About the Author

Yusuke Higuchi

Nationally Certified First-Class Tatami Master Owner of Higuchi Tatami Shop, Tokyo

Yusuke Higuchi is a premier tatami craftsman based in Tokyo, Japan, dedicated to delivering authentic Japanese comfort to homes worldwide. He perfected his craft in Kyoto under the tutelage of a "Contemporary Master Craftsman" (Medal with Yellow Ribbon recipient), mastering the millimeter-level precision required for temples and high-end tea rooms.

• 🏆 Award: Winner of the Kyoto Tatami Competition (Governor’s Award)
• 📜 Certification: National Level 1 Tatami Craftsmanship (The highest in Japan)
• 🌎 Global Service: Specializing in custom-made tatami mats for international shipping.

Hello everyone,
This is Yusuke Higuchi from Higuchi Tatami Shop.

When people hear the word “tatami,” most imagine a traditional Japanese floor covering used in washitsu (Japanese-style rooms).

To be honest, before I became a tatami craftsman, I thought the same way.

But after training in Kyoto and spending years working with tatami every day, I began to feel something very different:

👉 Tatami is not simply a building material.

To me, tatami is a form of Japanese craftsmanship.

Tatami Shops Are Not Classified as Construction Businesses

Many people are surprised to learn this, but in Japan, tatami shops are not officially categorized as part of the construction industry.

Instead, they belong to the world of:

👉 Traditional crafts.

In other words, tatami is not merely “flooring.”

It is considered a cultural craft shaped by history, technique, and human hands.

This realization completely changed how I viewed my own work.

Originally, Tatami Was Not Flooring

Today, most people think of tatami as something permanently installed across the floor of a Japanese room.

But historically, tatami was very different.

Early tatami was used more like:

• cushions
• portable seating
• bedding
• ceremonial seating for nobility

In other words:

👉 Tatami was originally movable and personal.

Only later, with the development of Shoin-zukuri architecture and tea ceremony culture, did tatami become widely used as flooring throughout entire rooms.

Understanding this history changed the way I think about tatami today.

I Am Fascinated by the “Original Form” of Tatami

During my apprenticeship in Kyoto, I had many opportunities to study old Japanese architecture, tea rooms, and traditional tatami culture.

What I realized was this:

👉 Tatami used to be far more flexible and deeply connected to everyday life.

Modern people often see tatami as something limited to traditional Japanese rooms.

But historically, tatami existed to:

• support the body
• create comfort
• calm the mind
• shape living spaces

Tatami was never just “flooring.”

It was part of how Japanese people lived.

That is why I want to expand the idea of tatami as a craft—not only as a construction material.

My Folding Tatami Mattress Is a Return to Tatami’s Origins

The folding tatami mattress and tatami beds I create are not simply products.

For me, they represent:

👉 A return to tatami’s origins.

Historically, tatami was portable, flexible, and deeply connected to rest and daily life.

I wanted to recreate those qualities for modern living.

That is why I developed tatami products that can be:

• folded
• moved
• stored
• used as bedding

while still preserving traditional craftsmanship and materials.

Tatami Borders Carry Japanese Culture

Even tatami borders (tatami-beri) have cultural meaning.

In old Japan, certain patterns could only be used by people of specific social classes.

Tatami borders were not simply decorative.

They represented status, aesthetics, and cultural identity.

That is why I continue to use traditional tatami borders in many of my works.

I believe they carry part of Japan’s cultural memory.

Tatami Has a Future Beyond Traditional Japanese Rooms

Recently, styles such as:

• Japandi
• Japanese Minimalism
• Floor Living

have become increasingly popular around the world.

I believe tatami has enormous potential in modern interiors—not only in Japan, but globally.

Tatami can work beautifully in:

• minimalist interiors
• bedrooms
• meditation spaces
• yoga studios
• modern apartments
• overseas homes

Tatami is not outdated.

In fact:

👉 Modern lifestyles may need tatami more than ever.

Tatami Is Handmade Craftsmanship

Machines can help produce tatami.

But truly beautiful tatami still depends on human skill.

A craftsman must understand:

• measurement
• tension
• structure
• alignment
• balance
• materials

Even details invisible to customers affect durability and beauty over time.

That is why I see tatami as craftsmanship rather than mass-produced flooring.

Final Thoughts

I do not see tatami as merely a construction material.

To me, tatami is:

👉 A craft that shapes human living.

It carries:

• history
• culture
• technique
• material knowledge
• Japanese aesthetics

Through my work, I hope to preserve traditional tatami craftsmanship while also creating new ways for people around the world to experience tatami in modern life.