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Tatami mats. In Japan an elaborate mat takes the place of beds, chairs,
tables,
sofas and armchairs. It is called TATAMI and the Japanese
cover the whole floor area of their homes with it. These mats
are made from rice plant stubble. The stubble is evened out
and bound with a resilient cord – reaching a thickness of 6
cm. – and is covered on the outside with straw matting. The
edges are squared with extreme precision and the two longest
sides are edged with a broad black linen or cotton band.
Tatami for the houses of the aristocracy have black or white decoration
woven into the band. The mats give slightly when walked on
barefoot; in fact the Japanese leave their shoes at the front
door. These mats also soften every noise. On the first sunny
spring days, the Tatami are removed and aired in front of the
house, piled up two by two like playing cards.
People
eat, sleep and die on these Tatami; they are bed, chair,
armchair and, at times, table.
The
Futon is laid out on the Tatami at night and an eiderdown is
used as a cover. This ‘bed’ is put away in large fitted
wardrobes in the morning and the house once again has the
typical peaceful atmosphere of Japanese homes.

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