About IKEHIKO
About Us
We were founded in 1886 by Ikegami Hikotaro (池上彦太郎) in Fukuoka, Japan. We started off as a small tatami shop, and has grown into a full-fledged interior product company with a staff of over 360. We now have branch offices all over the country including Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo. We have Shanghai IKEHIKO as an affiliating company mainly handling the construction and furnishing of Japanese-style room "Washitsu" in China.
We design and sell all kinds of Igusa products, as well as warm "Kotatsu" futons for the winter.
Our main clients in Japan consist of more than 300 companies including
AEON Co., Ltd.,
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.,
SHIMAMURA Co., Ltd.,
and MUJI (Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.)
History of Tatami
Sit down and meditate with us for a moment of zen.
Tatami are first made in the 1500s by weaving igusa (a rush). Unique to Japan, these mats were created with Japanese wisdom. They have been used for centuries throughout the country.
- A.C. 700~ Simple "Igusa" mats were first made
- A.C. 710~ The mats were first used as a floor covering.
- A.C. 800~ The mats were first made and used as a floor cushion or bedding.
- A.C. 1200~ The custom of covering all room with tatami mats was established.
- A.C. 1600~ Tatami mats became essential to shoguns, daimyos and other samurais.
- A.C. 1700~ Tatami mats became popoular among the general public.
- A.C. 1950~The Japanese lifestyle became westernized. People started to sit on chairs instead of on the floors. Hardwood floor room appeared, although most rooms were still covered with tatami mats.
- A.C. 1990~ Hardwood floors continued to increase, gradually driving out tatami rooms. Meanwhile, rugs and carpets made of Igusa started to gain popularity.
- A.C. 2000~ Due to changes in house designs and consumer perceptions, traditional Japanese style rooms continue to decrease, hence tatami production has begun to shrink.
Experience "Wa"
Sit down and meditate with us for a moment of zen.