When you have dinner in zashiki and other places where people sit on zabuton (traditional Japanese cushions), the layout of sitting positions of participants is decided to suggest implicitly their hierarchy (please refer to "Kamiza" [a seat of honor]).
座敷など座布団の上に座る場所での食事などでは、座る位置がその場の上下関係（ヒエラルキー）を暗に示している（→上座）。