If you want to feel " traditional Japanese" even with flooring, this is a must see! Oki Tatami is an item that allows you to feel igusa more easily than tatami. While tatami made of igusa gives you a sense of Japanese tradition, it is also thinner than regular tatami, so it can be easily matched with western style rooms. This article introduces such oki Tatami. See the list of Tatami mats and tatami mat units at Igusayasan kotatsuyasan.
What is Oki Tatami?
Oki Tatami is a thin tatami mat placed on flooring, also known as "unit tatami" or "system tatami. The difference from tatami is that it can easily be used in a Western room instead of a Japanese-style room. Thick tatami help create a full-fledged Japanese-style room. Thin tatami, on the other hand, can easily achieve a casual Japanese-style room. And thin ones are designed to match Western rooms.
Function of Oki Tatami
Let's look at the role of oki Tatami.
Easy to create a " traditional Japanese" space.
Igusa is a material that purifies the air in a room. The interior of Igusa has a sponge structure that absorbs formaldehyde and carbon dioxide. This purifies the air inside the room, allowing you to live comfortably.
It can divide a large room without a door.
Igusa absorbs moisture about 2.5 times more than cotton. When humidity is high, it reduces the feeling of dampness, and when humidity is low, it relieves dryness, making it possible to maintain comfortable humidity.
Characteristics of Oki Tatami
The following is an explanation of the characteristics of oki Tatami.
Lightness
Oki Tatami is very light compared to tatami. While a single tatami weighs about 30 kg, an oki Tatami weighs only about 3 kg. It can be easily carried by a woman alone. Also, since it is smaller than tatami, it is relatively easy to store.
Igusa's unique smell and color
The smell of rush grass is calming. Research has also shown that the naturally occurring color of rush grass improves concentration.
Antibacterial and deodorizing effects
This is a benefit of rush grass. The antibacterial and deodorizing effects of rush grass are so strong that deodorizing agents are sold. There are many odor-causing bacteria, especially on the feet. Igusa helps absorb the chemicals that cause them, keeping you clean.
High Cushioning
Since oki Tatami is thinner than regular Tatami, it is often thought to have difficulty in cushioning. However, many of them have cushioning material sandwiched inside. This prevents serious injury in the event of a fall.
The above are all good features of oki Tatami. However, they are not all good points. Some items fade in color just like tatami. You need to be especially careful about direct sunlight. Also, you need to be careful about mold. For more details, please refer to the following page.
Types of Oki Tatami
Oki Tatami can be roughly divided into two types, depending on whether they have edges or not. Let's take a closer look at each.
Type with edges
Edges have the role of making tatami sturdy. The edges of tatami prevent the heri from fraying. The edges are the place where the tatami is designed to be used for a long time. In addition to the functional aspect, it also has a great influence on the design aspect. If you choose impressive Tatami mat edges, they can be used as accents.
Edgeless type
The most famous edgeless type is called Ryukyu Tatami. However, not all edgeless tatami are Ryukyu tatami. These tatamis have a different fashionable style from the edged type. Especially in recent years, more and more people are choosing edge-less tatami for interior decoration. However, since there is no tatami edge to protect tatami, tatami is more vulnerable to damage. In particular, waviness tends to occur around the edges.
Differences from Tatami
Thin and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Tatami in a Japanese-style room is difficult to remove and live with, but with oki Tatami, it can be easily removed. In other words, if you don't like it, you can quickly return it from Japanese to Western space. In addition, most oki Tatami are square and smaller than tatami. Therefore, you can decide in detail which area will be used as a traditional Japanese room.
Types and Characteristics of Production Places
Most oki Tatami sold in Japan are made of imported rush grass. Most of them are imported from China. The next largest imports are from South Korea and Taiwan. More than 80% of the rushes grown in Japan come from Kyushu. Cultivation is particularly active in Kumamoto Prefecture. In recent years, rushes have also been cultivated in Okinawa. There are differences in the characteristics of rushes depending on where they are grown. The characteristics of rushes produced in China and Kyushu are described below. respectively.
Kyushu rush
Rushes produced in Kyushu are harvested after they have fully grown, so they are highly durable. It is characterized by its durability due to the slow drying process. It is firm and comfortable to step on. Because of the labor involved, the price is higher than that of Chinese rush grass.
Chinese rush
Chinese rush grass is unevenly finished because the thickness of the fibers varies. It has the disadvantage of many cavities in the fibers and deteriorates quickly. The price is lower than that of domestic products.
Recommendation for people like this!
Oki Tatami is recommended for those who want to have a sitting space in a Western-style room. It can be used as a place to relax during teatime, or as a place to do housework such as ironing. Since it can be used for various purposes, there is no need to worry about having oki Tatami.
Points to keep in mind when using oki Tatami
When using oki Tatami, as with regular Tatami, be careful to avoid the growth of mold and mites. It is recommended to dry it in the shade once a week to let moisture escape. It is very important to let moisture escape and to improve air permeability to prevent mold. Also, in the unlikely event that mold does develop, there is no need to discard it immediately. After removing mold by wiping dry, dry the oki Tatami in a well-ventilated place in the shade. By removing moisture and mold, the tatami can be used again. Also, be careful about direct sunlight. Like tatami, the color will fade and turn yellowish brown.
Conclusion
Oki Tatami is popular because it is easy to create a " traditional Japanese " space in a Western room. You can divide a room without a door and create a place to do housework and a place to rest. By using oki Tatami, you can bring diversity to a room. And it is easier to carry than tatami. It is possible to renovate a room easily. Also, be careful with oki Tatami in terms of humidity and direct sunlight. You can continue to use it for a long time with high quality. Use oki Tatami and enjoy the good tradition of Japan even if you do not have a traditional Japanese room in your house.