Kawara

Kawara is a Japanese term meaning "tile," specifically referring to ceramic roof tiles used in traditional Japanese architecture. The word is written with the kanji 瓦. Kawara tiles are a characteristic feature of historical buildings such as houses, temples, and castles, typically made of fired clay and finished in shades of gray or brown. They are designed to interlock and shed rain, and roofs are often adorned with decorative elements like onigawara (ogre-faced end tiles) and other ridge ornaments intended to ward off evil and add visual variation. Over different periods, tile styles and colors evolved in response to regional kilns and architectural fashion.

As a surname, Kawara is borne by individuals in Japan and elsewhere. One well-known bearer is On Kawara (河原 温, 1933–2014), a Japanese conceptual artist who lived in New York and became known for his date paintings and systematic approach to art. The surname Kawara can also be encountered in various contexts and is sometimes romanized as Kawahara, depending on kanji and reading.

In scholarly and cultural references, Kawara may appear as part of discussions of Japanese architectural terms or roof construction. Outside Japan, the term is mainly encountered as a surname or in discussions of On Kawara’s work, rather than as a common architectural descriptor.