Tatami（畳） is Japanese traditional flooring made of woven straw. Tatami has really old history. It is inscribed even in the oldest book called “Kojiki”（古事記）. Tatami was originally a luxury item for the wealthy people at a time when lower class people had mat covered dirty floor. Tatami mats are associated with Japanese rites and rituals or with tea ceremony. Most modern Japanese homes still have one tatami room. It is also used for training for martial arts like Judo, Kendo, Aikido, Iaido, and so on. When I was in high school, there are some martial arts clubs. And we used to practice Judo on Tatami room.
As I described, Tatami is strongly related with tea ceremony. This tea convention developed in Edo period. And at this time, the Japanese sitting position called “SEIZA (正座)” became popular. Also, in this period, Tatami institution called “Tatami Bugyou” was established to make the Tatami for administrative institution such as “Siro”(城) or “Tera”(寺) and the Tatami became more fundamental for Japanese people. So there were many Tatami craftsmen in that period and the technique was handed down from master to student.
But nowadays, due to the change in Japanese life style, the number of real Tatami craftsmen is declining rapidly. Moreover, even ordinary interior companies start selling Tatami which is made easily by machine. They can make 30 tatamis in a day with machine, while the craftsmen can only make 10 tatamis at maximum.
But there are still some traditional Tatami stores which is run by real craftsman. There are lots of them mainly in Shitamachi where there are still many Japanese style houses.
I really like Tatami. Everytime I go to my grandma’s house, I put a futon on Tatami room (和室) and sleep. Once I enter the room, the atmosphere suddenly changed and I can relax. Sleeping on tatami, that is the most wonderful time in grandma’s house.
