Since people took their shoes off, houses were kept free of outside dirt, and the tatami , which was originally used as a bed, could be used to cover the whole floor and to sit on. Just inside the door of all Japanese houses is a place to take off one's shoes. The main part of the house is generally raised above this entranceway. It would be extremely rude to enter a Japanese house with your shoes on. Usually Japanese schools have no tatami mats, but one still must take one's shoes off before entering, just as one does in a house.
Students change into uwabaki , or indoor shoes.
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