guests.