What Is Tatami Made Of?

Tatami mats are a traditional Japanese floor covering.

Tatami mats are a straw matting used to cover the floors in traditional Japanese homes. Tatami mats today are still manufactured using traditional, sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.

Materials

Tatami mats are made of woven bundles of rice straw. Traditionally, the mats were stuffed with straw as well, although today tatami mats are sold that are stuffed with Styrofoam. Paper is used on the bottom layer, and the edges of the mat are trimmed with a border of black cloth.

Maintenance

Tatami mats can be swept or vacuumed. When cleaning a tatami mat, it is important to always go in the direction of the straws, to avoid breaking them. Traditionally, tatami mats are laid out in the sun once a year to help eliminate mites, but regular vacuuming can serve the same purpose.

Advantages

Traditional tatami mats are made with all-natural products. The rice straw that is used in their manufacture is a by-product of the harvesting of rice. Tatami mats do not contain the glues or resins that are found in vinyl and laminate flooring, and which can emit harmful gases.

References

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Tatami
• Tatami Imports: Frequently Asked Questions
• Japanese Lifestyle: Tatami
• Tatami Imports: Why Tatami?