In the U.S., sleeping on the floor is usually a last resort, but in Japan, it's a centuries-old tradition that has now made its way over to the West. Tatami mats are used instead of a bed frame ...

Most tatami mats are a natural golden color, but those made by Mitsuru Yokoyama may be jade green, pink or even black. Tatami color swatches by the master maker Mitsuru Yokoyama. With its fragrant ...

For three generations, the Morita family has been wrapping, stitching and trimming modular blocks of woven grass, known as tatami, in Tokyo's old downtown. But now, beset by cheap knockoffs and ...

Mary Petterson used to wake up feeling like she was 80 years old. Every morning, starting when she was only in her early 40s, she was tired, sweaty and sore, and had pain in her hips shooting down to ...

The tatami room, better known as 和室 (washitsu, “Japanese-style room”), is a space that features tatami mats as its main flooring element. Tatami mats are made from woven straw with a rice straw core ...

KYOTO--With demand for tatami plunging in Japan, a specialized trading firm here is eyeing a potential market of 2 billion people for the traditional mats. The company is selling tatami mats that ...