Sudare

Sudare (簾/すだれ) are traditional Japanese screens or blinds, made of horizontal slats of decorative wood, bamboo, or other natural material, woven together with simple string, colored yarn, or other decorative material to make nearly solid blinds Sudare can be either rolled or folded up out of the way.

Sudare are used in many Japanese homes to shield the verandah and other openings of the building from sunlight, rain, and insects.

Elaborate sudare for palaces and villas used high-quality bamboo, with expensive silk and gold embroidery worked in.

During the Heian period (794–1185), a court lady would conceal herself behind a screen when speaking with a man outside her immediate family.

Any unwarranted moves on the man's part were seen as a grave breach of etiquette and a threat against the lady's honour.