In support of Japanese artisans. Vol.3 – My Dad is a Grass Craftsman

A story of a tatami maker, beginning with the question, “What does tatami smell like?”

Tatami is a form of flooring that originated in Japan.

In the past, it was a soft mat laid on top of a wooden floor.

Why is it soft?

What materials is it made of?

Eventually, to allow people to relax, the thickness of the straw created a gentle elasticity, and it evolved into the tatami we know today.

In the latter half of the Edo period, as tatami became widely used, tatami craftsmen emerged, and tatami shops were commonplace in every town.

However, nowadays, tatami rooms are gradually decreasing in homes, and the number of children who have never touched tatami is increasing.

That feeling of comfort when you lie down on a tatami on a summer day.

That comforting scent.

This picture book depicts the life of a craftsman who makes tatami and a moment shared by a parent and child.

Tatami is carefully woven by hand using straw and rush grass grown in nature.

Tatami makers are “craftsmen of grass.”

They are bearers of craftsmanship, living in harmony with nature.

It’s an important job that has been closely intertwined with the Japanese climate and culture.

This book gently teaches us about that.

After reading it, you’ll want to lie down on a tatami mat.

And you’ll want to talk a little with your child about why it feels so comfortable.

This is a book that will add another conversation between parents and children after you finish reading it.

We created this book with the hope that many people from other countries will learn about the charm of Japanese tatami mats.