corner seating (Noh); seating facing the corner pillar
A specific term in Noh theater referring to the seating area in the corner that faces the pillar. Used in traditional performance contexts.
From the corner seating, the stage pillar is easily visible.
Compound of 中 (naka, 'middle') + 正面 (shōmen, 'front'). The reading じょうめん is a specialized reading for 正面 in Noh terminology. The exact derivation is uncertain; the term refers to the seating area in the corner of a Noh theater.