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The Authentic Bed Futon Mattress
The authentic bed futon mattress originated in Japan. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya as well as at department stores. A genuine Japanese bed futon mattress is very flat at only two inches thick. It has a fabric exterior and is stuffed with either synthetic batting or cotton. In Japan the bed futon mattress is often sold with a comforter, blanket and pillow. The pillow is usually filled with buckwheat, plastic beads or dried beans. The Japanese live in spaces that are limited in sized so the original bed futon mattress was designed to be folded away and stored in the closet at night. To keep them clean the Japanese people air their futons in the sun and beat them with a special bamboo tool that resembles a carpet beater. Mostly the Japanese put the futon away to protect a special type of wood floor that they have in their houses called “tatami.” The idea is that tatami must breathe in order to remain beautiful so they are kept as free of adornments such as furniture and rugs as possible. They also sit on something called a sabuton, which is a sitting pillow that is of similar construction to the futon. The Western version of the authentic bed futon mattress is only loosely based on the original Japanese version. Unlike the Japanese futon, the Western futon is not usually placed on the floor. Instead they are placed on a wooden or metal frame that often doubles as a bed and a couch. The Japanese also tend to store their authentic bed futon mattress in the closet whereas the Western version is too thick to be rolled up and tucked away in this way. The Western bed futon mattress much thicker than the Japanese prototype because they are usually filled with several layers of both foam and batting. Many are over eight inches thick and more resemble the traditional metal and coil filled Western mattress. Over the past three decades the futon has become a viable alternative to beds or couches and in the Western world they are often sold as a cheap alternative to a bed or a couch. They are almost always sold in sets that include both the mattress and the frame. Be aware that in some areas of the United States the word futon refers to the futon frame and not the futon mattress. Most Japanese people would not even recognize the Western version of their futon bed mattress as a place to sleep. For years this Japanese style of bedding has caught on in North America and Europe. However recently the Western style of bed futon mattress is also catching on in Japan including the preference to have them set on a frame and be thicker in size. Related Bed and Bath Articles
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