Traditional Japanese bedding, the futon is a very familiar part of Japanese life. Futons are flexible and comfortable, and can be folded into a small size, which is a major characteristic.
Purpose of Futon
Many people should have experienced falling asleep lying directly on the floor and then waking up to find themselves cold or in pain. Futons are meant to help you sleep comfortably. With elasticity, it distributes your weight and prevents your body from getting sore. It also has heat-retaining properties, so you can sleep warmly and comfortably.
Components of Futon
The basic structure is a bag made of sewn cloth and stuffed inside. Traditionally, the filling was mostly cotton, with other natural materials such as down and wool. Nowadays, synthetic materials such as polyester and polyurethane are also used. It may be stitched or quilted to prevent it from losing its shape as well.
In addition, to keep the futon clean, a cover that wraps the entire futon or a sheet that overlays the futon from above is generally used. Covers and sheets can be removed and washed frequently.
Shiki-buton (mattress):
It’s laid directly on the floor or tatami mats. It’s made with high density to support your weight while sleeping. The thickness of the shiki-buton is approximately 5-10 cm.
Kake-buton (coverlet):
It’s placed over the shiki-buton (mattress) to cover your body and keep you warm. It’s wide enough to wrap the roundness of your body. Low-density and lightweight items that contain a lot of air, such as blankets and duvets, are preferred.
Futon material
Futon materials can be broadly divided into traditional materials derived from nature and artificial materials made synthetically. There are newly developed materials that are a mixture of both as well.
Natural fibres
Cotton:
It’s traditional futon material, and it’s soft, breathable and comfortable to sleep on. Cotton duvets are easy to wash and keep clean.
Down:
Down of birds is lightweight and retains heat, making it ideal material for coverlets. Down is light because it’s important for birds to be light in order to fly. It’s said to cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis (allergic pneumonitis) in rare cases.
Feather:
The hard feathers with rachis in the centre are made from the same waterfowl material as down, but feathers are somewhat heavier.
Wool:
Wool is elastic and excellent at heat retention and wicking. It’s safe because flame retardant and prevents fire from spreading in the event of a fire. Wool is used as a material for blankets as well.
Chemical fibres
Polyester:
Synthetic polyester is durable and breathable. It’s suitable for allergy solutions such as mould and dust mites.
Polypropylene:
It has high strength and heat resistance. Suitable for allergy solutions such as mould and dust mites.
Polyurethane:
Also called urethane. It has high insulation and excellent resilience. Hardness, shape, density, resilience, etc. can be finely adjusted during manufacturing.
Types of Futon
Cotton futon
Futons made of cotton are the most traditional. Cotton is widely used in bedding because it’s soft, breathable and absorbs moisture.
Wool futon
Wool is hair obtained from sheep. It has a fibre structure that contains air and has excellent heat retention, making it especially suitable for cold seasons.
Down futon
If the down content is 50% or more, it’s down futon. It’s light, warm and often found in luxury coverlets.
Feather futon
If the feather content is 50% or more, it’s a feather futon.
Synthetic futon
Synthetic fibre futons are futons made of artificially synthesised fibres such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, polypropylene and polyurethane. They are durable and flexible, and tend to be reasonably priced.
Anti-allergy futon
They are futons made of materials that are less likely to cause allergic reactions, or futons that have been specially processed for anti-allergy. Hypoallergenic materials (low chance of causing allergies) include synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon, and natural fibres such as wool. Some futons come with a cover that prevents dust mites and mould from getting on the surface of the futon. In this way, they suppress dust mites and mould, which are allergens, using various methods. Although it’s not well known, some people can have allergic reactions to down.
You-buton
Mattresses and coverlets for beds are sometimes called you-buton (Western futon) without using foreign words.
Wa-buton
Futon is originally from Japan, but since there are many different types of futons available, they are sometimes referred to as wa-buton (Japanese futon) to emphasise their pure Japanese style.
Fusuma (衾)
Fusuma (衾), seen in classical literature, is a type of bedclothes often used during the Heian period (794-1185), etc. It’s called “fusuma” or “kin.” This is a rectangular piece of cloth, which we would call kake-buton (coverlet) today.
Atsu-busuma (厚衾 / 厚被)
A typical futon is made thinly, but atsu-busuma (厚衾 / 厚被) is a futon made thickly. Alternatively, futons layered to make them thick may be called atsu-busuma (厚衾 / 厚被) as well.
Kami-busuma (紙衾)
It’s called “kami-busuma” or “shikin”. In recent years, it’s also called kami-buton (紙布団). This is a bedclothes made from washi (Japanese paper). Sometimes it’s made into a bag and straw (straw stalks) or cotton is inserted between the sheets of paper to make it thicker. It’s durable and lightweight, making it convenient to carry. Also, because it was relatively inexpensive, it was easy for common people to obtain it. The washi used as the material is made from flexible and durable plant fibres and can be stored for over 1000 years if handled with care. Among washi, kamiko (紙子) is made even more durable and can be used not only for writing letters but also as cloth and garments.
Sizes of Futon
Even within Japan, the dimensions of futons differed by region such as Kansai and Kanto. However, towards the end of the 20th century, a nationwide distribution network was developed and regional differences became less apparent to increase convenience for consumers.
Traditionally, the width of tanmono, the fabric used for kimonos was around 37 cm, and mihaba (三巾) which is 3 pieces of fabric sewn together became the width for size single.
Additionally, as Japanese people’s physiques have gotten larger over time, the dimensions of futons have also become larger.
Some futon dimensions are common, but there are no set standards. They vary depending on manufacturers, and there are various sizes available depending on your needs. The Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) defines futon sizes as follows. You can see that the length is the same for coverlets and mattresses, but the width is wider for coverlets.
Futon sizes of the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS):
Kake-buton (coverlet)
For general use
S: 135 cm x 195 cm
M1: 150 cm x 195 cm
M2: 160 cm x 195 cm
L1: 150 cm x 210 cm
L2: 160 cm x 210 cm
SW: 170 cm x 210 cm
W: 180 cm x 210 cm
For children
B1: 88 cm x 120 cm
B2: 135 cm x 160 cm
For summer use
Su: 120 cm x 160 cm
Shiki-buton (mattress)
For general use
S: 90 cm x 195 cm
M: 100 cm x 195 cm
L: 100 cm x 210 cm
SW: 125 cm x 210 cm
W: 135 cm x 210 cm
For children
B1: 71 cm x 120 cm
B2: 88 cm x 160 cm
How to use Futon
Futons are laid directly on the floor or tatami mats when sleeping. You sleep by lying down with your body sandwiched between shiki-buton (mattress) and kake-buton (coverlet). Because it has a Japanese-style feel, it is often used in Japanese-style rooms and ryokan (Japanese-style inns).
Traditional Japanese houses have open, multi-purpose structures. Due to high humidity, it makes sense to move your futon frequently, as moisture will accumulate and mould will grow if it’s left on the floor. Sun drying is also done on sunny days. At that time, you sometimes use futon-basami (futon pin) to prevent it from falling off in the wind. Using a futon dryer is effective in removing dust mites as well.
Folded futons were placed on the floor or on tatami mats, but eventually they began to be stored in oshiire (closets). Therefore, oshiire (closets) in Japan are large enough to fit futons. The closet is also famous for being used as a bedroom by the manga character Doraemon. This means that there is enough space for a cat-type robot to sleep and get up.
Japan is humid and it’s easy for moisture to permeate through the floors and tatami mats, but you can avoid moisture by placing your futon in the middle or upper tier of the oshiire (closet).
Also, by storing things, you can make the room more spacious and give the impression of a tidy lounge when you have guests over.
You can say that a big advantage of futons is flexibility and can be folded and stored in oshiire (closets) etc. when not in use.
Futons are easy to store, and they may be placed in a futon compression bag to remove the air and reduce the bulk if they are not going to be used for a long period.
When carrying futons in bulk, large furoshiki or futon bags are used.
What is Furoshiki?
Roots of Futon
One of the primitive forms of futons was the kaimaki, which evolved from the kimono. In other words, it was not furniture, but clothing, so it’s no wonder that it was put away in the oshiire (closets) when not in use.
Another origin is a circular rug made of cattail (蒲). It’s the primitive form of more like today’s shiki-buton (mattress). The same word “futon” but it was written in kanji as “蒲団.” “団” has the meaning of “round” and “chunk.” Nowadays, it’s written as “布団” because cloth (布) is used as the material.
Beddings are thought to have been around since the beginning of humankind, but futons have only evolved into their current form relatively recently.
During the Nara period (710-794), when tatami mats took on their current form, people of high status, such as aristocrats and monks, slept directly on tatami mats with their kimonos over them.
It was common for common people, such as farmers, to lay out a mushiro and cover with straw or kami-busuma (Japanese paper bedding).
Rather than appropriating clothing, square coverlets began to be used at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868), around the 19th century.
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), futons made of cotton appeared as well.
Bed in Japan
Bed was introduced from ancient China, and although there is evidence that it was used by some members of the upper class, it didn’t become common throughout Japan.
Traditional society background of Japan, where beds didn’t become common
Different interpretations of Futon
The word “Futon” is used outside Japan as well, but this is different from the Japanese futon, and can refer to a sofa bed, futon-like bed, or even a futon-like mattress. In other words, there are differences in what people imagine in Japan and outside Japan even though the word “futon” is the same.
Westernisation of Futon
It combines elements of Western bedding while incorporating the style, function and design of traditional Japanese futon. Some are used on bed frames rather than tatami mats, and some use Western-style sheets and duvet covers. Some futons were developed outside of Japan as they were introduced outside of Japan, while others were created in Japan as the Japanese lifestyle became more Westernised. This is the so-called fusion of Japanese and Western ideas that has become popular since the advent of civilisation and enlightenment.
Futon-like products became popular in North America in the 1980s. It was not a Japanese futon, but a low sofa bed. Japanese futons are laid out on the floor or tatami mats, so they are close in height. Also, futons are characterised by being foldable, and sofa beds can be flat and used as a bed, or the backrest can be raised to make a sofa, so they have some foldability. However, even if you bring “futon” of the Western term to Japan, few people will recognise it as a futon.
In fact, there is a thing similar to futon in bed culture. It’s a mattress topper. As the name suggests, it’s thin bedding that is placed on top of the mattress. However, it probably won’t fundamentally change your sleeping style to rest on the bed.
What is the difference between Futon and Bed? Comparison of Japanese and Western beddings
What is Zabuton? A small and thin but deep-seated symbol of Japan
What is Tatami? Craftsmanship that breathes to this day
What is Mushiro? Rug passed down from time immemorial
What is Kaimaki? The origin of Japanese bedding culture
Author: Takuya Nagata. Amazon Profile
Follow @nagatackleA novel writer and creator. Graduated from UCA, the UK’s university. Discussed Japanese minimalism in the senior thesis. Founder of “MINIRISM” (minirism), the art movement that contributes to the development of societies, such as ecology and lifestyle. Later opened the knowledge hub “The Minimalist.”
Once travelled to Brazil and trained football at CFZ do Rio (Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva) in Rio de Janeiro. Played soccer for the Urawa Reds (Urawa Red Diamonds), one of the biggest football clubs in Japan, and toured Europe. Retired at a young age and voyaged alone to England. Established careers as a journalist, football coach, consultant, etc. across Europe such as Spain. The founder of “Propulsive Football” (PROBALL), the world’s first-ever competitive mixed football, facilitating diversity and spirit for equal participation in society.
Knowledgeable in creative and technology fields as well. Launched the SPACE Culture & Entertainment hub “The Space-Timer 0.”
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