Miyazaki Tatami Shop: Factory Tour and Tatami Making Experience with Craftsman Satoshi Miyazaki

Hi everyone, this is Love Saitama Ambassador Jess. The other day I visited a tatami craftsman in the town of Yoshimi and got to try making tatami for myself. This was my first time to visit a tatami craftsperson, and I was quite excited!

Miyazaki Tatami Shop has been running since 1965. Originally started by his father, the business is now run by Satoshi Miyazaki, a Tatami Meister or Master Craftsman. Miyazaki-san is passionate about tatami and its benefits. The Miyazaki Tatami Shop is about 1 hour by train from central Tokyo. Yoshimi is well known for the One Hundred Caves of Yoshimi and its delicious strawberries (links at the bottom of this article).

About tatami

Tatami is a traditional Japanese flooring made from rush and rice straw. It is made up of three main pieces as follows:

Tatami-doko; the core. Traditionally made from rice straw, modern tatami has an inner of compressed wood chips or styrene form.

Tatami-omote; the surface. Fine textured dried rush woven together with hemp or cotton yarn.

Tatami-beri; the edge. Cloth is wrapped around the ends of the tatami mat to hide the woven area.

As a kyudo or Japanese archery practitioner, tatami is something that I often sit on. I love the color and smell of tatami, and the cool feel on my skin in summer. Traditional Japanese house building techniques using paper and wood are also fascinating to me. Researching these areas has lead to learning about tatami too. It really surprised me to discover what an ecological and active functioning type of flooring it is!

Experience at Miyazaki Tatami Shop

The experience flowed as follows:

• Greetings and explanation
• Factory and machine tour
• Tatami History
• Stitching experience
• Tatami making experience

The factory tour was very fascinating as Miyazaki san explained and demonstrated each piece of equipment used in the finishing process for tatami.

The needle used in the sewing machines is very long and eye catching!

While introducing the machines, Miyazaki-san also discussed the history of tatami and how the core has changed over the years from rice straw to polystyrene, and how this has made the overall weight of tatami lighter.

Next I was shown the traditional hand sewing method of making tatami and also got to try my hand at sewing.

There is a special leather pad called a teate that I put on my hand to protect it while pushing the very long needle called a sashibari.

Sewing tatami was a very interesting feeling. The depth and angle are important and must be consistent. I can’t imagine how time consuming and physically demanding this job must have been!

Next we moved to the small tatami mat making! Using a staple gun, little by little I made my own tatami mat to take home. Miyazaki-san guided me through each step.

Choosing the heri pattern was very fun, as there are so many to choose from! Each pattern has a specific meaning.

I chose dragonflies, which are well-known in the martial arts world as the kachimushi, or winning insect, as they only fly forward. The red and white patterns were a beautiful contrast with the soft green igusa/rush cover.

Lastly we had question and answer time and Miyazaki-san gave wonderful insights into the world of the tatami craftsperson. I was really excited to hear about several nationwide tatami competitions which bring craftspeople together from all over Japan. The competition is a way to showcase their skills and keep the tradition alive for future generations.

The whole tatami factory tour and tatami making experience is about 1.5 hours long and is a great way to get a glimpse at the world of the traditional craftsperson. Miyazaki-san is kind and passionate about his profession and will gladly answer any questions you have. He is comfortable with photos and videos too.

This was an enjoyable and insightful experience for me. I hope you will have the chance to visit Miyazaki-san too soon.

Tatami Experience Information:

Miyazaki Tatami Shop

Factory tour and tatami making experience with Satoshi Miyazaki, Tatami Meister.

Prices

Small tatami: 1,000yen
Zen: 7,000yen
Max: 12,000yen

*Children from 4 or 5 years on up are welcome.

Location

Miyazaki Tatami Shop

386 Jitoho, Yoshimi Machi, Saitama Prefecture

Nearest stations

Konosu, Kumagaya and Higashi Matsuyama

Google map link

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FdAzv2EqZ4skAAHS7

Address in Japanese

宮崎畳店 〒3550104

埼玉県比企郡吉見町地頭方386

Price, booking and contact information

*Please email to make a tour or experience booking.

Website https://miyazakitatami.jimdofree.com/

Email xsd12000@yahoo.co.jp

Phone 0493-54-0358

Other things to see in Yoshimi:

Yoshimi Hundred Caves

https://en.chocotabi-saitama.jp/spot/34599

https://www.town.yoshimi.saitama.jp/soshiki/shogaigakushuk/7/909.html

Roadside Station: Ichigo-no-Sato – Yoshimi

https://en.chocotabi-saitama.jp/spot/45015

Love Saitama Ambassador
Jessica Gerrity

Since 2018 Jessica has been introducing interesting places and people in Saitama Prefecture as the “Love Saitama Ambassador” via Chocotabi Saitama and her social media.

Instagram：https://instagram.com/jessintokyo

Twitter : https://twitter.com/jessintokyo

Since 2002 Jessica has been living and working in Japan as a TV personality on Japanese TV.

Photos by Hirokazu Kiuchi