[Kyoto] A new standard for souvenirs! A long-established tatami maker with over 300 years of history spreads Japanese warmth with upcycled tatami coasters.
Genroku Tatami Co., Ltd., a Kyoto-based tatami maker with over 300 years of history, has launched upcycled tatami coasters made from waste materials generated during tatami production. This initiative, driven by concern over the decline of tatami culture and domestic igusa farmers, aims to introduce the charm of tatami to those without tatami rooms, promoting sustainable Japanese goods.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 09:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 13:27 (492h 26m after Collected)
Our company supports April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day for announcing dreams. This press release is the dream of "Genroku Tatami Co., Ltd."
Founded in the third year of Genroku (1690), Genroku Tatami raised its noren (traditional shop curtain) in front of Konkai Komyoji Temple (popularly known as Kurodani-san) in the Okazaki area of Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, where Heian Jingu Shrine is also located. From generation to generation, we have been involved in the construction of tatami for temples, shrines, inns, and tea rooms in the same location, preserving Kyoto's culture and tradition. With both the efficiency of machines and the craftsmanship that machines cannot replicate, Genroku Tatami offers high-quality tatami goods that only a long-established company, which has been doing careful work since tatami became popular among common people, can provide.
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Due to the spread of Western-style architecture, tatami has been decreasing year by year. The number of igusa farmers, who produce the raw material for tatami, has decreased from approximately 5,500 to about 200 (as of 2026), and 80% is imported from China. Facing the crisis that domestic tatami might disappear, we created tatami coasters using upcycled tatami materials with the desire to "let people know the goodness of tatami, even if they don't have tatami in their homes."
## Sustainable Tatami Products
While tatami is gradually becoming less common in daily life, we also want to spread awareness about it being a healthy and environmentally friendly material. Tatami has been used in Japan for about 1,300 years.
Tatami already appeared in Hyakunin Isshu and The Tale of Genji, demonstrating its continuous transmission through Japanese culture and history up to the present day. Tatami made from igusa has the characteristic of comfortably regulating humidity, making rooms cool in summer and warm in winter, which is suitable for Japan's climate. Furthermore, it purifies the air, is gentle on the body, and being a natural material, it returns to nature, making it environmentally friendly. With recent changes in architectural styles, tatami is continuously decreasing, leading to problems such as the decline in igusa farmers who produce tatami materials and a decrease in craftsmen for tatami-doko (the core part of tatami), in addition to the problem of materials becoming scarce.
In this modern era where the demand for tatami itself is decreasing, we started selling miscellaneous goods with the desire for people who don't have Japanese-style rooms at home to experience the fresh touch, scent, and warmth of tatami—a Japanese tradition—which differs from flooring, and to pass on this goodness to future generations. Even if times change, the goodness of tatami remains. Now that needs have changed, we believe that "tatami craftsmen should not only make tatami." As a long-established company, we flexibly adapt to new eras and will continue to innovate to convey our years of knowledge and skills to as many people as possible.
### Tatami Coasters
These are made by upcycling waste materials generated during tatami production. The tatami borders come in various types and change from time to time, so you can enjoy serendipitous encounters. The key point is that simply placing them down adds a Japanese atmosphere and modern stylishness. Depending on the season,
Founded in the third year of Genroku (1690), Genroku Tatami raised its noren (traditional shop curtain) in front of Konkai Komyoji Temple (popularly known as Kurodani-san) in the Okazaki area of Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, where Heian Jingu Shrine is also located. From generation to generation, we have been involved in the construction of tatami for temples, shrines, inns, and tea rooms in the same location, preserving Kyoto's culture and tradition. With both the efficiency of machines and the craftsmanship that machines cannot replicate, Genroku Tatami offers high-quality tatami goods that only a long-established company, which has been doing careful work since tatami became popular among common people, can provide.
***
Due to the spread of Western-style architecture, tatami has been decreasing year by year. The number of igusa farmers, who produce the raw material for tatami, has decreased from approximately 5,500 to about 200 (as of 2026), and 80% is imported from China. Facing the crisis that domestic tatami might disappear, we created tatami coasters using upcycled tatami materials with the desire to "let people know the goodness of tatami, even if they don't have tatami in their homes."
## Sustainable Tatami Products
While tatami is gradually becoming less common in daily life, we also want to spread awareness about it being a healthy and environmentally friendly material. Tatami has been used in Japan for about 1,300 years.
Tatami already appeared in Hyakunin Isshu and The Tale of Genji, demonstrating its continuous transmission through Japanese culture and history up to the present day. Tatami made from igusa has the characteristic of comfortably regulating humidity, making rooms cool in summer and warm in winter, which is suitable for Japan's climate. Furthermore, it purifies the air, is gentle on the body, and being a natural material, it returns to nature, making it environmentally friendly. With recent changes in architectural styles, tatami is continuously decreasing, leading to problems such as the decline in igusa farmers who produce tatami materials and a decrease in craftsmen for tatami-doko (the core part of tatami), in addition to the problem of materials becoming scarce.
In this modern era where the demand for tatami itself is decreasing, we started selling miscellaneous goods with the desire for people who don't have Japanese-style rooms at home to experience the fresh touch, scent, and warmth of tatami—a Japanese tradition—which differs from flooring, and to pass on this goodness to future generations. Even if times change, the goodness of tatami remains. Now that needs have changed, we believe that "tatami craftsmen should not only make tatami." As a long-established company, we flexibly adapt to new eras and will continue to innovate to convey our years of knowledge and skills to as many people as possible.
### Tatami Coasters
These are made by upcycling waste materials generated during tatami production. The tatami borders come in various types and change from time to time, so you can enjoy serendipitous encounters. The key point is that simply placing them down adds a Japanese atmosphere and modern stylishness. Depending on the season,