Kamiza - Upper seat

Japanese: 上座 - かみざ

A seat for people of higher social status. In Japan, the seat at the front of the room, or in front of a tokonoma (alcove) in a tatami room, is usually the kamiza, while the seat closest to the entrance is the shimoza, and the seat on the left (right when facing the front) is the kamiza. In Western-style rooms, the seat in front of the fireplace is the kamiza, the seat opposite is the jiza, and the head of the household and the wife sit at either end of the table. In a car, the seat on the right of the back seat when facing the direction of travel is the kamiza, the left is the jiza, and the middle is the last seat, but if the head of the household is driving, the seat next to him is the kamiza, and the seat in the back is the last seat. At a farmhouse hearth, the seat at the back front is the head of the household, the seat on the left facing the fireplace is the guest seat, the seat opposite that is the wife's seat, and the seat closest to the dirt floor is the shimoza.

The seat of honor
sthevira

A Buddhist term. Same as choro (elder). (1) A title given to a person who has been a monk for 10 years. (2) An honorific title given to a monk. (3) An older, virtuous monk who is in charge of temple affairs. (4) One of the ranks of priests in the Soto sect.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

社会的地位の上の人の着く席。日本では普通，席の正面，また座敷で床の間がある場合はその前が上座で，入口に近いほうが下座であり，席次は左 (正面に向って右) が上座となる。洋室の場合は暖炉の前が上座，その対面が次席で，一家の主人と主婦はテーブルの両端にすわる。自動車では進行方向に向ってうしろ座席の右側が上席，左側が次席，中央が末席となるが，主人が運転する場合はその隣りが上席，うしろ座席が末席となる。農家のいろりでは奥正面が主人の席で，向って左側が客座，その対面が主婦の席，土間に近いほうが下座となる。