What Is A Japanese Tatami Mat And Who Is It For?

Tatami is a traditional flooring mat. It has been used in Japan for a very long time and dates back to at least the Nara Period (ad 710-784). If you read Japanese history, it served as seating in the houses of rich people. They placed it on top of their wooden floors as seating for nobles. Around the 16th century, the key use of these mats began to change. The common citizens of Japan started using them to cover their entire rooms to show their elite lifestyle.

Why Do Japanese Still Have Tatami Rooms?

Japanese still embrace their tradition and proudly present it in today’s era.

Even their most innovative homes have a Tatami Room that has Tatami Mat flooring. This room is often used to entertain guests and conduct tea ceremonies. It is also used as a religious altar, and the Japanese treat it with uttermost respect. For example, before sitting on a Tatami mat, they remove their shoes.

But some people use these mats to complement their airy room design too as they are the symbol of relaxation and peace of mind.

Can We Use Tatami Mats In Any Room?

Well, if you want to use Tatami mats in your desired room, no one can stop you. But it’s good to have their purpose in mind so you can complement their traditional value.

A Tatami Room has some special features. It is often a low-ceiling room, but you don’t feel any kind of exhaustion in it. If we say this room is usually designed to create concentration on “ONE” thing only, it would be utterly correct. For instance, if you want to use the mats in the study room, make sure only books are present in that room, not gaming consoles or TV.

In case the room has an open design or high ceilings, you can use “Rice Paper Blinds” or “Thin Privacy Screens (also known as Shoji)” to create privacy.

Don’t use a lot of furniture in this room either.

Since the purpose of this room is to exhibit simplicity. If it’s necessary to use furniture, such as a bed or sofa, ensure it doesn’t have legs. You can also opt for frameless furniture, as frameless furniture doesn’t damage the Tatami Mat Surface.

Here are some more factors you need to remember.

• Don’t walk with shoes on Tatami mats; your shoes can damage their material.
• Always vacuum or clean them in the same direction as to how they are woven.
• You need to replace them from time to time; they last for 10 years only.
• The room in which you use Tatami Mats should have muted colors.
• The room should have a bit of sunlight too; not just artificial light.

Who Is It For?

These days, people are using Tatami Mats to have a traditional Japanese touch in their homes. But in reality, it is a great product for those who want to regulate interior humidity.

Let me explain that in the simplest words.

These mats are “Humidity Controllers”. They absorb the moisture when it is high in your room, and similarly, they release the moisture when the air is dry. This helps greatly in places like Japan as it has unpredictable weather.

Bear in mind, we are talking about the “real” Tatami mat which is made from rice straw and Igusa plant (rush grass). It has a border fabric as well, known as “Heri”.

All these three materials give this product the capability to absorb or release humidity when it is required.

That’s why some people call it a breathable mat too

Other than that, it is a great product for those who have tension in their backbone and muscles. The gentle, but harder than a regular mattress, material helps their body to achieve the correct alignment when they sleep. It also reduces the tension on their backbone, muscles, and lower limbs.

They sleep peacefully and wake up fresh every morning.

This mat isn’t thick, but it can keep you warm during the cold season due to its natural material and overall structure. If you want extra warmth in the cold season, you can cover it with a blanket too.

Modern Structure of Tatami Mat

We have already mentioned the basic materials, but modern versions of these mats have other intricate materials too.

However, the manufacturers are making sure they aren’t changing the basic idea.

For example, they are using Styrofoam now which is compressed between wood-chip boards. It is a very thin base, but it makes you feel a bit more comfortable.

Apart from the bases, there can be a difference in the weaving methods, as most of the mats you get today aren’t handmade. Mostly cotton or hemp yarn is used to weave them. They both give better strength and durability.

Besides, both cotton and yarn make the mat thicker.

Keep in mind, there is a modern Chinese version too.

Both Japanese and Chinese use Igusa Plant. But the Chinese version has some downsides. The Igusa Plant they use is often in its immaturity stage. That’s why the Chinese version is economical and constantly increasing its share in the market… But it isn’t durable.

On the contrary, the Igusa Plant Japanese manufacturers use completes its maturity process. It stays in the lower temperatures for a longer time.

This original treatment keeps its elasticity and moisture.

Furthermore, due to these factors, Japanese mats have a natural, beautiful smell, and they have better air-purifying quality, whereas Chinese mats are chemically dyed and don’t have a good smell or air-purifying quality.

Conclusion

Are you planning to buy a Tatami Mat? You can see some best options here.

These mats come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but the most common size you see in the market has a 2:1 ratio. This size is suitable for almost all stylish bedrooms.

You can use this size with a Japanese bed frame too. Since the Japanese bed frames are ultimate in simplicity and also complement the key features of the Tatami Mats.