Japanology Plus
Season 8 Episode 22 - Tatami
Tatami mats are a quintessentially Japanese flooring material. They're made of rice straw, covered in woven soft rush. This gives them just the right amount of give, and a fresh natural fragrance. Tatami rooms are used for eating, sleeping and relaxing. They're also important for the tea ceremony and martial arts. Our guest is Koshima Yusuke, one of Japan's leading young architects. He talks about the positive qualities of tatami, and discusses potential new uses in the modern era.
Episodes in Season 8
Moss
28 min
Libraries
28 min
Japanophiles: Sheila Cliffe
28 min
Ukiyo-e
28 min
Japanophiles: Richard Halberstadt
28 min
Cleaning Tools
28 min
Lacquerware
28 min
Suits
28 min
Emergency Goods
28 min
Japanophiles: Chad Mullane
28 min
Furoshiki: Wrapping Cloths
28 min
Japan vs. Epidemics, Part 2: Modern History
28 min
Tiny Houses
28 min
Watches & Clocks
28 min
Plastic Food Samples
28 min
Japanophiles: Asa Ekstrom
28 min
Cats and Japan
28 min
Personal Robots
28 min
Scissors
28 min
Japanophiles: Marty Friedman
28 min
Luck
28 min
Tatami
28 min
Chests & Cabinets
28 min
Japanophiles: Nicholas Rennick
28 min
Bamboo
28 min
Ainu: A National Museum of Ainu Culture
28 min
Ainu: A New Generation
28 min