A futon , unlike a bed, is only out when it is in use. During the day, it is folded in three and put away in a closet especially designed for futon storage called the oshi-ire . The room can then be used for a variety of purposes. Because futon are portable and are easily folded out of sight, many families sleep in a single room while the children are small, even if the children have their own rooms. Kentaro's is one such family.
Mats tend to be good insulators, so they are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
In a traditional Japanese house, there is no need for chairs. You sit directly on the tatami , or on a mini- futon cushion called a zabuton . All rights reserved.