Tatami is a mat used in traditional Japanese-style flooring. In recent years, its use has been on the decline.

When the front of the tatami is new, it has a truly pleasant smell.

We often call this smell a type of forest therapy.

It helps to calm the spirit.

However, this might just be an old-fashioned sentiment of us Japanese.

It is said that tatami has been used since the Momoyama period (1583-1600) in Japan.

It was developed from straw matting made from dry rice stalks.

Previously, tatami was made with hardened straw from rice stalks inside.

The new tatami used these days is made with hardened wooden planks and insulation boards inside.

I advertise through the newspaper and online postings.

Also, during the Obu City Industrial Culture Festival, I open my shop and introduce people to tatatmi to raise awareness.

Houses in Japan have gradually become more westernized and the number of Japanese-style rooms has decreased.

Recently the volume of orders has decreased tremendously.

Also, the cover of the tatami can be replaced and the insides re-used so now they aren't simply thrown away once they are worn down.

Compared to previous times, the number of tatami, themselves, has decreased dramatically.

And accordingly, the volume and number of orders have decreased as well.

If you want to work with tatami, it would take at least 2 to 3 years of training.

However, if you want to do it as a profession, it would take 5 years at minimum.

How many tatami can you produce a day?

At my store, if the two of us really push it, we can make... 30 tatami mats.

Compared to my father's time, the making of tatami has become relatively easy.

How many generations has this store been in your family?

I am the fourth generation.

The pleasure of lying down on tatami is something we Japanese can't express in words.