The origin of the futon mattress is very interesting. The Japanese have a rich heritage and culture, and it is most common for them to sleep on a futon mattress laid on the floor, although many Japanese today sleep in beds. The western lifestyle calls the small couch that turns into a bed futon, but it is much different than the traditional Japanese futon. The futon mattress in Japan is made up of three traditional components, kakebuton (comforters), shikibuton (under futon), and the pillow, which is called the makura. Wrapped in shikifu (sheets), the shikibuton is stuffed with cotton batting. They use different types of futons depending on the season, with heavier ones in the winter and light ones in the summer. The light futon mattress is made from down feathers and is very comfortable, but also the most expensive. The kakebuton cover goes over the kakebuton, more commonly named futon cover in North America. A traditional Japanese pillow is filled with buckwheat chaff and red beans and is called the makura. They store their bed during the day in a closet called the oshiire, that is divided into two shelves and usually has sliding doors. Because Japanese homes are small, they usually keep the futon mattress on the upper shelf in the oshiire closet as the room is usually used for dual purposes. The Japanese are masters at living in small spaces. When the futon is stored during the day, the room can be used as a guest room or workroom. They air their futon cover and futon often and usually place them in the direct sun to keep them dry and fresh. If left on the floor too long or in the closet too long, it could be ruined. A product that is commonly used in Japan to dry futons is referred to as a futon kansouki. It is placed between the Kakebuton and the shikibuton while it is spread out on the floor. When the futon mattress is aired regularly it helps you sleep well. The Japanese also claim that sleeping on the floor is better for the back than sleeping on a soft bed. In Japan, people who have back problems, most commonly sleep on the floor. |
