Tatami

*First broadcast on October 28, 2021.
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.

Koshima Yusuke is a prominent young Japanese architect
This cushion is made of igusa (soft rush), the material used for tatami mat covers
When laying out tatami mats, it's important to consider the direction of the weave

Transcript