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u270fufe0f Originally published: 2021-08-10 / 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 (see types below) 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 are laid in a grid, with boards resting on top
- Mekashi (u76eeu900fu304bu3057u5929u4e95): Boards installed with deliberate gaps between them for a decorative effect
- Juraku (u805au697du5929u4e95): A ceiling plastered with juraku, a traditional clay-based wall material
For saobuchi and mekashi ceilings, painting is the easiest renovation method. Wallpaper can be applied too, but dealing with the board steps and gaps requires a lot of prep work.
Ceiling Painting Process
- Thorough masking of walls, floors, and doors
- Apply sealer (primer) over the entire surface to prevent old wood from soaking up too much paint
- First topcoat after drying u2014 apply evenly with a roller
- After full drying, second topcoat u2014 thin overlapping coats for an even finish
- Remove masking after drying
Ceiling painting means continuously looking upward, which puts real strain on the body. Take frequent breaks. DIY Dad found the neck and shoulder fatigue was worse than expected. ud83dude04
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.
Best paint options for ceilings:
- Water-based paint (silicone or acrylic): Low odor, suitable for interiors
- White: Maximizes brightness u2014 the standard choice for ceilings
- Matte finish: Matte looks the most natural overhead
- Mold-resistant formula: Recommended near bathrooms or in humid rooms
DIY Dad recommends Kansai Paint (Kanpe Hapio) or Nippon Paint water-based silicone products u2014 easy to find at home improvement stores and well-suited to DIY use.
Why Tackle the Smaller Room First
DIY Dad’s reasons for starting renovation in the small 4.5-mat room (roughly 7.5 sq m) before the larger ones:
- A small room is great practice
- Finishing early gives a tangible sense of accomplishment
- The unit can be offered to tenants sooner, generating rental income earlier
The strategy: complete the small room first, then work up to larger rooms. Stacking those wins is what keeps the DIY motivation going.
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 Repainting After Sealer
Hi, DIY Dad here! Continuing the ceiling repair u2014 finish painting. Last time I completed (or thought I completed) the second finish coat, only to find bleed-through stains coming up again. Around that time I switched from brush application to spray gun u2014 trial and error in action. ud83dude04 For spray gun tools and materials, see DIY Dad’s Tool & Material Guide Vol.5 u2014 Paint Application (2) Spray.
Over the previous finish coat I applied another round of sealer, then painted white again on top of that.
u2192 During repainting u2014 stains and unevenness still faintly visible
Still seeing some unevenness and stain bleed-through, so I kept repainting.
u2192 Painting complete u2014 looking decent?
u2192 Painting complete u2014 still some stain showing?
u2192 Painting complete
u2192 Painting complete
After more coats than I can count, this is where we ended up. Any comment about the stains still showing u2014 or whether this looks any different from last time u2014 will be politely ignored. ud83dude04 For now, it’s done. This was a tough painting battle. Going forward, I’ll be much more careful with painting bare wood (white). 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
