Kamiza
上座
The place of honor in the dojo, literally “upper seat”. It is usually at the front wall with a kamidana shrine or a portrait of the founder, toward which practitioners bow.
Quick Facts
Term typePlace and space
LanguageJapanese
Formnoun
Pronunciation[kah-mee-zah]
Alternative Namesplace of honor
Readings and romanizations
Reading (kana)かみざ
Hepburn romanizationkamiza
Word breakdown
上kamiabove, upper
座zaseat, sitting
Definition
Kamiza (上座) means “upper seat”: kami is above, za is seat. In Japanese rooms it is the place of honor where the most respected guest or the eldest member of the group sits, while the youngest sits near the door, in the shimoza spot. In the dojo, kamiza usually coincides with the front wall, shomen, opposite the entrance. It often holds a small Shinto shrine, kamidana, a portrait of the art's founder or calligraphy. At the start and end of training, practitioners turn toward the kamiza and bow. Teachers take the side closer to the kamiza, students the opposite side.