Tatami Mats, Japanese Floor Mats

Tatami mats are made from woven rush which is a kind of grass or reed. Tatami mats are about 1 meter by 2 metres and are two inches thick. The woven rush is called "igusa" in japanese and has some particular characteristics making tatami mats on the whole better suited to the demands of homes and living than carpets.

Firstly, igusa cleanses the air in the room by absorbing harmful carbon dioxide. It can also draw in excess humidity, or expel humidity in dry weather. Woven igusa repels pests such as ticks and mites. Finally, the igusa retains heat in the winter and coolness in the summer.

Tatami mats are usually used to measure the dimensions of japanese rooms and have become the standard measurement of japanese interior architecture, thus not square feet is spoken of but that the room is so many tatami mats in size.

Japan has a quite floor focused culture, so many of life's most important social rituals take place on floors thus making tatami mats of particular significance. It is very important in traditional Japanese culture, for example, not to step on the mats with one's shoes on. Additionally one is not supposed to talk whilst standing on tatami mats, conversation being restricted to when sitting or kneeling. Eating on tatami mats, however, is acceptable.