Futon History
The traditional Japanese futon is making a comeback in the country of its origin
The creation of American convertible futon frames turned it into trendy sofa bed-like furniture. Now, Japanese people, influenced by Western culture and lifestyles, welcome the return of the Old World comfort of the futon with the added feature of metal and wooden futon frames.
The traditional space-friendly, frill-free Japanese futons almost became extinct in their homeland. But thanks to American ingenuity, the foldaway cotton mattress is experiencing a revival in the country of its origin.
Futons first appeared stateside in the 1960s as handmade simple cotton pads used by hippies, students and some health enthusiasts as substitutes for beds. The creation of convertible frames for the futons turned them into trendy sofa bed-like furniture a decade later.
America and other Western countries began to buy the new futons in mass quantities in the 1980s. Now, Japanese people, influenced by Western culture and lifestyles, are doing the same.
"My customers say they have been looking for American futons for the last three or four years," says Eduardo Sanchez, who moved to Japan 35 years ago and sells American futons via the Internet. "America has a huge influence on Japan especially on its lifestyle. Today, many people don't sleep on tatamis," the traditional woven straw mats, "or on Japanese futons anymore."
The new futons are a far cry from the traditional Japanese futons, which could be folded and stored in a closet. American manufacturers have introduced innersprings, pocket springs, coil, foam and polyester mattresses as well as electric frames with massagers. According to Tom Tedesco, President of Futon Association International, futons have become a mainstay in living rooms, and have stretched out to home offices and kids' rooms.
The original Japanese futons (pronounced in the United States as FOO-tahn) consist of two parts: a foldable cotton mattress -- approximately 2 to 4 inches thick -- to sleep on, and a soft, fluffy quilt made of cotton, down or synthetic fibre to go over the body. Futons first appeared as weed-made rags in ancient Japan.
Although Japanese seniors still mainly use the traditional futon, younger Japanese are impressed with the comfort, style and added features of the American built futons. Japan's Cabinet Office reported that in 1965, only 14.9 percent of the total number of households used Western beds, including Western-style futons. By 2001, that figure jumped to almost 60 percent.
"American futons are ideal for small houses and apartments in Japan," says Sanchez. His products, imported from California and Southeast Asia, are priced relatively high compared with the American market: between 73,000 yen ($550) and 125,000 ($940), while the midrange in the United States is $500 to $800. The company, which is based in mid-Tokyo, sells around 10 futons a month. Sanchez says the company's futon shop Web site, americanfuton.com, gets more than 100 hits a day and customers are spread around the country.
"The frame development put the industry on a larger scale," said William Brouwer, known as the first inventor of convertible futon frames, who now lives in Japan. His invention of the tri-fold frame, a simple wooden frame he made for a friend who owned a futon shop in Boston, was greeted by Bostonians who were already familiar with the comfort of the futon mattress. It gradually became into the "Brouwer Bed," which won the 1983 Daphne Award, considered the Oscar of the furniture industry, for the best new design in the Bedroom/Retail Category.
An early importer and designer of futon frames, Bob Fireman of Liform Imports in New York markets his own design of bi-fold frames that look more like couches. One of his inventions was the introduction of glides instead of pegs to hold the backrest in place. The glides allowed futons to convert more easily from sofa to bed and back, and his design became the first of its kind to be patented in the United States. Soon, people in other parts of the United States and around the world were designing other variation of tri-fold frames and bi-fold frames and futons became a bigger part of the furniture business.
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Futon History
Western Futons
Western futons are closer to mattresses; they are also stuffed with multiple layers of Cotton batting, Wool felts, Polyester, Lambs wool, Latex and Coco-Loc but they do not have springs, well they do now Pocket Sprung futons are now available these are hybrids for people . Western futons are placed on an adjustable frame resembling that of a couch, and are designed in the fashion of a sofa-bed-to be used as a couch and a bed. Western futons are constructed larger and thicker than Japanese futons, and can be cheaper than mattresses or beds, you may be considering buying
Western futons are common now in Japan. These futons, hand-made, have no synthetic filling; they are stuffed primarily with cotton. Western futons in Japan are sold as “earth-friendly”, and are not composed of any chemicals whatsoever, distinguishing them from the traditional bed set.
Futons are very comfortable and, like sleeping bags, can also serve as portable or transportable beds, depending on their size and weight. Although futons can be damaged, they can more easily be repaired than a traditional mattress, since its interior matting is packed in a structured, layered way. Futons are otherwise most convenient and economical and therefore preferable to people on-the-go or living in small spaces. The word is out now and thousands of people in the west have discovered the benefits of owning a futon over a traditional bed but be on your guard, not all futons are the same quality look for a supplier who is not a “stack them high” or “sell them cheap” as the old saying “you get what you pay for” is a fact with futons so buyer beware!!!
Japanese Futons
Measuring two inches (5 cm) thick and filled with cotton and/or synthetic batting, Japanese futons are typically flat and are designed to be spread out on tatami flooring, which is a special kind of flooring indigenous to Japanese architecture. Japanese futons are usually sold in sets consisting of the futon mattress (shikibuton), a comforter (kakebuton) or blanket (moku), a summer towel-like blanket (towelket), and a bean- or plastic bead-filled pillow (makura). This is equivalent to a western bed set.
Japanese futons are usually stored in a closet, but must be left to air in the sunlight when not put away. These futons are typically beaten with bamboo to keep them in shape. And if you're walking through a Japan suburb, look up at the blocks you will spot a futon or two, been “aired” over the balcony.
Modern Futons
The manufacturer “Nishikawa” is the most famous. This company is in Kyoto and Tokyo. They make everything for the futons, for example, pillows, sheets, and quilts. This brand has history of 440 years. In old days, people thought any futon was good as long as they could sleep. But now people want better futons. Today, people like a futon which they can relax on and recover from fatigue. Futon makers have developed futons that can adjust to the human body. This is called Seiatsu Futon in Japan. There are some advantages to this new type of futon. Since ventilation is good, they are cool in summer and warm in winter. Since it can adjust to ideal posture when you sleep, it improves blood circulation while sleeping. And they are easy to look after. Futons are generally used with a futon cover, because these make it easy to keep the futon clean. People generally use futons so they can sleep comfortably, stay warm and support their bodies while asleep.
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