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u270fufe0f Originally published: 2021-08-09 / ud83dudd04 Rewritten: May 8, 2026
2026 DIY Dad’s Update: Painting the Japanese Room Ceiling
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Fusuma Replacement Paper Kits
Fusuma renewal is the fastest Japanese-room refresh u2014 paper, paste, and 2 hours.
Painting is the most straightforward way to renovate a Japanese room ceiling. Simply coating an old saobuchi or mekashi ceiling white dramatically changes the room’s atmosphere.
Types of Japanese Room Ceilings
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Tatami Repair Materials (Amazon Japan)
Fresh tatami edges signal a well-maintained property u2014 tenants feel it immediately.
Common ceiling styles found in older apartments:
- Saobuchi (u7affu7e01u5929u4e95): A traditional style where thin wooden battens form a grid, with boards resting on top
- Mekashi (u76eeu900fu304bu3057u5929u4e95): Boards installed with deliberate gaps between them
- Juraku (u805au697du5929u4e95): A ceiling plastered with juraku, a traditional clay-based wall material
For saobuchi and mekashi ceilings, painting is the easiest approach. Wallpaper is also an option, but dealing with the board steps and gaps takes more effort.
Ceiling Painting Process
- Thorough masking of walls, floors, and doors
- Apply sealer (primer) over the entire surface to prevent over-absorption
- First topcoat after drying u2014 apply evenly with a roller
- After full drying, second topcoat for even coverage
- Remove masking after drying
Ceiling work means looking up the whole time u2014 harder on the body than expected. Take regular breaks. DIY Dad was surprised by how much his neck and shoulders ached.
Choosing the Right Paint (Ceiling)
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Shoji Screen Paper & Repair Kits
Replace shoji paper every 3u20135 years u2014 it yellows faster than any other surface.
- Water-based paint (silicone or acrylic) u2014 low odor, ideal indoors
- White u2014 maximizes brightness; the standard ceiling color
- Matte finish u2014 looks the most natural overhead
- Mold-resistant formula u2014 recommended for humid rooms
Why Tackle the Smaller Room First
- Good practice on a small scale
- Achieves an early win and builds confidence
- Unit can be offered to tenants sooner for earlier rental income
For Anyone Considering Apartment Investment and Renovation
Cost-effectiveness is everything in apartment renovation. DIY Dad keeps costs dramatically low by doing the work himself.
Marutoku Shop u2014 Renovation Materials & Lumber (Online) u00bb
Back to the Job Site u2014 Second Coat
Hi, DIY Dad here! Continuing the ceiling repair u2014 finish painting. Last time the first finish coat was done. Now for the second coat.
u2192 Second coat
u2192 Second coat
u2192 Second coat
u2192 Second coat
u2192 Second coat
u2192 Second coat
u2192 Second coat
And here’s the result. Looking pretty decent u2014 or so I thought. Then stain bleed-through appeared. A while after painting, the discoloration started surfacing. No matter how many coats I added it kept coming back, so next time I’ll apply sealer over the top and repaint from scratch. (I honestly don’t know what the right answer is here.)
That’s all for today u2014 see you next time!
DIY Renovation Quote Review Manual
How to read, compare, and negotiate contractor quotes. This manual saved me u00a5800,000 on a single renovation project.
ud83cudfe0 More from DIY Father
15 years of landlord experience u00b7 3 apartment buildings u00b7 DIY renovations that saved millions of yen. Browse all articles at diytosan.com
