Not long ago, tatami (thick mats made of a core of rice straw and a covering of woven soft-rush, called igusa) were the flooring material of choice for any room except the kitchen in a Japanese house ...

Japanese architecture is made up of four types of ... types of kawara in Japan and each type serves a distinct purpose. Tatami mats, traditionally made of rice straw covered with woven soft ...

An American fan of Japanese architecture is stepping in to preserve ... Modern touches include heated wooden floors added to delicate tatami mat rooms, and raised ceilings and doors.

For a new cross-cultural collaboration, French designer José Lévy has taken traditional rice straw tatami and created a new selection of furniture for Japanese manufacturers ... An Opinionated Guide ...

“Guests are soothed by the fragrance of the tatami from the moment they enter their room.” There are few things more quintessentially Japanese than tatami. With a springy yet firm texture that ...

“Every time I stepped inside, I was in awe of their tatami room and furniture. It was so unique to me, especially since my family is Armenian.” Altounian and her Japanese friends at school ...