Tatami
The origins of tatami mats can be traced back a thousand years. This legendary Japanese flooring consists of individual, relatively heavy units. A tightly compressed and stitched core of rice straw is wrapped with a mat of Igusa grass (Omote) and edged along the long sides with a cotton band (Beri).
These distinctive joins, together with the Shoji, create the graphic appearance of the traditional Japanese room.
The mat’s initially green color quickly matures into the characteristic straw-yellow brown when exposed to light; its fragrance remains for years.
A classic tatami is 5.5 cm thick. Sizes vary by region—for example, the Kyoto standard (95.5 × 191 cm) or the Tokyo standard (88 × 176 cm). Traditionally designed rooms were—and still are—dimensioned to fit the corresponding tatami layout.
Tatami provide both sound and thermal insulation. Thanks to their almost »springy« feel, they make the ideal surface for practicing martial arts. Europeans likewise appreciate the comfort of lying on futons placed on tatami. Naturally, they are walked on only in socks or barefoot.
By the way: the surface grass stays supple longer if it’s sprayed with water several times or wiped damp during winter.
In our offering you will find:
Tatami from Japan
High-quality, pollutant-tested mats crafted to very exacting standards. They are made to order for each customer in Kyoto or Tokyo.
(These mats cannot be ordered through our online shop.)
