Tatami Facts for Kids

Six-mat room with tatami flooring and shoji

Tatami (pronounced tah-TAH-mee) are special mats used as flooring in traditional Japanese homes. Imagine a comfy, woven mat that covers the whole floor! They are usually made from woven straw on top, and inside, they can be packed with straw or even modern materials like styrofoam. Each tatami mat is the same size and shape, and they often have pretty borders made of colorful cloth.

Long ago, tatami mats were only for rich people. Most other people had dirt floors covered with simpler mats. But over time, tatami became more popular. By the end of the 1600s, regular families started to have them in their homes too.

History of Tatami Mats
How Tatami Mats Are Made
- About Igusa (Rush Plant)
- Tatamiberi (Mat Edges)
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History of Tatami Mats

Japanese people have used tatami since the Nara Era (710-794 AD). Back then, they were knitted and became thicker, much like the tatami we see today.

During the Heian Era, important people would step onto tatami to show their power. They would only spread the mats in a small, important part of a room.

The way tatami were used changed over time. In the Kamakura Era, a new style of Japanese house called shoin became popular. People stopped placing tatami only in the middle of a room. Instead, they started to spread tatami across the entire floor. People would sit on them by the hearth (fireplace) with their legs folded.

Tatami continued to change as people's lifestyles changed. By the middle of the Edo Era, tatami were very common. Farmers started using them in the Meiji Era. Rules about tatami were removed, making them even more common. Japanese people often dry their tatami mats. If the surface changed color, they would flip them over. After World War Two, people started using chairs and carpets more. But many Japanese people still love tatami because they feel relaxing and help block sound.

How Tatami Mats Are Made

Tatami are made from a rush plant called igusa. This plant is grown in rice fields.

Planting: Rush is planted in August.
Choosing Seedlings: In November, the young plants are dug up, and the best ones are chosen.
Replanting: These chosen young plants are planted in the rice fields again in December.
Harvesting: By late June or mid-July the next year, the high-quality rush grows to about one meter tall and is ready to be harvested.

After harvesting, the rush needs to be dried. This helps keep its special smell and color. The rush is then sorted by length and thickness. Workers also check for any damaged parts.

Once the harvest is done, tatami mats are made. Since Japanese rooms can be different sizes, tatami are made in various sizes.

Making the Base: First, the base of the tatami is made. This base is called toko.
Weaving: The tatami is woven using a special machine, similar to how a kimono is woven.
Shaping the Toko: The toko (base) is made thick, often 40 centimeters or more, and its shape is straightened.
Finishing the Mat: The woven mat part is called mushiro. The tatami mat is complete when the mushiro is joined to the toko. Finally, the decorative edges are sewn on.

About Igusa (Rush Plant)

Igusa is a plant that grows back year after year. It belongs to the rush family. Igusa has a lovely, fresh, grassy smell. In English, these plants are simply called rushes.

Igusa plants bloom from May to June. They can grow up to 100 centimeters (about 3 feet) tall. They like to grow in wet, sunny areas like marshes. In Japan, there are about 30 different kinds of igusa that grow in various places.

To make tatami, natural igusa must be flexible from its root to its tip. The thickness and color of the rush can vary slightly. A single tatami mat uses a lot of igusa – about 4,000 to 7,000 individual rushes! Generally, the best tatami mats use more and longer igusa rushes.

Using igusa for tatami has many good points:

It helps clean the air.
It provides insulation, keeping rooms warm or cool.
It's flexible and comfortable.
It's cooling, especially in hot summers.
It's good for the environment.
It helps absorb sound.

Igusa tatami also feels smooth to touch, making it comfortable for babies and young children. Most Japanese people really like tatami. Many homes in Japan have at least one room with tatami flooring.

Tatamiberi (Mat Edges)

Tatamiberi is the cloth that covers and decorates the edge of a tatami mat. Some tatami mats don't have this edge. In English, it's called the mat edge.

Tatamiberi is usually about three centimeters (about an inch) wide. It can be made from cotton yarn, synthetic string, or even gold thread. The look of the tatamiberi changes depending on the strings used. The beautifully woven colors and patterns can really make a room look special. There are many types, and they can change the feeling of a room.

Long ago, tatamiberi was used to show a person's importance or status. For example, the emperor, ministers, priests, and scholars all had different styles of tatamiberi. This was even written down in a record called "Amanomokuzu" in 1420.

Japan has special rules about tatamiberi. Japanese people are taught not to step on the tatamiberi. Why?

It's easy to tear the tatamiberi if you step on its weakest part.
Stepping on it can make the color fade.
In old times, family symbols (crests) were sometimes sewn onto the tatamiberi. Stepping on a family crest was considered very disrespectful.

So, this rule of etiquette means "be careful not to damage the mat when you visit someone's house, and pay attention."