@JapanwithNao would you suggest someone moving to Japan temporarily to get a futon for convenience? So I wouldn’t have such a trouble moving furniture around.
Its hard to understand what you are saying because the music is covering up what you are saying, as you are not a native speaker. We are watching the video to hear what you have to say say on a topic. No one watches information and cultural videos videos for the back ground music
I am at 7 months on a futon. I have found I like a very firm bed. I am also benefiting from getting up and down from the floor. I have definitely improved my flexibility and sleeping.
This is exactly what I was wondering about! May I ask how old you are? I'm asking because I'm 51 and want to know if it would be good for me to try. Getting up and down from the floor seems to me like a great way to strengthen my core and knees. Was hoping that floor sleeping may also help properly align my aging spine.
@CleoHarperReturns I am 46. I used to work at a desk job, and it was killing me. The futon has helped me a lot. I have started with a cheaper futon and hopefully will soon upgrade.
@@CleoHarperReturns I am 50 and just started sleeping in the floor and I love it. I’ve also been seating on the floor and doing most of my task in that way, on a table custom design for me. I was able to find a local seller who sells monk futons as well as tatami mats. It’s easy to roll up the futon on the tatamis and even move the mats around. I do have underfloor heating which keeps the room quite dry and prevent moles. I also use buckwheat hull pillows.
My husband and I have been sleeping on twin futons pushed side by side with matching mats, on top of a framed tatami mat area within a western style wooden-floored room, for about a decade. We live in Minnesota, which only gets humid sometimes in the summer, and have radiators for heat. The weather is similar to Hokkaido. I'd say that futons, even with mats, are not comfortable enough if placed directly on the floor, but with tatami, it's quite nice and looks AMAZING. Beds are more comfortable, I've noticed, but we have decided that small difference in comfort pales in comparison with the benefits of being able to use the tatami space for other things during the day. It's also nice to not worry about things dropping to the floor beyond reach. And, unlike spring mattresses, futons are very quiet, which helps with co-sleeping and insomnia. I also like being able to "fall" into bed instead of "climbing" into bed. Also, I might be biased, but my lived experience with making western-style beds every morning makes folding futons a breeze. We don't lift them to put in a closet, we just fold them and push them to the the edge of the tatami, because our climate doesn't have too much of a mold issue, this hasn't caused us any problems. Sometimes I lie on top of both folded futons to rest, like I would on a cot, or or use the folded futons like a backrest to read a book or work on my laptop during the day. Some issues we've noticed though is that dust accumulates under the tatami frame. Also, the futons cannot be pushed directly against the outside wall in winter for long because our old house has poor insulation and this can cause moisture accumulation inside, leading to paint damage or mold. Lastly, because of where we live, it is unfortunately difficult to find good quality tatami or futon replacements, since the shop we first bought ours from went out of business. We are still very happy with our arrangement though and are thinking of ways to improve the dust issue, like installing narrow drawers underneath to close it off.
Pros of floor sleeping: 1. Once you get used to it, you feel very comfortable. 2. Can build a good morning ritual (not always) Cons of floor sleeping: 1. It's not ideal in colder climates 2. Tedious to put away 3. May need to invest in a dehumidifier 4. Can be more expensive than a traditional bed setup For me, the one pro out weights all of these cons. But you genuinely have to try it yourself with a blanket, sleeping bag or yoga mat before you can understand the intricacies. While there is only one pro, it's easily worth it because my sleep quality has vastly improved.
We always test the matress before buying. But also, may suppliers have 4 week free return policy. We mainly use matress, but are OK to sleep on Futon in Japan.
Futon on the bedframe or couch style frame and boom, you get all the best benefits :) natural, firm, breatheble, off the ground, can combine different layers for more firmness or cusion :)
Most younger people wouldn't know that futons were a huge trend in the late 80s to later 90s in the U.S and Canada,. Long before the current obsession with japans culture. I have a futon that I have used on futon frames and then moved it on to European style slat beds when they became a thing here. People would shame me if they knew how old it is...that how well made it was.
@@zochbuppet448 😅 My household’s been obsessed with Japanese culture since the late eighties, but never had anything but horrible, cheap, western, convertible “futon” couches, until recently. I have to say, I like the new memory foam ones little better. But we did love the floor with sheepskins, and I bet a tatami base would have made it much better.
I never thought about the problem of mold! I have a friend who prefers futons, but hers is on a low frame--6 " from the floor. I prefer a bed, in part because I enjoy reading in bed. And I live where it gets down to -30C in the winter.
OH YEA. Only now that you mentioned that I realized the problem with sleeping on the floor... the air near floor is much colder. Not ideal if cold climates and no wonder why beds became a thing.
I slept on the floor for a winter. It was hard esp. hard on my joints. A couple of times I woke up from the pain in my knees. They hurt so much; I couldn't stand. I was in my 30's, so I shouldn't have been having such trouble. I prefer beds.
After 67 years of sleeping on a bed in the USA, I have switched to a very thin "futon" on Tatami. _( actually, even a 3" thick futon is too thick for me )_ My goal is to eventually sleep directly on the Tatami mat ;) Better for health! Cheers.
I've slept on elevated futon couches (a frame that folds to be a couch or flattens to be a bed), and mattresses with and without box springs. I prefer mattresses without box springs, personally. Something you can do to get a bit of space back from your bed is to put it on a platform that has storage under it. You can put things in there you only use part of the year, like storing Winter bedding (heavy quilts and comforters) during the Summer. You can also get frames that give space over the bed, or frames that raise the bed up off the floor so you sleep closer to the ceiling. Then you can put a desk or a reading space under the bed.
I call your back rest a headboard, some bed frames have a footboard, and some just have a frame. I noticed you don't have the box spring part of the bed. You just have the mattress. I'm older it would be hard getting off the floor, and it would seem very firm. I do sleep in my recliner quite a bit
The main reason for beds is not comfort, but warmth. Due to how cold it gets in parts of Europe, sleeping on the floor is not an option and a waste of heat, as literally the whole rest of the room is warmer than where you are. You can see that the further North you go, the higher the beds get. This is why IKEA beds are a lot of the times very, very high, with very tall mattresses. The higher you sleep inside a room, the warmer it is.
Ikea beds are LOW. Way lower than US beds, and their mattresses very thin. I've refused to buy any Ikea bed because of that. I'm average height and can't get in or out of them easily.
i think a really big problem with sleeping direktly on the floor you didn't mention in my country is, that the floor of the rooms is not so clean that you want your clean bed there directly on it... There are slippers in Germany, but most people still wear them for a short time in the garden or yard. Therefore they are not really clean. And then walk through the entire apartment. Worse (i personally find it worse, others not), people often forget to take off their street shoes. It's even a bit rude here in Germany to ask guests to take off their shoes. You won't go into the bedroom with it, but the dirt will spread around... There is in Germany a thing like a Futon, it is called Guest matress. it looks like a futon and it is thin like a futon and hard like a futon. it is used as an easy portable bed if there come friends of your child and need a additional bed. or if you (as a mother p.e.) want to sleep in the room of your child. then you can use this, too. (but then you clean the floor before and you will be strikt with the dirty shoes...).
When I decided to try "floor sleeping" in USA, I quickly learned to damp-mop my floors every night before setting up my bed. Today, I do sleep on a Tatami-bed which is 15" off the floor, but I love my new ritual of _cleaning the day_ off my floors before bed-time.
I guess i have the best of both worlds? Many years ago I heard about futons and their natural capacity. On the West Coast (Vancouver), they innovated the design of futons to suite western expectations. I've slept on these style "futons" for over 40 years. You can get mattresses made with raw cotton only or have them made with a layer of memory foam inserts. These modern interpretations of the futon are much thicker 10" +. They are also much heavier and mostly designed to be used in a bed frame (lattice) that holds the futon mattress in place. So, they are not "put away" on a daily basis - you are actually sleeping on a mattress/bed - on a contemporary adaptation of the futon. I remember when I got my first futon. I did not have a lot of money so I got the basic "do it yourself" mattress model - where you were give the raw cotton in a bundle and you had to fold it into a ready made cotton mattress cover. Once filled, I used a very, very, long needle to thread through the mattress to "fix" the cotton cover in place. I LOVE my futon. It's cooler to sleep on in the summer and naturally warmer in the winter. Because the mattress is elevated on a Lower Style Bed frame (Japanese esthetic), it's very easy to get into and the lattice base allows air circulation at all times. My only task/challenge, is to turn over/rotate the mattress once a month to reduce dimples in the mattress from your body in the same spot all the time. They last about 10 years or so - when looked after. It's a lovely innovation to a brilliant Japanese concept. Just in case you are interested here is one of many companies that make this style of western futon www.majesticsitandsleep.com Thank you to Nao for your videos introducing Japan. I appreciate your perspective very much and am fascinated on your background of growing up in a Buddhist temple! All the best for the New Year! ありがとう
At age 71, I don’t even exercise on the floor anymore because of arthritis. It’s much easier to get in and out of a bed. And I have a firm mattress without springs, which I like.
I prefer it now mainly for space and I also feel amazing in the morning. Haven't had any bed sores for years now. The only concern people have and like to bring to my attention is when you try to include another person and since I live in the U.S. that other person may be turned off by a floor mat.
I am curious. Most of the videos I see of people switching to futons mention health benefits. It would be interesting to see a study of changes that might have occurred in Japan due to the generational shift from futons to beds.
Yet if you go to Yoga classes they teach you to do the Corpse Pose (an exercise to relax all of your body) on a thick floor mat. So I would say that even if we sleep on beds we all should try and do some basic relaxation on the floor at least twice a day for about 30 minutes. What I'm trying to say is that laying down on a floor mat has its advantages - you can reach a deeper body muscle relaxation.
as disabled person, i dont think futons would be accessible to me, both due to getting in and out of a wheelchair being easier from a bed, but also bc i dont have the energy to always put a sleeping space up and down, especially in the evenings
I've had futons through the years but mostly as a couch with a futon on a frame that pulls out to a bed if I have company to sleep on it. But I found them uncomfortable to sit on as couches because there's no ergonomic structure to them, and the futon itself is heavy and hard to move (at least the cheap ones I had which were considerably thicker and much heavier then the ones Nao showed on this video). Now I'm in a one-bedroom apartment with a dedicated bedroom and no one comes to stay over anymore especially since everyone I know has their own home (not that too many slept over when I was young, either), so I wouldn't think of using a futon now. I'm sure the dog would object, too because she really likes the bed as it is and sleeps like a queen right next to me in her dedicated spot.
I think futons are much better than the beds . They free up space , provide better back support and a few things to prevent mold and better heat is to use a bedsheet set and a comforter along with the futon . If you do that , it will not only keep it clean but also absorb extra moisture . Also a tatami mat under the futon will keep it clean and warm . Beds can also develop mold if you don’t air them and use bedsheet comforter sets , regularly washed .
This. Also people need to keep in mind, when thinking about getting one, the reason for why tatami(or similiar) is used with futon. To keep it dry and free of mold, thanks to improved air circulation thanks to the tatami, plus the additional needed maintenance, like putting the futon during long warm seasons on the sun, to neutralize the mites ect. thanks to the UV light.
@@eCoreCZA My _sleep surface_ consists of a few layers of materials ( a persian rug, a comforter and a wool blanket ) atop a Tatami bed-frame. 3" futons are way too plush for me, and my layered approach allows each layer to be cleaned or aired in the sunlight, whereas a traditional mattress will never the see the light of day and will become a viper's den of bacteria and mold over the years. I use a traditional Japanese seed-hull pillow from JLife. cheers!
Well, I've been sleeping hard surface for about 26 years ... practically on the plank floor. Not only do I have no bed, but I don't even use futon. Literally I sleep on the board, with only a very thin carpet, and a very thin blanket, which is just heat insulation. The whole together (the blanket and carpet) is no thicker than half a centimeter ... Otherwise, this is logically consequence from being extremely minimalist, living on only 14 square meters, including the bathroom, no TV, no table, chair, wardrobe, etc., and on the other hand, my hobby is "survival in extreme conditions." I have barely more belongings than fit into 3 military backpacks: a 100 liters, a 52 -liter and a 22 liters. I do not consider this lifestyle uncomfortable, I really enjoy living like this, being proud of not addicted to consumerism, and this lifestyle gives great independence, confidence and self -confidence!
@@zaharizahariev My dear friend, it is true that I am an extreme minimalist, but even within the extreme category, I am quite special. My hobby is bushcrafting, or even “survival in extreme conditions”. My plan is to move away from civilization in a few years and live off-grid, without electricity, etc. My desire and goal in life is the greatest possible independence! For this, I am willing to give up an enormous amount of comfort. However, I still need a certain amount of stuff to survive. Stuff that is not necessary for an ordinary extreme minimalist. Those who constantly stay in hotels, or stay with friends and eat in restaurants, can manage to have only 14 things or 20, etc., so very little. However, for me to survive in the wilderness, I need items and tools that they do not need: a 4-season tent; machete; hatchet; snare wire traps; ferrocerium rods for starting fires; scissors; survival knife; metal pot; metal cup; metal drinking bottle; parka and overalls, both of which are suitable for protection against temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius... Do you have any idea how bulky and heavy such a parka and overalls are?! Of course it needs a big backpack, otherwise it wouldn't be able to fit in it... And then there's all the other stuff... Of course I need a big backpack. Anyone who lives far from civilization needs serious equipment. Okay, theoretically I could survive with only as much stuff as fits in a single hip bag, I have the necessary knowledge for that. But that's really really unpleasant and requires a lot of effort, so it is sustainable just for a few weeks but not in the long run. And I want to live like a "modern caveman" or a "modern/secular hermit" for years, far from civilization, for the rest of my life!
Hey, it's been a while! I had been away because of the summer holidays myself, but now I'm back😉. Japan(Tokyo) is fine! Just hot as always..😂 Don't be nervous! You will have a wonderful time in Japan😚
If you need springs your futon is poor. The cotton loses loft, absorbs moisture and is a poor insulator. Try latex or wool with a mat underneath or raise it on a platform if necessary.
In the US if you sleep on the floor your poor and of those who do it usually on a mattress without a frame. What many people in the US do if they have limited space is either buy a sofa that turns into a bed or use what called a murphy bed which is a mattress that is recessed into the wall that you pull down when in use. I am sure one of the AIrbnb I stay at next month will have futon to sleep on
Thank you for watching again😉 I see! So it's a bit different from the reason in Japan then😃 Young Japanese also use a sofa bed but it's very rare to find a Murphy bed in Japan I believe😎 Have a good futon experience in Japan next month!
Murphy beds are not really a thing. Very few people have the. Only people who want to buy or live in a 300sq ft apartment . They are very expensive. We have the space and dont need them. Murphy beds are also not new were first appeared in the 1920's then disappeared
This is a damn lie. You don't have to be classified as poor to sleep on the floor in the US. People who can't afford a bed do sleep on the floor but so do people who know of it's health benefits. I sleep in a hammock or on the floor with no mattress or futon and I'm far from poor!
And your generation will eventually start having the same health problems that come with sleeping on a bed as the countries who have been doing it for ages. We weren't meant to sleep on soft elevated beds. You'll go back to the floor when you're old. Trust. I grew up in the US in beds and I can't tell you how my life changed when I started sleeping on the floor in my 40s. Saved my life and improved my health. Millions of people with ancient histories like yourself, sleep on the floor. They know better. You don't need to adopt the ways of people who have no ancient history...
those "new gen" japanese youngs are simply "losing their culture", they are not more clever than older people living in your country imo. old ones really knew something. since I started to sleep on the floor, my lower back problems disappeared. I can get out the bed easily and the first thing I feel in the morning is that as if someone massaged my whole body during the night. I remember my first history lessons. I really can understand after all these years what my teachers were talking about: "in Asia steppes, Turks were not people of comfort. they were nomads and they would sleep on the ground on a peltry. When they met with Chinese silk, they started to get used to its comfort and lost their touch at war." I never understood this completely but I do now. comfort makes people like sloths. you cant get out the bed, you wanna sleep more and when you get up, you are not completely relaxed. Guys, if you havent given it a try yet, dont waste any more time. You dont need a special futon or something, find a wool duvet and fold it then use it as a mattress. history and evolution do not lie.
Do you prefer sleeping on a Japanese Futon or Bed? Tell me your opinion😉 Thank you for watching😎
@JapanwithNao would you suggest someone moving to Japan temporarily to get a futon for convenience? So I wouldn’t have such a trouble moving furniture around.
Thank you for watching👌 That's a good idea. I also use a futon if I temporarily live in some places😉
@@JapanwithNao thank you for the tips!
I have a bed and a jet leg! ☺️
Its hard to understand what you are saying because the music is covering up what you are saying, as you are not a native speaker.
We are watching the video to hear what you have to say say on a topic. No one watches information and cultural videos videos for the back ground music
I am at 7 months on a futon. I have found I like a very firm bed. I am also benefiting from getting up and down from the floor. I have definitely improved my flexibility and sleeping.
That's great😊 I'm glad you like futon😊
This is exactly what I was wondering about! May I ask how old you are? I'm asking because I'm 51 and want to know if it would be good for me to try. Getting up and down from the floor seems to me like a great way to strengthen my core and knees. Was hoping that floor sleeping may also help properly align my aging spine.
@CleoHarperReturns I am 46. I used to work at a desk job, and it was killing me. The futon has helped me a lot. I have started with a cheaper futon and hopefully will soon upgrade.
@@CleoHarperReturns I am 50 and just started sleeping in the floor and I love it. I’ve also been seating on the floor and doing most of my task in that way, on a table custom design for me. I was able to find a local seller who sells monk futons as well as tatami mats. It’s easy to roll up the futon on the tatamis and even move the mats around. I do have underfloor heating which keeps the room quite dry and prevent moles. I also use buckwheat hull pillows.
@@renee-claudetanguay9738 That's wonderful!
Thank you for this pov! I am glad to hear from both sides to make a decision.
Thank you for watching! Have a good sleep anyway😊
My husband and I have been sleeping on twin futons pushed side by side with matching mats, on top of a framed tatami mat area within a western style wooden-floored room, for about a decade. We live in Minnesota, which only gets humid sometimes in the summer, and have radiators for heat. The weather is similar to Hokkaido. I'd say that futons, even with mats, are not comfortable enough if placed directly on the floor, but with tatami, it's quite nice and looks AMAZING. Beds are more comfortable, I've noticed, but we have decided that small difference in comfort pales in comparison with the benefits of being able to use the tatami space for other things during the day. It's also nice to not worry about things dropping to the floor beyond reach. And, unlike spring mattresses, futons are very quiet, which helps with co-sleeping and insomnia. I also like being able to "fall" into bed instead of "climbing" into bed. Also, I might be biased, but my lived experience with making western-style beds every morning makes folding futons a breeze. We don't lift them to put in a closet, we just fold them and push them to the the edge of the tatami, because our climate doesn't have too much of a mold issue, this hasn't caused us any problems. Sometimes I lie on top of both folded futons to rest, like I would on a cot, or or use the folded futons like a backrest to read a book or work on my laptop during the day.
Some issues we've noticed though is that dust accumulates under the tatami frame. Also, the futons cannot be pushed directly against the outside wall in winter for long because our old house has poor insulation and this can cause moisture accumulation inside, leading to paint damage or mold. Lastly, because of where we live, it is unfortunately difficult to find good quality tatami or futon replacements, since the shop we first bought ours from went out of business. We are still very happy with our arrangement though and are thinking of ways to improve the dust issue, like installing narrow drawers underneath to close it off.
Now that i sleep on the floor i get much better sleep.
If you feel comfortable, it's the best! Thank you for watching😊
Pros of floor sleeping:
1. Once you get used to it, you feel very comfortable.
2. Can build a good morning ritual (not always)
Cons of floor sleeping:
1. It's not ideal in colder climates
2. Tedious to put away
3. May need to invest in a dehumidifier
4. Can be more expensive than a traditional bed setup
For me, the one pro out weights all of these cons. But you genuinely have to try it yourself with a blanket, sleeping bag or yoga mat before you can understand the intricacies. While there is only one pro, it's easily worth it because my sleep quality has vastly improved.
We always test the matress before buying. But also, may suppliers have 4 week free return policy. We mainly use matress, but are OK to sleep on Futon in Japan.
Thank you for watching😉 That's good!
I guess many Japanese don't try it before buying...as long as it's not expensive😂
Futon on the bedframe or couch style frame and boom, you get all the best benefits :) natural, firm, breatheble, off the ground, can combine different layers for more firmness or cusion :)
Most younger people wouldn't know that futons were a huge trend in the late 80s to later 90s in the U.S and Canada,. Long before the current obsession with japans culture.
I have a futon that I have used on futon frames and then moved it on to European style slat beds when they became a thing here. People would shame me if they knew how old it is...that how well made it was.
@@zochbuppet448 😅 My household’s been obsessed with Japanese culture since the late eighties, but never had anything but horrible, cheap, western, convertible “futon” couches, until recently. I have to say, I like the new memory foam ones little better. But we did love the floor with sheepskins, and I bet a tatami base would have made it much better.
I never thought about the problem of mold! I have a friend who prefers futons, but hers is on a low frame--6 " from the floor. I prefer a bed, in part because I enjoy reading in bed. And I live where it gets down to -30C in the winter.
OH YEA. Only now that you mentioned that I realized the problem with sleeping on the floor... the air near floor is much colder. Not ideal if cold climates and no wonder why beds became a thing.
I slept on the floor for a winter. It was hard esp. hard on my joints. A couple of times I woke up from the pain in my knees. They hurt so much; I couldn't stand. I was in my 30's, so I shouldn't have been having such trouble. I prefer beds.
After 67 years of sleeping on a bed in the USA, I have switched to a very thin "futon" on Tatami. _( actually, even a 3" thick futon is too thick for me )_ My goal is to eventually sleep directly on the Tatami mat ;) Better for health! Cheers.
I've slept on elevated futon couches (a frame that folds to be a couch or flattens to be a bed), and mattresses with and without box springs. I prefer mattresses without box springs, personally. Something you can do to get a bit of space back from your bed is to put it on a platform that has storage under it. You can put things in there you only use part of the year, like storing Winter bedding (heavy quilts and comforters) during the Summer. You can also get frames that give space over the bed, or frames that raise the bed up off the floor so you sleep closer to the ceiling. Then you can put a desk or a reading space under the bed.
I call your back rest a headboard, some bed frames have a footboard, and some just have a frame. I noticed you don't have the box spring part of the bed. You just have the mattress. I'm older it would be hard getting off the floor, and it would seem very firm. I do sleep in my recliner quite a bit
you can just use a regular bed matress on the floor if you have pain from the thin futon? flip it up against the wall when not in use
i live for soft springy cushy beds, my partner much prefers a harder surface so a futon would be perfect for him.
The main difference is with a bed, you can customize your experience. If you want a very firm mattress - it’s an option. With the floor, not so much.
The main reason for beds is not comfort, but warmth. Due to how cold it gets in parts of Europe, sleeping on the floor is not an option and a waste of heat, as literally the whole rest of the room is warmer than where you are. You can see that the further North you go, the higher the beds get. This is why IKEA beds are a lot of the times very, very high, with very tall mattresses. The higher you sleep inside a room, the warmer it is.
Wowwwww I never thought of that!!
So get a futon if I have floor heating?
Ikea beds are LOW. Way lower than US beds, and their mattresses very thin. I've refused to buy any Ikea bed because of that. I'm average height and can't get in or out of them easily.
@CPAndy-x5x Maybe that's a thing in the US, but in Europe they sell very high beds.
i think a really big problem with sleeping direktly on the floor you didn't mention in my country is, that the floor of the rooms is not so clean that you want your clean bed there directly on it... There are slippers in Germany, but most people still wear them for a short time in the garden or yard. Therefore they are not really clean. And then walk through the entire apartment.
Worse (i personally find it worse, others not), people often forget to take off their street shoes.
It's even a bit rude here in Germany to ask guests to take off their shoes. You won't go into the bedroom with it, but the dirt will spread around...
There is in Germany a thing like a Futon, it is called Guest matress. it looks like a futon and it is thin like a futon and hard like a futon. it is used as an easy portable bed if there come friends of your child and need a additional bed. or if you (as a mother p.e.) want to sleep in the room of your child. then you can use this, too. (but then you clean the floor before and you will be strikt with the dirty shoes...).
When I decided to try "floor sleeping" in USA, I quickly learned to damp-mop my floors every night before setting up my bed. Today, I do sleep on a Tatami-bed which is 15" off the floor, but I love my new ritual of _cleaning the day_ off my floors before bed-time.
I guess i have the best of both worlds? Many years ago I heard about futons and their natural capacity. On the West Coast (Vancouver), they innovated the design of futons to suite western expectations. I've slept on these style "futons" for over 40 years. You can get mattresses made with raw cotton only or have them made with a layer of memory foam inserts. These modern interpretations of the futon are much thicker 10" +. They are also much heavier and mostly designed to be used in a bed frame (lattice) that holds the futon mattress in place. So, they are not "put away" on a daily basis - you are actually sleeping on a mattress/bed - on a contemporary adaptation of the futon. I remember when I got my first futon. I did not have a lot of money so I got the basic "do it yourself" mattress model - where you were give the raw cotton in a bundle and you had to fold it into a ready made cotton mattress cover. Once filled, I used a very, very, long needle to thread through the mattress to "fix" the cotton cover in place. I LOVE my futon. It's cooler to sleep on in the summer and naturally warmer in the winter. Because the mattress is elevated on a Lower Style Bed frame (Japanese esthetic), it's very easy to get into and the lattice base allows air circulation at all times. My only task/challenge, is to turn over/rotate the mattress once a month to reduce dimples in the mattress from your body in the same spot all the time. They last about 10 years or so - when looked after. It's a lovely innovation to a brilliant Japanese concept. Just in case you are interested here is one of many companies that make this style of western futon www.majesticsitandsleep.com Thank you to Nao for your videos introducing Japan. I appreciate your perspective very much and am fascinated on your background of growing up in a Buddhist temple! All the best for the New Year! ありがとう
Thank you for an informative video
In the past, there was no concrete floor. And in winter they slept on upper floors, and a tatami mat under the futon provided additional warmth. 🛏
Mold is a thing that many people don’t know.
I sleep comfortably on both.
At age 71, I don’t even exercise on the floor anymore because of arthritis. It’s much easier to get in and out of a bed. And I have a firm mattress without springs, which I like.
I prefer it now mainly for space and I also feel amazing in the morning. Haven't had any bed sores for years now. The only concern people have and like to bring to my attention is when you try to include another person and since I live in the U.S. that other person may be turned off by a floor mat.
I am curious. Most of the videos I see of people switching to futons mention health benefits. It would be interesting to see a study of changes that might have occurred in Japan due to the generational shift from futons to beds.
Yet if you go to Yoga classes they teach you to do the Corpse Pose (an exercise to relax all of your body) on a thick floor mat.
So I would say that even if we sleep on beds we all should try and do some basic relaxation on the floor at least twice a day for about 30 minutes.
What I'm trying to say is that laying down on a floor mat has its advantages - you can reach a deeper body muscle relaxation.
as disabled person, i dont think futons would be accessible to me, both due to getting in and out of a wheelchair being easier from a bed, but also bc i dont have the energy to always put a sleeping space up and down, especially in the evenings
You really should have a tatami mat under a Japanese futon not just have it on the floor.
Thank you for watching and your advice😉
I've had futons through the years but mostly as a couch with a futon on a frame that pulls out to a bed if I have company to sleep on it. But I found them uncomfortable to sit on as couches because there's no ergonomic structure to them, and the futon itself is heavy and hard to move (at least the cheap ones I had which were considerably thicker and much heavier then the ones Nao showed on this video). Now I'm in a one-bedroom apartment with a dedicated bedroom and no one comes to stay over anymore especially since everyone I know has their own home (not that too many slept over when I was young, either), so I wouldn't think of using a futon now. I'm sure the dog would object, too because she really likes the bed as it is and sleeps like a queen right next to me in her dedicated spot.
The only reason I don’t sleep on the floor is because of the bugs. I live in the tropics and being lifted up off the floor helps a lot!
There are various models of net tents
Or the low platforms like a bed frame where you can put tatami mats. Buuut if you already have a bed, why convert to that, right?
of course the japanese futon .. the hardness of the floor improves your bone and muscle because it is firm 🌟
domo nao san 💫
I think futons are much better than the beds . They free up space , provide better back support and a few things to prevent mold and better heat is to use a bedsheet set and a comforter along with the futon . If you do that , it will not only keep it clean but also absorb extra moisture . Also a tatami mat under the futon will keep it clean and warm . Beds can also develop mold if you don’t air them and use bedsheet comforter sets , regularly washed .
This. Also people need to keep in mind, when thinking about getting one, the reason for why tatami(or similiar) is used with futon. To keep it dry and free of mold, thanks to improved air circulation thanks to the tatami, plus the additional needed maintenance, like putting the futon during long warm seasons on the sun, to neutralize the mites ect. thanks to the UV light.
@@eCoreCZA My _sleep surface_ consists of a few layers of materials ( a persian rug, a comforter and a wool blanket ) atop a Tatami bed-frame. 3" futons are way too plush for me, and my layered approach allows each layer to be cleaned or aired in the sunlight, whereas a traditional mattress will never the see the light of day and will become a viper's den of bacteria and mold over the years. I use a traditional Japanese seed-hull pillow from JLife. cheers!
Well, I've been sleeping hard surface for about 26 years ... practically on the plank floor. Not only do I have no bed, but I don't even use futon. Literally I sleep on the board, with only a very thin carpet, and a very thin blanket, which is just heat insulation. The whole together (the blanket and carpet) is no thicker than half a centimeter ...
Otherwise, this is logically consequence from being extremely minimalist, living on only 14 square meters, including the bathroom, no TV, no table, chair, wardrobe, etc., and on the other hand, my hobby is "survival in extreme conditions." I have barely more belongings than fit into 3 military backpacks: a 100 liters, a 52 -liter and a 22 liters. I do not consider this lifestyle uncomfortable, I really enjoy living like this, being proud of not addicted to consumerism, and this lifestyle gives great independence, confidence and self -confidence!
What on earth do you need the 100 l bag for that bag is huge …
No man is an island
@@zaharizahariev My dear friend, it is true that I am an extreme minimalist, but even within the extreme category, I am quite special. My hobby is bushcrafting, or even “survival in extreme conditions”. My plan is to move away from civilization in a few years and live off-grid, without electricity, etc. My desire and goal in life is the greatest possible independence! For this, I am willing to give up an enormous amount of comfort. However, I still need a certain amount of stuff to survive. Stuff that is not necessary for an ordinary extreme minimalist. Those who constantly stay in hotels, or stay with friends and eat in restaurants, can manage to have only 14 things or 20, etc., so very little. However, for me to survive in the wilderness, I need items and tools that they do not need: a 4-season tent; machete; hatchet; snare wire traps; ferrocerium rods for starting fires; scissors; survival knife; metal pot; metal cup; metal drinking bottle; parka and overalls, both of which are suitable for protection against temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius... Do you have any idea how bulky and heavy such a parka and overalls are?! Of course it needs a big backpack, otherwise it wouldn't be able to fit in it... And then there's all the other stuff...
Of course I need a big backpack. Anyone who lives far from civilization needs serious equipment. Okay, theoretically I could survive with only as much stuff as fits in a single hip bag, I have the necessary knowledge for that. But that's really really unpleasant and requires a lot of effort, so it is sustainable just for a few weeks but not in the long run. And I want to live like a "modern caveman" or a "modern/secular hermit" for years, far from civilization, for the rest of my life!
Nao 👋I have just a few days. Everything is Ok in Japan? I am so anxious😬 ..🥵Prepared to the hot🔥 summer ☀️ .. But not Hurricane..
Hey, it's been a while! I had been away because of the summer holidays myself, but now I'm back😉.
Japan(Tokyo) is fine! Just hot as always..😂 Don't be nervous! You will have a wonderful time in Japan😚
Please tell me how someone with a hip replacement can sleep on the floor.🤔
Your exempted
That wasn't the topic? Sleep however you like?
😍😍
If you need springs your futon is poor. The cotton loses loft, absorbs moisture and is a poor insulator. Try latex or wool with a mat underneath or raise it on a platform if necessary.
I loved sleeping on a mattress on floor
In the US if you sleep on the floor your poor and of those who do it usually on a mattress without a frame. What many people in the US do if they have limited space is either buy a sofa that turns into a bed or use what called a murphy bed which is a mattress that is recessed into the wall that you pull down when in use. I am sure one of the AIrbnb I stay at next month will have futon to sleep on
Thank you for watching again😉 I see! So it's a bit different from the reason in Japan then😃 Young Japanese also use a sofa bed but it's very rare to find a Murphy bed in Japan I believe😎
Have a good futon experience in Japan next month!
Murphy beds are not really a thing. Very few people have the. Only people who want to buy or live in a 300sq ft apartment . They are very expensive. We have the space and dont need them. Murphy beds are also not new were first appeared in the 1920's then disappeared
This is a damn lie. You don't have to be classified as poor to sleep on the floor in the US. People who can't afford a bed do sleep on the floor but so do people who know of it's health benefits. I sleep in a hammock or on the floor with no mattress or futon and I'm far from poor!
And your generation will eventually start having the same health problems that come with sleeping on a bed as the countries who have been doing it for ages. We weren't meant to sleep on soft elevated beds. You'll go back to the floor when you're old. Trust. I grew up in the US in beds and I can't tell you how my life changed when I started sleeping on the floor in my 40s. Saved my life and improved my health. Millions of people with ancient histories like yourself, sleep on the floor. They know better. You don't need to adopt the ways of people who have no ancient history...
Probably i love Japan but it doesn't mean i have to like futon c:
Thank you for watching😎 That's true😂
those "new gen" japanese youngs are simply "losing their culture", they are not more clever than older people living in your country imo.
old ones really knew something.
since I started to sleep on the floor, my lower back problems disappeared. I can get out the bed easily and the first thing I feel in the morning is that as if someone massaged my whole body during the night.
I remember my first history lessons. I really can understand after all these years what my teachers were talking about:
"in Asia steppes, Turks were not people of comfort. they were nomads and they would sleep on the ground on a peltry. When they met with Chinese silk, they started to get used to its comfort and lost their touch at war."
I never understood this completely but I do now. comfort makes people like sloths. you cant get out the bed, you wanna sleep more and when you get up, you are not completely relaxed.
Guys, if you havent given it a try yet, dont waste any more time. You dont need a special futon or something, find a wool duvet and fold it then use it as a mattress.
history and evolution do not lie.
Beds are more convenient and sanitary. You can get beds in any firmness level and even adjustable firmness.
....beds are far from "sanitary"... they are viper pits of bacteria. Lol