In
Japan,
traditionally, people slept on
futons at night.
Japanese futons vary greatly from
American futons, despite sharing the same name.
The Japanese futons consist of three parts: the
shikibuton, a sort of foldable
mattress, the
kakebuton, or comforter, and the
makura, a pillow usually filled with
red beans or
buckwheat chaff.
One reason for the use of
futons over
beds in
Japan is conservation of space. Each morning you fold up your futon and store it in a closet (
oshiire). This allows a
bedroom to be used during the day without a bed taking up
floor space.
Many people claim Japanese futons are more comfortable than beds, contrary to the American futons which are notoriously uncomfortable. In Japan the futon is usually placed on top of the
tatami mats (straw mats covering most floors in japan). This adds an extra layer of
comfort. Having the hard floor below, instead of loose
springs, is said to be very good for people with
back problems.
Another benefit to futons in Japan is that they are easily hung from
balconies and
windows to
air out. Japan is extremely
humid, which means
mildew and
germs can spread easily without the proper precautions.
Imagine trying to hang your
queen-sized
mattress out the window to
dry out. Ha!
I am a
college student with back problems and not much living space. After all this research, Japanese futons are looking very appealing.