The eco living in Japan: Tatami
Tatami is made out of straw, with not much chemical process. It is said that dry straws breath in the house, thus takes the humidity in the air away in the summer. Nowadays, it is not only used in traditional Japanese houses, but also customized into different sizes for different usage; Tatami Yoga Mat, Tatami bed sheet, even pillows and sandals can be made out of the same material. In the article we will introduce this eco Japanese invention briefly.
For the longest time, the Japanese culture and lifestyle has been a constant mystery for the world at large. People would be in awe at their culture, their fearsome persistence in upholding their morals and beliefs as well as their inspiring grasp on the concept of honor. From the moment the world was exposed to the Japanese culture, they had only been thirsting for more.
Hence today we will be looking at some very interesting facts about another Japanese culture in the field of home decorations, tatami.
The Tatami mats are basically traditional types of home decorations for the Japanese which history can be traced very far back. Given the extent of the time it has been in existence, the general appearance of the tatami has not really changed with time. The tatami’s still retain the same woven straw mat design they had all these years. The tatami mats can be distinguished by their woven straw mat with plain black cloth borders which may also be in a gold & black plum pattern. Generally tatami mats are used in Japanese home’s as a surface for sitting, sleeping or walking. You may consider it to be a multi-purpose couch which can be stepped on.
Now that we have briefly gone through the history of the tatami mat, let us dwell deeper into the basics about the tatami so you can be better equipped when searching for the ideal tatami for your home.
The general tatami can actually be separated into three different sections, the reed, the straw core, and the decorative cloth edging. The reed of the tatami, which is also known as the rush cover or omote in Japanese, is made from reeds. Now when choosing a tatami mat with a great omote, you should pay special attention to how tightly the reeds are woven together and the rush used. A high quality mat will be made from rush which are more mature, which gives it a thicker quality. A thicker rush of course means that the tatami will be more durable against the constant abuse from human stepping.