Thinking About the 'Future of Japanese Spaces' Ahead of Tatami Day: Kyushu Tatami Summit Where Production Areas, Lifestyles, and Culture Intersect, Alongside the 'Igusa Marche' Connecting Production and Living

The Kyushu Tatami Summit Executive Committee (Executive Committee Chair: Kosei Inokuchi, CEO of Ikehiko Corporation) will hold the '4th Kyushu Tatami Summit' in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Ahead of "Tatami Day" on April 29th, with the planting area of igusa (rush grass) decreasing to less than 1/30th of its peak over the last 30 years, the role that tatami and traditional Japanese rooms will play in future lifestyles is once again being questioned. At this summit, various perspectives such as production areas, lifestyles, and culture will intersect to discuss the theme "The Future Where Japanese Spaces Live On." Simultaneously, a market (Marche) open to the general public will be held to create new touchpoints connecting the production areas with everyday life. It is an experiential market where visitors can touch igusa, smell its fragrance, and find opportunities to incorporate it into their daily lives. Admission to the "Igusa Marche" is free. Igusa Marche: https://tatami-summit.jp/marche/

Official Website

"Kyushu Tatami Summit": Where Production Areas, Lifestyles, and Culture Intersect The Kyushu Tatami Summit has been held as a place where people from various standpoints—including igusa farmers, tatami shops, architecture, government, and cultural figures—gather to think about the value and future possibilities of tatami and igusa. For this 4th event, by broadcasting from Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture—one of Japan's leading igusa production areas—we aim to widely share the current situation and potential of the production area, reconnect the perspectives from creators to users, and rethink how Japanese spaces should exist in future lifestyles.

Click here to register for the summit: https://tatami-summit.jp/entry/

3rd Kyushu Tatami Summit

Holding a Marche Connecting Production Areas and Lifestyles Simultaneously On the day of the event, a Marche featuring 8 businesses related to igusa and tatami will be held simultaneously. From traditional products to new creations, we provide a place where visitors can actually see, touch, and experience them, creating an opportunity to feel close to traditional Japanese materials.

[Planned Exhibitors] Sasho Co., Ltd. Sasaki Tatami Shop Ryukyuya (Tatami Kobo Fukushima Co., Ltd.) Inowa Faden108 (Kimura Seikeijo) Inada Limited Company, Igusa Rope Workshop, Inoue Sangyo Kyushu Pancake Igusa-yasan (Ikehiko Corporation) *The details of the exhibitors are subject to change without notice.

Igusa Marche

Opening Up the Value of Japanese Spaces as an "Experience" Japanese rooms, symbolized by shoji screens allowing light to filter through and the soft touch of tatami, are spaces that have supported relaxation and family time in Japanese life. Through this summit, in addition to lectures and discussions, experiential planning will share its value not just as knowledge but as a physical sensation, proposing new ways to engage with it in future lifestyles.

Event Overview Name: 4th Kyushu Tatami Summit Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026 Time: [Marche] 10:00 - 13:00 [Summit] 13:00 - 17:30 [Networking Event] 18:00 - 19:30 Venue: L'celmo Yatsushiro (1976 Nishikatamachi, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture 866-0811) / Online streaming available Organizer: Kyushu Tatami Summit Executive Committee Cooperation: ONE KYUSHU Summit Support: Kumamoto Prefecture, Yatsushiro City, Yatsushiro Regional Agricultural Cooperative, Kumamoto Uki Agricultural Cooperative, Kumamoto Prefecture Igusa Cooperative, Kumamoto Prefecture Igusa Production and Sales Promotion Association, Kumamoto Prefecture Igusa/Tatami Omote Activation Liaison Council, Fukuoka Prefecture Igusa Products Commerce and Industry Cooperative, Fukuoka Hanagoza Section, Fukuoka Prefecture Wholesale Section Target Audience: Igusa farmers, tatami-related businesses, architecture-related parties, research institutions, distribution/retail, government, general public Capacity: Planned capacity of 250 people (first-come, first-served) Participation Fee: Summit only 3,000 yen, Summit + Networking Event 8,000 yen *Admission to the Marche is free

Register here: https://tatami-summit.jp/entry/

Media Coverage Information This summit will be an opportunity to capture changes in regional industries and lifestyles as an initiative where production areas, lifestyles, and culture intersect. We welcome media professionals to cover the event. If you wish to cover the event, please contact us in advance. If you wish to cover the event, please contact the following in advance.

[Inquiries Regarding This Matter] Ikehiko Corporation PR Contact: Abe TEL: 0944-75-8611 Email: press@ikehiko.co.jp Official Website: https://www.ikehiko.net/

To a place to rediscover the charm of igusa and think together about the next step in tatami culture. We sincerely look forward to the participation of not only industry professionals but also anyone interested in igusa and tatami.

Kyushu Tatami Summit Official Website

About Ikehiko Corporation Ikehiko Corporation, an interior manufacturer headquartered in Oki Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, is an in... founded in 1886 (Meiji 19)