Fusuma (襖) are opaque sliding panels used within a building to redefine the shape of a room and/or act as doors.

— History

In the past, fusama used to be called fusuma-shoji (襖障子). Similarly, today's shoji were called akari-shoji (明障子).

During the Nara and Heian periods, folding doors and single door partitions were rather common. They were different from the sliding fusuma we know today, however. They were not sliding doors until about the beginning of the Kakamura period.

It was during the Muromachi period that fusuma first really began appearing. They were used to close off larger spaces in order to create cupboards or closets.

Fusuma were an important feature in shoin mansions in the beginning. Eventually, they began to be used in homes of the lower classes, such as those of farmers and merchants, around the 20th century.

— Structure

The most common fusuma were covered in thick washi paper. More expensive and luxurious varieties were covered in silk or other cloths.

Parts:

Ⓐ Kumite (組手), is the wooden framework joints that run horizontally.

Ⓒ Hirabone (平骨), is the wooden framework joints that run vertically.

➝ Chikarabone (力骨) or Chikarako (力子), are vertical and horizontal strips of wood that are centered. They are thicker and heavier than the surrounding kumite and hirabone.

Ⓑ Hiuchi-ita (火打板) or Chikara-ita (力板), are wooden boards in each corner that help stengthen the framework.

Ⓓ Uwabuchi (上縁), is the top of the fusuma's frame.

Ⓗ Shitabuchi (下縁), is the bottom of the fusuma's frame.

➝ Mashibuchi. (増縁), are verticle sides of the fusuma's frame.

Ⓔ Tatebuchi (竪縁), are perpendicular stiles on both of the sides of the fusuma.

Ⓕ Hikite (引手), is the screen pull that allowed residents to open and close the fusuma.

Ⓖ Hikite-ita (引手板), is another wooden board, placed along one of chikarabone, that allowed the hikite to be placed overtop.

— Yamato-e

Fusuma became a medium for beautiful paintings, called yamato-e, meaning "Japansese images." The paintings were mostly "motifs of the seasonal views and the people of Japan." Generally, they were depictions of mountains, forests, and animals.