shomen
Shomen is a Japanese term, written with the characters 正面, that roughly translates to “front side” or “front.” In the context of traditional Japanese rooms and many martial arts dojos, shomen refers to the front wall of a room or hall that faces the entrance and serves as the primary focal point and place of honor.
In a dojo or training space, the shomen is typically the wall that bears symbolic displays. Common
Etiquette and practice are oriented around shomen. Participants usually bow toward the shomen when entering the
The concept of shomen also appears in broader Japanese usage to denote the main front or facade