Which Tatami mats?

With our bespoke service the range of possible mats is almost bewildering so below are some points to consider when choosing a mat:

Border or no border

The border of the tatami, where the mat that encases the rice straw (Omote) is stitched, is usually hemmed in with a cotton border and the majority of mats in Japan fall into this category. Mats made without these borders tend to be susceptible to the rice fibres breaking at the edges and because of the extra time required to make them they are also a little more expensive than those made with borders. There are many different borders available and some are a better quality weave than others and you will see some price difference when you see the price page.

Mat quality

The quality of the mats supplied by the Tokyo manufacturer are as you would expect from a long established Japanese maker of a traditional product. Even the standard mats are beautifully made and it is just the Japanese tendency to always aspire to make something better that they offer other mats. As you go up the range the number of internal threads increases and the weave of the external mat, or Omote, becomes finer and the igusa rice straw used is of a higher calibre. We have sample swatch books of the omote mats and these can be requested through email.

Rice straw or fibreboard

In an effort to keep the cost of mats down and to offer a range of thinner mats there are now many tatami mats in Japan constructed from these manmade fibreboards. Although they may be more economical they do not have many of the qualities of a rice straw mat, tend to be less giving under foot and are not as kind to the environment. For this reason we recommend the traditional rice straw mats.

FUTON

*click on photo to enlarge

Traditional Japanese Futon

We sell the original Japanese futon, which are very different from the futon normally sold in UK. The traditional Japanese futon, which is still very much used in Japan today, is made from 100% pure cotton and there is no mattress of internal core, just the natural fluffiness of the cotton.

Futon are usually used in conjunction with tatami mats and depending on how soft you like your bed you can have either one or two layers of futon. For people who like a firm bed then one futon would be plenty, but for those who like to sink into a mattress a little then two futons would be ideal.

Futon sizes:

• Single 100cm x 200cm
• Double 140cm x 210cm
• Please note that the size given are for the cut size of the material and when the futon is in a puffed state these measurements will be a little less.

Futon care

From time to time a futon will benefit from an airing, preferably in sunshine as this not only freshens the mattress but also causes the cotton to swell up so the futon will become more comfortable.

Price inclusive of VAT

• Single - £240.00
• Double - £320.00

The Costs exclusive of UK postage. Please contact us for a quote for postage.

Tatami available with or without a border

Choosing Tatami Mat

Prices shown in the table below are for the cost of the tatami before any shipping and tax, please refer to our prices page for more information. Click the photo to see larger images.

Types of tatami available

(1) Standard size (880 X 1760 X 55/60 mm) with standard Border

Tatami Image	Product code	Descriptions
Standard	MT-201	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Woven with single cotton string. • Fantastic cost performance.
Standard	MT-202	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Woven with single cotton string. • Good basic tatami.
Upper Standard	MT-203	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Woven with double cotton strings.The double string makes the mat surface more durable.
High Quality	MT-204	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double cotton strings.The double string makes the mat surface more durable.
High Quality	MT-205	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Beautiful surface colour. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • The grass used in this product is tougher than the one used in MT-204.
High Quality	MT-206	• 100% ORGANIC natural 'Igusa' grass. • Beautiful surface colour. • Highly fragrant. • Distinctive texture. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp.The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • The fine quality grass used for this product is organically grown.
Premium Quality	MT-207Hs	• 100% ORGANIC natural 'Igusa' grass. • Meseki-omote (extra small mesh). • The colour looks differently depending it's layout. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • Long lengths of selected 'igusa' are used which tends to give a more natural look with more colour variation within the mat.
Premium Quality	MT-208	• 100% ORGANIC natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Distinctive texture. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • Long lengths of selected 'igusa' are used which tends to give a more natural look with more colour variation within the mat.

(2) Oversized mats (950 X 1900/2000/2100/2200 X 55/60 mm) with standard Border

Tatami Image	Product code	Descriptions
High Quality	MT-204o/s Oversized	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double cotton strings. The double string makes the mat surface more durable.
High Quality	MT-205o/s Oversized	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • The grass used in this product is tougher than the one used in MT-204.
High Quality	MT-206o/s Oversized	• 100% ORGANIC natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • The fine quality grass used for this product is organically grown.
Premium Quality	MM-201S Oversized	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Meseki-omote (extra small mesh). • Pale tone comare to MM-201H. • The colour looks differently depending it's layout. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp.The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • Long lengths of selected 'igusa' are used which tends to give a more natural look with more colour variation within the mat.
Premium Quality	MM-201H Oversized	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Meseki-omote (extra small mesh). • Deeper greeny tone compare to MM-201S. • The colour looks differently depending it's layout. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp.The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • Long lengths of selected 'igusa' are used which tends to give a more natural look with more colour variation within the mat.

(3) Standard size (880 X 1760 X 55/60 mm) without Border

Tatami Image	Product code	Descriptions
Premium Quarity	MS-201	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double cotton strings.The double string makes the mat surface more durable.
Premium Quality	MS-202S	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Meseki-omote (extra small mesh). • Paler tone compare to MT-207H. • The colour looks differently depending it's layout. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • Long lengths of selected 'igusa' are used which tends to give a more natural look with more colour variation within the mat.
Top Quality	MS-202H	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Meseki-omote (extra small mesh). • Deeper greeny tone compare to MS-202S. • The colour looks differently depending it's layout. • Highly fragrant. • Woven with double strings of cotton and hemp. The hemp thread improves the strength of the weave. • Long lengths of selected 'igusa' are used which tends to give a more natural look with more colour variation within the mat.
Premium Quality	MS-203	• 100% ORGANIC natural 'Igusa' grass. • Ryukyu-omote.(fine weave) • Extra strong rush rope is used for thread. • Special igusa called 'nanashima-i', to this particular type of tatami, is used.

(4) Oversized mats (950 X 1900/2000/2100/2200 X 55/60 mm) without Border

Tatami Image	Product code	Description
Premium Quality	MS-202o/sS Oversized	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Pale tone compare to MS-202o/sH. • Woven with double cotton strings.The double string makes the mat surface more durable.
Premium Quality	MS-202o/sH Oversized	• 100% natural 'Igusa' grass. • Highly fragrant. • Deeper greeny tone compare to MS-202o/sS. • Woven with double cotton strings.The double string makes the mat surface more durable.

Choosing Tatami Border

There are 84 cotton borders to choose from all of which are made from cotton. Some of the borders are premium quality and there is an additional charge for these kinds of borders as shown under each image.

Border Selection

+£4

£4 more - High quality cotton

+£6

£6 more - Top quality cotton

+£8	£8 more - Premium quality cotton

C-01

+£4

C-02

+£4

C-03

C-04

+£4

C-05

+£4

C-06

C-07

C-08

C-09

C-10

C-11

C-12

C-13

C-14

C-15

C-16

C-17

C-18

C-19

C-20

C-21

C-22

C-23

C-24

C-25

C-26

C-27

C-28

C-29

C-30

C-31

C-32

C-33

C-34

C-35

.

C-36

C-37

C-38

C-39

C-40

C-41

C-42

C-43

C-44

C-45

C-46

C-47

C-48

C-49

+£6

C-50

+£6

C-51

+£4

C-52

+£6

C-53

+£4

C-54

+£4

C-55

+£8

C-56

+£8

C-57

+£8

C-58

+£8

C-59

+£8

C-60

+£8

C-61

C-62

C-63

C-64

C-65

C-66

C-67

C-68

C-69

+£4

C-70

C-71

C-72

+£4

C-73

C-74

C-75

C-76

C-77

C-78

C-79

C-80

C-81

C-82

C-83

C-84

Tatami UK at WABI SABI Furniture & Interior Design, England, UK t&f 44(0)1243 779239 or info@tatamiuk.co.uk