I enjoy seeing Japan through your genuine/honest experiences. I'm 66 and my wife of 20+ years is Japanese, so we have been to visit family in Japan, many times. Regarding futons: When I was in my 40's the futon on tatami gave me surprisingly restful sleeps, but when I was about 55 I started to get lower back pain, after about 2 weeks on a futon. (No problems at home on my Canadian bed -- Comically, the only way I found to relieve my pain at night was by sitting with my back resting against a firm surface, but my wife's family didn't have any hard-backed chairs, so I sometimes had to sleep, sitting up, in a corner, propped against a wall, in the hallway. Freaked out her father one time when he made a late-night trip to the bathroom.) This last trip (a few weeks ago) I think I figured out that it was a change in pillow that caused the problem. Originally I slept on a traditional buck-wheat (I think) filled pillow but my troubles began when the household switched to newer, flatter, foam-filled ones. This time, I doubled up the pillows to make them taller and had no problem for the first time in years. Just a suggestion for anyone who has a similar experience.
I would also suggest you to paint your bricks white in your backyard . It will open up space and will brighten it up visually. Also it will give a feeling like it is brand new and clean. And at last I would put some planter box in front of your entrance door with some mix of outdoor plants or flowers.
I don’t have much back issues, but I often sleep poorly, so I am always eager to hear people’s reports on sleeping on a futon. I slept on a futon a few times when I visited Japan and slept very well. I’m 78 now and getting up from a futon on the floor would be difficult, so I’ve been thinking of a raised platform as you have. Thanks for showing us your bed arrangement.
Excellent video again Chani. Beautiful to see a good mix of what you have happening in Japan. Pasta looked fantastic!! YUM Great to see Millie...I have Midnight trying to climb all over me :) I love having my Friday nights be extra special with you latest video :)
Millie is just too cute. I use an inexpensive ($7 USD) sisal doormat for the cats to scratch--they love it and pay no attention to my furniture. I always regret when I neglect my core exercises--it's made a huge difference for my back and even helps eliminate morning tightness. Thank you for another lovely video.
I had such a back issue too. I couldn't move for about 2 weeks without pains . I was told - not by my doctor since she was happy to fill me up with medication - by a Holistic healer that these kind of backpain happen if you are not exercising enough. Walking is the best medicine I was told and since I stick to the 10000 steps per day I had no issues with my back. Also I changed my mattress to a much harder one. I'm so happy now. The backpains were so cruel that I could not move or walk at all. Try to increase the seps you do per day and you'll see how much better it is getting.
Our family friends said that their house was a Sekisui house, all my husband heard was that he has a sexy house. Caused for quite a chuckle 😆Your home purchase is all the more a deal with a quality build.
Thank you Chani! I have been interested in a futon for back pain too and found your experience quite similar- I found a company that will send to Australia- so am researching The makeover looks great and Millie seems to be a docile cat to take on a day out!
In Sweden I grew up with very similar beds with a foam mattress on top of a bed with wooden slats. When moving to my own place I had a wooden slat very low futon sofa bed with a cotton filled mattress on top. Moving to the U.S using these to me weird metal frame with a box spring and spring mattress on top i find it to not support the back and not very comfortable. I also think that training the muscles around the core is very important.
We bring our cats to get hair cuts in the summer here in Arizona. It’s so hot even with a/c. They don’t mind looking silly, and it also helps with the shedding.
Regular yoga, high dose magnesium (400mg elemental) and an extra firm mattress are essential for relief of my chronic back pain. Milly is adorable. I love how you care for her ☺️
making very slow but steady progress with the course. In the bedding store I recognised some of the Hiragana symbols that I have learnd. Was wondering If it might be appropriate, in future videos, to reference/use some of the learned material, in order to more understand/make more sense the enviroment in which the video is recorded. Just small references. it would be very gratifying/reenforcing to deploy/use what I am learning.
Excellent tips thank you! As for dealing with mold and humidity, many years ago I recall seeing a lot of electric dehumidifiers for sale in Japan and several friends in Japan said they were a must. I only recently discovered here in that an electric dehumidifier (the Compressor style) is not only very effective in keeping moisture levels in a home at healthy and comfortable levels, a considerable amount of free heat energy can be recovered from the moisture in the air as it's condensed sort of like a heat pump. Here in the Northwest of the U.S. that can wetter longer then much of Japan, mold is a huge problem I've calculated that for every kilowatt of energy the dehumidifier uses to remove moisture from the air almost 3kw of heat is produced, offsetting heating costs. They also greatly improve air quality and can prevent mold. I also have a small very low power fan I keep under my mattress frame that keeps moisture down. If I went back to Japan with with drafty and marginally insulated and damp homes, I'd be using dehumidifier or two.
@@ChaniJapan Cool, I seem to recall the old units we had in Yokohama had a 'Dry' feature that did a hot gas recycle but I can't recall if they put heat back into the room or dumped it outside. The portable free-standing De humidifiers work like an A/C unit with no connection to outside air, so for every liter (or gallon) of moisture they remove from the air, they extract about the same amount of heat energy in that it would take to boil that amount of water, and release it into the room. If your AC units dump that heat back inside rather than outside, then it should help heat your home with the energy it removed from the water, and depending on the design, such an A/C unit, might have modes that can dump that excess heat inside or outside. Japanese split unit heat pump/AC technology the best in the world but we don't see much of it here in America. Some smaller affordable Heat-pump/A/C units that are solar powered are coming on the market now and I'd expect the Japanese manufacturers would be jumping on that market.
When I lived in Japan I slept on a sharehouse dormitory bed that's a lot like what you have there (plain wooden slat frame bunkbed with futons on top) and when I moved back to Canada I just couldn't sleep on my thick pocket spring mattress anymore. Since I can't find asian futons in Canada (they're all extremely thick/heavy/lumpy), and imports cost too much here, I ended up going with a twin slat bedframe (aka the cheapest IKEA frame) and the cheapest IKEA mattress (just under 4" thick). The frame creaks a lot since the slats aren't as heavy duty as the DIY ones but I live alone so that's fine, and most importantly it stays *flat* and doesn't dip down in the middle at all like a thick mattress or a box spring would. Thankfully the slats allow air to get at the bottom so I don't worry as much about the humidity even though I have nowhere to air it (it's very humid where I am too, though I keep a dehumifidier going all the time). It's been SO much better, I love it! When I first started sleeping on the harder frame sometimes I would wake up with a slightly sore hip because I'm fairly bony but that went away eventually. The mattress is so cheap I thought I'd have to replace it more often but it's 8 years old now and doesn't even feel that bad, since it was already so thin and flat to begin with. By that age my old mattress (which cost 6x more!) had a massive dip in the middle and was already making my back hurt! I might figure out a less creaky frame eventually but I don't plan on buying a big expensive mattress ever again!
The thing about western beds is that they're way too soft for us Japanese😂 I used to travels abroad all the time and that was a big problem for me. Soft beds caused me to get back pains that I didn't have. I think beds are more popular than futon even in Japan, but the matresses are so much firmer here.
I like a firm mattress, but some of the hotel beds in Japan were a little too firm for even me. I have NEVER liked memory foam mattresses..I feel like they are swallowing me! So I guess I probably could get used to the harder ones in Japan. I need a really good supportive work chair, especially if my back isn't feeling great. Everyone is different, so a good chair for one person may not be great for another.
@Chani Japan. Actually i have a very bad lumber spine now for 10 years!and I even had a disc operation,I spent over $5000 on a bed!my back still hurt. anyway, a friend of mine said to try sleeping on the floor with just a very thin futon,the first night was agony but after that my back was pain free!.
I would suggest getting another kitten for your cat. This could help keep her occupied and less bored, which might prevent her from destroying your furniture. I had a similar issue with my cat. After I adopted another kitten, my cat's destructive behavior decreased significantly. One of the reasons Milly might be destroying furniture is anxiety when you're away. A companion cat could help her feel more calm and comfortable when she's alone.
I would love to get another kitten. I decided that if a cat or kitten appeared in need then I would adopt it. I was lucky to get Millie because she had some issues. I also want to give Millie some time to get used to camping with me. It might be difficult if I have two cats. Once we are settled into our life, I will see what happens 🩷
@@ChaniJapan wish all the best! Great content and very inspiring your personal life journey you are sharing with us. I understand you completely. I moved like this also from one country to another, because I realized one morning that my life is going to nowhere. I basically started my life from the scratch. I've made a lot of mistakes and was struggling a lot in a new world and country: people, language, culture...still struggling and learning , but a lot of good things also happened to me. At the end of the day, even if it's not easy to be a stranger among people and feel it almost every day, it is still better then if I would have stayed in my country and just exist with the consuming routine from day to day
I had to laugh - (a) I had just sat down after doing my housework and was complaining about my painful back and your video was the first thing that popped up on UA-cam, and (c) When you shared about having a blanket on you even though it's hot, I am the exact same. When I was living in Israel during baking hot summers, I still had to have a blanket on me. Even now back in the UK, I have a 10.5 tog duvet for the summer, and I've only just taken my blanket off that is on top of that! Must be a comfort thing. I have not long bought a Simba mattress and a new bedframe, so for now, futon/floor- sleeping is out of the question for me to try, unfortunately. Thanks for the insight though. Have a great weekend 😎
Can you put the items in the details? I want to get the pillow cover and blanket. Im 68 but think Ill just sleep on the floor. Do you think its better sleeping on the wooden frame? We have high humidity here all year long. Its over 100 with the heat index. Thanks for the video and help.
Good morning Chani.I sent you an email a number of days ago about Japanese job websites.Iam not sure if you had time to read it yet. Have a great day Troy
After a long-term of sleeping on a futon, my buttocks are becoming flat. I did some yoga stretching before I get out of my bed . Special, my shoulder very stiff sleeping on the futon.
I was sleeping on a cot in Japan and one day it broke! I was moving soon, so I didn't want to buy anything new. I ended up using the memory foam kitchen mat I'd recently bought to put in front of the sink--it was quite long and almost brand new (v clean). It worked a charm!
Funny that you mention back pain at middle age: I live in Aichi and I ended up with the nerves in my lower back pinched. The result was that for months I almost could not walk. 😭 Now, a year later, after very light continuous exercise as perscribed by my doctor, I can walk a little bit. I hope that if I continue, that I will regain control of those nerves and, thus, control of the muscles that go with them after a year or so.😊
Upside of floor life from childhood. Strong thick knee tendons. Knee injuries were rare before western furniture took off. I’ve been shocked number of Americans with bad knees. Our bottom layer foam was about 4”, then 2 thick cotton futon. You can add a feather topper to a firm bed & still have good support.
might be lack of exercise. I also was raised on western furniture but walked, biked and hiked a ton during my childhood, so my legs are strong. Driving everywhere wasn't as common as it is now and I still prefer long walks where most people will rather drive.
I have back issues too 😢, unfortunately, it's osteoarthritis. I take 2 supplements daily. Each tablet contains 600mg calcium and 10 micrograms of D3. It really helps women that are going into the early Autumn of their lives 🍁🍂. The futon is an excellent suggestion 😊. Miss Millie is definitely an outdoor cat 😻. She looks so calm and confident. I hope that she likes her new bed 🐾🥰. Thank you Chani for another excellent video 🫶
I love to see that Millie is always supervising changes around the house. Adorable! I am one of beginners Japanese students, and am enjoying a lot. Teacher Chani has a great way to help in the learning process. She gives plenty of time to learn and feedback responses. On the backaches subject, I enjoy a hot bath with Epson Salt (Magnesium Sulfate). Also walking 30 min on a steady pace.
I injured my back a couple of decades ago when I fell down some stairs. It didn't give me much trouble but in my 40s with the usual deterioration of muscles etc it became more of a problem. I found a firmer bed helped a lot, and going to gym now with some core work has been great, but one thing that was a game changer a few years ago was doing some gentle yoga as soon as I woke up (I felt everyone discovered the benefits of yoga before me). Still in my PJs, I put on a 10-minute session from UA-cam and it helps straighten everything out before the day starts. It's also great to do before bed too.
Here's an odd thing: When I lived in Japan in the late 1980s, I had a regular futon on tatami mats, and I'd wake up in the exact position I'd gone to bed in, and I could tell that I hadn't moved at all over the past six or seven hours. Granted, I was in my late twenties, but even at that age when I slept on any normal mattress, I'd move around a little while sleeping. Also, my apartment would sometimes get as hot as 40°, and all I had was a small fan. I got used to sleeping without a sheet over me.
Wow I love your little outing - I'd never think bout brining my own little table, that car is really handy - nature is really our bounty. If you make ice coffee, you could set up a riverside stall 😂
Yes, mattresses & core strength are very important, but so are the right SHOES. Shoes should have soles of materials & thickness to absorb the impact of walking or standing for any length of time on concrete or hard surfaces. Our hips & spines (which work together) are designed for grass/earth surfaces.
I strained my back badly. It was the worst pain I've ever had. I slept on my yoga mat that evening. I healed after a week and a day. I loved the experienced of having deeper sleeps and waking up with energy. I will keep on sleeping on my yoga mat.
❤Thank you Chani. Ive moved and my new room has a mattress and underneath wooden long shallow crates, i forget the name.... it is surprisingly comfortable after a quality good base, bed and mattress... im interested in futons! How lovely to be in a pretty setting with Milly❤
Thanks for your explanation of Japanese futons. This looks v. comfortable. Millie is so brave! We tried the harness and leash with our indoor cats when they were still kittens, and they were terrified of being outside.
Having back issues also, I force myself in the morning and in bed, to abdominal exercises . It hurts too much on the floor. So, gently and regularly uplifting my legs, count the breathing and I feel results. Muscles are essential, they support us. It is simple , stop if it hurts. Same for the shoulders, joining them in the back... Counting, resting.. Millie I am sure would be a good gym teacher, she is beautiful. I follow you and I am very interested about what you tell us about adjusting to Japan. Beautiful place and garden . All the best from France!
I’ve been trying to sleep on my back more to help with back and neck pain. I’ve always preferred firmer mattresses but it’s been harder to do if I sleep on my side. While sleeping on my back I’ve been putting two pillows under my knees to reduce pressure in my lower back which has been helping
I've had a foam topper on my futon mattress for years and recently I developed pain in my upper arm and shoulder. The sad thing is that during the day, it would start feeling somewhat better, but after a night's sleep I'd wake up with it hurting again. I took the foam topper off several days ago and have been sleeping much better--my shoulder situation has def improved.
We love Nitori for all sorts of home wares and furniture. Because furniture is ordered with a 2 week delivery date we bought several ‘beds in a box’ futon sets from Nitori. I also love that Japanese doona covers have ties to attach to the doona for easier making.
I remember the heat and humidity when we lived in Japan. So glad there are items that can help with the mold which can be bad. So nice seeing you and Millie out enjoying the lovely day. She has beautiful blue eyes. TFS
Such a lovely video to watch this Saturday morning over breakfast. It looks like Milly is enjoying the trips out and it's such a good idea to get her used to it. I have to say I smile every time I hear "destructo-cat". At 62 I have had a spinal fusion, so on chilly days I have a plug in thin heated mat that I can sit behind me and it just gives some warmth and relief to my lower spine. It's also nice on a chilly day! I think mine came from New Zealand but you can get them anywhere. They are probably good even if you have just had a very busy day in the garden or doing DIY projects. Have a wonderful weekend to you and Milly.
Be careful about taking Millie outside. When a cat is seriously spooked, it can lash out and run away to safety. Even if Millie has been okay in your "dry runs," if something should spook her - especially in the middle of the night - she might run off. Just something to think about.
At the end of the video you ask about how people handled back issues. I'm 68 and have had fibromyalgia for many years, with a constant backache, especially at night in bed. I tried everything imaginable to fix it. Then I saw some video recommending an acupressure mat (search US Amazon, I'm sure they have them in Japan too). They are mats with thousands of spiky plastic "spikes" sticking up. Sounds horrible, and it is when you first try it. You wonder how you can ever stand the torture, like lying on a bed of nails. But you can see so many YT videos of people lying on them nonchalantly. After a couple of days you get somewhat used to lying on it for 15-20 minutes each evening before bed. For me, it was magic. All my back pain, all my fibro disappeared. I think so much blood rushes into your back, providing much needed oxygen, and now I look forward to lying on it. Your mileage may vary. My opinion is that the inexpensive ones work just about as well as the expensive ones. I got one for about $20 on Amazon (and another for about $80 that I actually like much less and never use anymore). For me, it was the best investment.
I had Japanese futons for years-- I loved the safety and grounding feeling of sleeping on the floor (except when you're in the way of the spider road!). And I recently switched to hammock sleeping which instantly got rid of my hip pain and helped the back pain too (and cool for summer). It's fun to try new things and find out what works best for you huh ! Always enjoy your videos ( ◠‿◠ ) ♡
Interesting that the futon is helping your back...I've been seeking out accommodation that has regular western beds or at least the extra thick luxury futons for my upcoming trip as I do have current back issues...(physio said likely herniated disc and weak piraformis muscle as sciatic nerve sensations, so specific stretches daily and no bending)...but I guess I'll only be there for a month so my priority is comfort....when I noticed you bend over in the video I thought gee your lucky haha, but maybe it's due to the futons...sugoi ! Bless dear Millie she is a treat to watch...adorable
When moving houses before, I've slept on just my mattress on the floor for a night or two, and I think I liked it. In the bed, the mattress would normally rest on some slats that were flexible, and so the mattress feels stiffer on the ground. I'll need to investigate this further....
![Cat's First Kei Van Camping Trip in Japan: Nighttime Scare! [猫とキャンプ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/130HmCij9us/mqdefault.jpg)
![Cat's First Kei Van Camping Trip in Japan: Nighttime Scare! [猫とキャンプ]](/img/tr.png)
If you want to learn Japanese from the very beginning, join my beginners Japanese course today www.chanijapan.com/
How do I buy your course as a gift for someone else?
04:46 Cats always help making the bed 🛌 🐈 😍
So true 😺
Millie looked soooo happy! She’ll love camping hopefully 💚🩵❤
I enjoy seeing Japan through your genuine/honest experiences. I'm 66 and my wife of 20+ years is Japanese, so we have been to visit family in Japan, many times. Regarding futons: When I was in my 40's the futon on tatami gave me surprisingly restful sleeps, but when I was about 55 I started to get lower back pain, after about 2 weeks on a futon. (No problems at home on my Canadian bed -- Comically, the only way I found to relieve my pain at night was by sitting with my back resting against a firm surface, but my wife's family didn't have any hard-backed chairs, so I sometimes had to sleep, sitting up, in a corner, propped against a wall, in the hallway. Freaked out her father one time when he made a late-night trip to the bathroom.) This last trip (a few weeks ago) I think I figured out that it was a change in pillow that caused the problem. Originally I slept on a traditional buck-wheat (I think) filled pillow but my troubles began when the household switched to newer, flatter, foam-filled ones. This time, I doubled up the pillows to make them taller and had no problem for the first time in years. Just a suggestion for anyone who has a similar experience.
I would also suggest you to paint your bricks white in your backyard . It will open up space and will brighten it up visually. Also it will give a feeling like it is brand new and clean. And at last I would put some planter box in front of your entrance door with some mix of outdoor plants or flowers.
That is a lovely idea. I do need something at me front door.
I never knew how complicated owning a futon in Japan is. I wouldn't have thought that a video about futon arrangements would be interesting.
I don’t have much back issues, but I often sleep poorly, so I am always eager to hear people’s reports on sleeping on a futon. I slept on a futon a few times when I visited Japan and slept very well. I’m 78 now and getting up from a futon on the floor would be difficult, so I’ve been thinking of a raised platform as you have. Thanks for showing us your bed arrangement.
Excellent video again Chani.
Beautiful to see a good mix of what you have happening in Japan.
Pasta looked fantastic!! YUM
Great to see Millie...I have Midnight trying to climb all over me :)
I love having my Friday nights be extra special with you latest video :)
Thank you 😋
Millie is just too cute. I use an inexpensive ($7 USD) sisal doormat for the cats to scratch--they love it and pay no attention to my furniture. I always regret when I neglect my core exercises--it's made a huge difference for my back and even helps eliminate morning tightness. Thank you for another lovely video.
Sitting here at 530am with a coffee and Mochi on my lap watching you guys❤
Cute 🐱🩷
I had such a back issue too. I couldn't move for about 2 weeks without pains . I was told - not by my doctor since she was happy to fill me up with medication - by a Holistic healer that these kind of backpain happen if you are not exercising enough. Walking is the best medicine I was told and since I stick to the 10000 steps per day I had no issues with my back. Also I changed my mattress to a much harder one. I'm so happy now. The backpains were so cruel that I could not move or walk at all. Try to increase the seps you do per day and you'll see how much better it is getting.
Very good advice. I agree that increasing movement is so important. Walking is a great way to keep up the movement! ♥️
thank you chani for another inspiring video to move to japan 🥰 hope the rainy season will be easy and cozy 🫶🏻
Have a great weekend!
You too!! Thank you very much 🩷👋
Plan to sign up for your course. Had to get a new printer before starting the course. Very excited!
Awesome! Thank you! It is a great start to get the foundation for learning.
Our family friends said that their house was a Sekisui house, all my husband heard was that he has a sexy house. Caused for quite a chuckle 😆Your home purchase is all the more a deal with a quality build.
First time I heard the name I thought the same. 🤣
Always a treat to see a video from you! Millie is just the best.
😊 thank you
Thank you Chani!
I have been interested in a futon for back pain too and found your experience quite similar- I found a company that will send to Australia- so am researching
The makeover looks great and Millie seems to be a docile cat to take on a day out!
Wonderful! So good you can get a futon in Australia ❤️
In Sweden I grew up with very similar beds with a foam mattress on top of a bed with wooden slats. When moving to my own place I had a wooden slat very low futon sofa bed with a cotton filled mattress on top. Moving to the U.S using these to me weird metal frame with a box spring and spring mattress on top i find it to not support the back and not very comfortable. I also think that training the muscles around the core is very important.
Very interesting thanks for this Chani my back is very bad had an accident so couldn't sleep on the floor.
What a great little harvest 😊!
We bring our cats to get hair cuts in the summer here in Arizona. It’s so hot even with a/c. They don’t mind looking silly, and it also helps with the shedding.
So informative about the futon!! Thanks so much for the video!
Regular yoga, high dose magnesium (400mg elemental) and an extra firm mattress are essential for relief of my chronic back pain. Milly is adorable. I love how you care for her ☺️
Thanks for the tips!
I noted the hat... 😄 I've been teasing you about getting that style hat.
It’s perfect for sun protection. I think you encouraged me 🤣
making very slow but steady progress with the course. In the bedding store I recognised some of the Hiragana symbols that I have learnd. Was wondering If it might be appropriate, in future videos, to reference/use some of the learned material, in order to more understand/make more sense the enviroment in which the video is recorded. Just small references. it would be very gratifying/reenforcing to deploy/use what I am learning.
That is a great idea! If I see some hiragana I will point it out. Good thinking ✨
Excellent tips thank you! As for dealing with mold and humidity, many years ago I recall seeing a lot of electric dehumidifiers for sale in Japan and several friends in Japan said they were a must. I only recently discovered here in that an electric dehumidifier (the Compressor style) is not only very effective in keeping moisture levels in a home at healthy and comfortable levels, a considerable amount of free heat energy can be recovered from the moisture in the air as it's condensed sort of like a heat pump. Here in the Northwest of the U.S. that can wetter longer then much of Japan, mold is a huge problem I've calculated that for every kilowatt of energy the dehumidifier uses to remove moisture from the air almost 3kw of heat is produced, offsetting heating costs. They also greatly improve air quality and can prevent mold. I also have a small very low power fan I keep under my mattress frame that keeps moisture down. If I went back to Japan with with drafty and marginally insulated and damp homes, I'd be using dehumidifier or two.
I found out my aircon units all have build in 'dry' functions to get the moisture out as well 😀
@@ChaniJapan Cool, I seem to recall the old units we had in Yokohama had a 'Dry' feature that did a hot gas recycle but I can't recall if they put heat back into the room or dumped it outside.
The portable free-standing De humidifiers work like an A/C unit with no connection to outside air, so for every liter (or gallon) of moisture they remove from the air, they extract about the same amount of heat energy in that it would take to boil that amount of water, and release it into the room. If your AC units dump that heat back inside rather than outside, then it should help heat your home with the energy it removed from the water, and depending on the design, such an A/C unit, might have modes that can dump that excess heat inside or outside.
Japanese split unit heat pump/AC technology the best in the world but we don't see much of it here in America.
Some smaller affordable Heat-pump/A/C units that are solar powered are coming on the market now and I'd expect the Japanese manufacturers would be jumping on that market.
I'm very tall so back pain is no stranger to me. I bought a foam roller a few months ago and that has done WONDERS for me.
Thank you 🦋
When I lived in Japan I slept on a sharehouse dormitory bed that's a lot like what you have there (plain wooden slat frame bunkbed with futons on top) and when I moved back to Canada I just couldn't sleep on my thick pocket spring mattress anymore. Since I can't find asian futons in Canada (they're all extremely thick/heavy/lumpy), and imports cost too much here, I ended up going with a twin slat bedframe (aka the cheapest IKEA frame) and the cheapest IKEA mattress (just under 4" thick). The frame creaks a lot since the slats aren't as heavy duty as the DIY ones but I live alone so that's fine, and most importantly it stays *flat* and doesn't dip down in the middle at all like a thick mattress or a box spring would. Thankfully the slats allow air to get at the bottom so I don't worry as much about the humidity even though I have nowhere to air it (it's very humid where I am too, though I keep a dehumifidier going all the time). It's been SO much better, I love it! When I first started sleeping on the harder frame sometimes I would wake up with a slightly sore hip because I'm fairly bony but that went away eventually.
The mattress is so cheap I thought I'd have to replace it more often but it's 8 years old now and doesn't even feel that bad, since it was already so thin and flat to begin with. By that age my old mattress (which cost 6x more!) had a massive dip in the middle and was already making my back hurt! I might figure out a less creaky frame eventually but I don't plan on buying a big expensive mattress ever again!
The thing about western beds is that they're way too soft for us Japanese😂
I used to travels abroad all the time and that was a big problem for me. Soft beds caused me to get back pains that I didn't have.
I think beds are more popular than futon even in Japan, but the matresses are so much firmer here.
Yes. Much firmer 😆 I agree 🩷
I like a firm mattress, but some of the hotel beds in Japan were a little too firm for even me. I have NEVER liked memory foam mattresses..I feel like they are swallowing me! So I guess I probably could get used to the harder ones in Japan. I need a really good supportive work chair, especially if my back isn't feeling great. Everyone is different, so a good chair for one person may not be great for another.
I don't have severe back pain, but I love heat. I use hearing pads, hot baths, and hot showers.
Was that Vegemite I saw on the bread lol.
Yes 😋
@Chani Japan. Actually i have a very bad lumber spine now for 10 years!and I even had a disc operation,I spent over $5000 on a bed!my back still hurt.
anyway, a friend of mine said to try sleeping on the floor with just a very thin futon,the first night was agony but after that my back was pain free!.
Amazing. Yes first few weeks were uncomfortable for me.
I would suggest getting another kitten for your cat. This could help keep her occupied and less bored, which might prevent her from destroying your furniture. I had a similar issue with my cat. After I adopted another kitten, my cat's destructive behavior decreased significantly. One of the reasons Milly might be destroying furniture is anxiety when you're away. A companion cat could help her feel more calm and comfortable when she's alone.
I would love to get another kitten. I decided that if a cat or kitten appeared in need then I would adopt it. I was lucky to get Millie because she had some issues. I also want to give Millie some time to get used to camping with me. It might be difficult if I have two cats. Once we are settled into our life, I will see what happens 🩷
@@ChaniJapan wish all the best! Great content and very inspiring your personal life journey you are sharing with us. I understand you completely. I moved like this also from one country to another, because I realized one morning that my life is going to nowhere. I basically started my life from the scratch. I've made a lot of mistakes and was struggling a lot in a new world and country: people, language, culture...still struggling and learning , but a lot of good things also happened to me. At the end of the day, even if it's not easy to be a stranger among people and feel it almost every day, it is still better then if I would have stayed in my country and just exist with the consuming routine from day to day
Goooooood👍👍👍
I do exercises for the back, especially the lower part, glutes are also important for supporting the spine. And sitting is really bad.
I had to laugh - (a) I had just sat down after doing my housework and was complaining about my painful back and your video was the first thing that popped up on UA-cam, and (c) When you shared about having a blanket on you even though it's hot, I am the exact same. When I was living in Israel during baking hot summers, I still had to have a blanket on me. Even now back in the UK, I have a 10.5 tog duvet for the summer, and I've only just taken my blanket off that is on top of that! Must be a comfort thing. I have not long bought a Simba mattress and a new bedframe, so for now, futon/floor- sleeping is out of the question for me to try, unfortunately. Thanks for the insight though. Have a great weekend 😎
🩷
I really need to get my master set up.
🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
My wife has visited many stores since coming to Japan, and she says that Muji has the best quality and the lowest prices.
Get her a GPS collar when you go camping . Just in case
I will for sure 👍
Can you put the items in the details? I want to get the pillow cover and blanket. Im 68 but think Ill just sleep on the floor. Do you think its better sleeping on the wooden frame? We have high humidity here all year long. Its over 100 with the heat index. Thanks for the video and help.
It’s from a store here in Japan called NITORI
Did you tell anything about what happened to your back pain?
Yes. Much better with the futon and some careful exercises.
@@ChaniJapan ❤️
Good morning Chani.I sent you an email a number of days ago about Japanese job websites.Iam not sure if you had time to read it yet. Have a great day Troy
Sorry I’ve had a busy week. I recommend Gaijinpot as it has the most amount of job listings. Hope this helps.
for the back you could consider some physiotherapy sessions.
do you recommend buying these sleeping mats and futons on amazon? which brands?
I bought in store. I haven’t tried any Amazon ones 👋
what are you using instead of tatami mats? I mean, what is the blue thing @3:31?
The blue thing is a moisture absorbing sheet so no mold grows.
@@ChaniJapan do u have a shopping link so I can look at it?
Can you purchase any of these bedding items in the U.S?
Not sure. I wonder if Amazon has any?
cool dyson.
After a long-term of sleeping on a futon, my buttocks are becoming flat.
I did some yoga stretching before I get out of my bed . Special, my shoulder very stiff sleeping on the futon.
I think the stretching is a good idea 👍
Does your laundry dry well outside in the rainy season? Can't imagine not having a clothes dryer.
It dries if it’s sunny. If not I bring it inside and turn the aircon onto dry.
@@ChaniJapan Yes, the dryer is just a convenience I suppose, but not the aircon, right? Got to have that this time of year.
That futon looks a lot thicker than the shitty 5000 yen futon I bought from nitori. Haha
I think this one was around 15000
I’m so impressed by Millie’s brave spirit going in the car and outside. You really are giving her confidence!
Thank you Chani for sharing a little bit of your life with us. I really enjoy watching your videos.
I'm so glad!
I'm 67 and sleep on a gym mat + a cover on top and that's it! Love it. And a roll for a pillow, it's wonderful
I was sleeping on a cot in Japan and one day it broke! I was moving soon, so I didn't want to buy anything new. I ended up using the memory foam kitchen mat I'd recently bought to put in front of the sink--it was quite long and almost brand new (v clean). It worked a charm!
You are amazing!
I tried futon for a few days and my back hated me for it instantly. My memories of Japan are all accompanied by back pain.
Millie did so well! 👏🏻👏🏻
I think it was good training 😺
Funny that you mention back pain at middle age: I live in Aichi and I ended up with the nerves in my lower back pinched. The result was that for months I almost could not walk. 😭 Now, a year later, after very light continuous exercise as perscribed by my doctor, I can walk a little bit. I hope that if I continue, that I will regain control of those nerves and, thus, control of the muscles that go with them after a year or so.😊
Oh wow! Must have been very painful. Glad you are getting better ♥️
I smiled when I saw the thumbnail. How did you get that shot?😁
I put my phone on timer and balanced it on the light 🤣🤣
Upside of floor life from childhood. Strong thick knee tendons. Knee injuries were rare before western furniture took off. I’ve been shocked number of Americans with bad knees. Our bottom layer foam was about 4”, then 2 thick cotton futon. You can add a feather topper to a firm bed & still have good support.
might be lack of exercise. I also was raised on western furniture but walked, biked and hiked a ton during my childhood, so my legs are strong.
Driving everywhere wasn't as common as it is now and I still prefer long walks where most people will rather drive.
Love your videos! I really wanna live in Japannnnn tooo
Go for it!
I have back issues too 😢, unfortunately, it's osteoarthritis. I take 2 supplements daily. Each tablet contains 600mg calcium and 10 micrograms of D3. It really helps women that are going into the early Autumn of their lives 🍁🍂. The futon is an excellent suggestion 😊.
Miss Millie is definitely an outdoor cat 😻. She looks so calm and confident. I hope that she likes her new bed 🐾🥰. Thank you Chani for another excellent video 🫶
🫶
I love to see that Millie is always supervising changes around the house. Adorable!
I am one of beginners Japanese students, and am enjoying a lot. Teacher Chani has a great way to help in the learning process. She gives plenty of time to learn and feedback responses. On the backaches subject, I enjoy a hot bath with Epson Salt (Magnesium Sulfate). Also walking 30 min on a steady pace.
Epson salt is helpful! You are doing so well on the course 🫶♥️
腰痛持ち(時々ぎっくり腰)なので、たたみに敷き布団だと起き上がるのが大変で😂
すのこベッドにかためのマットレスと敷き布団で寝ています。
除湿剤に除湿シート、ニトリのNクール製品、と本当に高温多湿日本の生活を熟知していらっしゃる！
梅雨を乗りきったらいよいよ夏のキャンプシーズン、楽しみにしています😉
I injured my back a couple of decades ago when I fell down some stairs. It didn't give me much trouble but in my 40s with the usual deterioration of muscles etc it became more of a problem. I found a firmer bed helped a lot, and going to gym now with some core work has been great, but one thing that was a game changer a few years ago was doing some gentle yoga as soon as I woke up (I felt everyone discovered the benefits of yoga before me). Still in my PJs, I put on a 10-minute session from UA-cam and it helps straighten everything out before the day starts. It's also great to do before bed too.
Here's an odd thing: When I lived in Japan in the late 1980s, I had a regular futon on tatami mats, and I'd wake up in the exact position I'd gone to bed in, and I could tell that I hadn't moved at all over the past six or seven hours. Granted, I was in my late twenties, but even at that age when I slept on any normal mattress, I'd move around a little while sleeping. Also, my apartment would sometimes get as hot as 40°, and all I had was a small fan. I got used to sleeping without a sheet over me.
Millie is such a destructo cutie!!! ❤
日々の生活を楽しんでいらっしゃるようで、とても素敵です。
Your video topics are always so interesting.
I appreciate that!
Millie is absolutely beautiful! Those blue 💙 eyes! Great wall space for her! My cat climbs my curtains. Lol
Wow I love your little outing - I'd never think bout brining my own little table, that car is really handy - nature is really our bounty.
If you make ice coffee, you could set up a riverside stall 😂
Yes, mattresses & core strength are very important, but so are the right SHOES. Shoes should have soles of materials & thickness to absorb the impact of walking or standing for any length of time on concrete or hard surfaces. Our hips & spines (which work together) are designed for grass/earth surfaces.
Glad to hear you'll be working on more intermediate and up courses, looking forward to it!
That's the plan!
Lovely..
Thanks 😊
I strained my back badly. It was the worst pain I've ever had. I slept on my yoga mat that evening. I healed after a week and a day. I loved the experienced of having deeper sleeps and waking up with energy. I will keep on sleeping on my yoga mat.
Oh! I’m glad you found a solution 🤔
❤Thank you Chani. Ive moved and my new room has a mattress and underneath wooden long shallow crates, i forget the name.... it is surprisingly comfortable after a quality good base, bed and mattress... im interested in futons! How lovely to be in a pretty setting with Milly❤
Thanks for your explanation of Japanese futons. This looks v. comfortable. Millie is so brave! We tried the harness and leash with our indoor cats when they were still kittens, and they were terrified of being outside.
Having back issues also, I force myself in the morning and in bed, to abdominal exercises . It hurts too much on the floor. So, gently and regularly uplifting my legs, count the breathing and I feel results. Muscles are essential, they support us. It is simple , stop if it hurts. Same for the shoulders, joining them in the back... Counting, resting.. Millie I am sure would be a good gym teacher, she is beautiful. I follow you and I am very interested about what you tell us about adjusting to Japan. Beautiful place and garden . All the best from France!
Thank you 😊
I have to have a blanket too even if is a hot day, I’m trying to get a cool blanket or something but I can’t find it where I live. Take care. ❤
I have never seen them in Australia either.
Millie will be a great camping companion. She looks ready and will enjoy it.
I’ve been trying to sleep on my back more to help with back and neck pain. I’ve always preferred firmer mattresses but it’s been harder to do if I sleep on my side. While sleeping on my back I’ve been putting two pillows under my knees to reduce pressure in my lower back which has been helping
The better your house is insulated, the better your air conditioning will work. Don't be afraid to blow insulation in the warmer months.
I've had a foam topper on my futon mattress for years and recently I developed pain in my upper arm and shoulder. The sad thing is that during the day, it would start feeling somewhat better, but after a night's sleep I'd wake up with it hurting again. I took the foam topper off several days ago and have been sleeping much better--my shoulder situation has def improved.
We love Nitori for all sorts of home wares and furniture. Because furniture is ordered with a 2 week delivery date we bought several ‘beds in a box’ futon sets from Nitori. I also love that Japanese doona covers have ties to attach to the doona for easier making.
Yes the ties are so good for keeping everything in place. 😀
Agreed! I’m the same way and have been that way all my life! I like being cool (hence why I live in North Pole Alaska) but I need a blanket.
I remember the heat and humidity when we lived in Japan. So glad there are items that can help with the mold which can be bad. So nice seeing you and Millie out enjoying the lovely day. She has beautiful blue eyes. TFS
Such a lovely video to watch this Saturday morning over breakfast. It looks like Milly is enjoying the trips out and it's such a good idea to get her used to it. I have to say I smile every time I hear "destructo-cat". At 62 I have had a spinal fusion, so on chilly days I have a plug in thin heated mat that I can sit behind me and it just gives some warmth and relief to my lower spine. It's also nice on a chilly day! I think mine came from New Zealand but you can get them anywhere. They are probably good even if you have just had a very busy day in the garden or doing DIY projects. Have a wonderful weekend to you and Milly.
It seems that Millie had a great outing!❤
I think she enjoyed it 😺
Thank you, this is wonderful and the kitty is so sweet!
Thank you 😀
I've been sleeping on futon, on the floor since i was 16.. Still prefer it more than an western style bed.
Be careful about taking Millie outside. When a cat is seriously spooked, it can lash out and run away to safety. Even if Millie has been okay in your "dry runs," if something should spook her - especially in the middle of the night - she might run off. Just something to think about.
At the end of the video you ask about how people handled back issues. I'm 68 and have had fibromyalgia for many years, with a constant backache, especially at night in bed. I tried everything imaginable to fix it. Then I saw some video recommending an acupressure mat (search US Amazon, I'm sure they have them in Japan too). They are mats with thousands of spiky plastic "spikes" sticking up. Sounds horrible, and it is when you first try it. You wonder how you can ever stand the torture, like lying on a bed of nails. But you can see so many YT videos of people lying on them nonchalantly. After a couple of days you get somewhat used to lying on it for 15-20 minutes each evening before bed. For me, it was magic. All my back pain, all my fibro disappeared. I think so much blood rushes into your back, providing much needed oxygen, and now I look forward to lying on it. Your mileage may vary. My opinion is that the inexpensive ones work just about as well as the expensive ones. I got one for about $20 on Amazon (and another for about $80 that I actually like much less and never use anymore). For me, it was the best investment.
No More Salt
Milly is so adorable and beautiful. She has such beautiful blue eyes too.❤❤❤
I had Japanese futons for years-- I loved the safety and grounding feeling of sleeping on the floor (except when you're in the way of the spider road!). And I recently switched to hammock sleeping which instantly got rid of my hip pain and helped the back pain too (and cool for summer). It's fun to try new things and find out what works best for you huh ! Always enjoy your videos ( ◠‿◠ ) ♡
Interesting that the futon is helping your back...I've been seeking out accommodation that has regular western beds or at least the extra thick luxury futons for my upcoming trip as I do have current back issues...(physio said likely herniated disc and weak piraformis muscle as sciatic nerve sensations, so specific stretches daily and no bending)...but I guess I'll only be there for a month so my priority is comfort....when I noticed you bend over in the video I thought gee your lucky haha, but maybe it's due to the futons...sugoi ! Bless dear Millie she is a treat to watch...adorable
I sleep on the hardest mattresses available. I probably wouldn't mind sleeping on a futon that much!
いつも、面白いトピックをありがとうございます！
和歌山、いいところでせすよね、
По статистике 61 процент японцев сейчас спят на кроватях. А только 39 процентов продолжают пользоваться футонами, это в основном люди 60 и старше.
When moving houses before, I've slept on just my mattress on the floor for a night or two, and I think I liked it. In the bed, the mattress would normally rest on some slats that were flexible, and so the mattress feels stiffer on the ground. I'll need to investigate this further....