noun
namako wall; tiled wall with raised white grid
A traditional Japanese architectural feature where rectangular tiles are laid with raised, white plaster joints, resembling the pattern of a sea cucumber. Often seen on storehouses (kura) and older buildings.
古い町並みには、なまこ壁の蔵が今も残っている。
In the old townscape, storehouses with namako walls still remain.
なまこ壁は防火のために発達
Namako walls are said to have developed for fire prevention.
The name comes from the resemblance of the raised white plaster joints to the pattern on a sea cucumber (海鼠, なまこ). The exact historical origin of the style is uncertain, but it became common in the Edo period for fireproofing storehouses.