A futon is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese
bed. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya, and are also
available at department stores.
Japanese futons are flat, about 5 cm (2 in) thick with a fabric exterior stuffed
with cotton or synthetic batting. They are often sold in sets which include the
futon mattress (shikibuton), a comforter (kakebuton) or blanket (mofu), a summer
blanket resembling a large towel, and pillow (makura), generally filled with
beans, buckwheat chaff or plastic beads. Such sets can be purchased for under
10,000 yen.
Futons are designed to be placed on tatami flooring, and are traditionally
folded away and stored in a closet during the day to allow the tatami to breathe
and to allow for flexibility in the use of the room. Futons must be aired in
sunlight regularly, especially if not put away during the day. In addition, many
Japanese people beat their futons regularly using a special tool, traditionally
made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet beater.
Western futons are different from
Japanese futons in several ways. They are usually filled with foam as well as
batting, often in several layers, and are almost always much thicker and larger
than Japanese futons, resembling a traditional mattress in size. They are
usually placed on a configurable frame for dual use as a bed and a couch, but
are not intended to be stored away during the day. Western-style futons are a
cheap alternative to a bed or other furniture, and are often sold in sets that
include the mattress and frame. Most Japanese people would not recognize a
Western-style "futon" as a futon.
There is, however, a growing market in Japan for high quality bedding made in
the Western style. While still not traditional futons, they lack the springs and
synthetic casings of traditional mattresses and tend to be constructed primarily
out of cotton. Additionally, these alternative futons tend to be hand-made.
Quite often these futons are marketed as "earth friendly," especially since they
do not contain the chemicals with which some conventional bedding is
manufactured.
In Japanese, a zabuton (za, sitting + futon) is a cushion for sitting on.
Zabuton are often used for sitting on tatami floors.
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