小柳畳商店

<h1>夢は150年続く家業の「畳屋」</h1>
<paragraph>”将来の夢は畳屋を継ぐこと”
小柳畳商店5代目 小柳竜士さんは、幼稚園の頃から文集に記していたそうです。<br />
自宅のすぐそばに畳作りの作業場があったため日常的に父と祖父の手伝いをし、面白がりながら遊び感覚で畳作りに触れてきたそうです。高校卒業後は畳学校へ通いつつ、学校と提携している畳屋で3年間働きながら学び、卒業後21歳からは4代目の父と共に家業を支えてきました。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/5839845b-a471-4af9-9ac5-d127b0dbf425-HdO0spFN4imQq1cjUka4TUocx1remi.jpg' caption='5代目の小柳竜士さん。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/b5bf3573-54b7-4e0e-bfdd-77b45a7a6317-aAN40y0kKvAg7iz2W9m14cSL9n0l0H.jpg' caption='作業場の様子。'></photo>
<paragraph>竜士さんの言葉には父親へのリスペクトとこれからの畳の在り方への想いが滲みます。<br />
“畳離れは実感しているが、畳は日本の気候にあった最高の床材だからこそ、もっと畳文化を伝えていきたい”と意気込む竜士さん。<br />
創業150年を迎えた小柳畳商店では、確かな技術で仕上げる住宅用の畳に加えて、畳を用いた椅子やスマートホンケースなど従来の畳の概念に捉われない製品を製作し畳の魅力を伝えています。</paragraph>
<h1>空間に合わせて作る一枚の畳</h1>
<paragraph>畳は専用の機械と手作業を組み合わせて作り、1日あたり20枚程を仕上げています。<br />
材料のい草には国産と中国産があり、国産の9割は熊本県で生産されています。<br />
国産のい草の特徴は、ヴァニリンというリラックス成分によるバニラに近い上品で柔らかい癒される香り。また綺麗に揃った色や太さ、目が詰まった丈夫さは厳選されて作られた国産ならではの魅力です。発注元の要望や用途に合わせて上質な国産と安価な中国産それぞれを使い分けています。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/a8c7f582-aa24-43c1-a340-db75514726c3-e8C5p1h1Xzlxdy3PQNMLdDaEV8pobi.jpg' caption='上：中国産のい草。下：国産のい草。'></photo>
<paragraph>住居用の畳は部屋の間取りに合わせて作り、部屋の一角に柱がある場合には、手作業で柱に合わせた形にすることもあるそうです。<br />
畳の厚みを手で縫っていくのは、非常に力が入り、汗だくになりながらの作業です。<br />
“畳作りで一番気を使うところはサイズ感。”と語る竜士さん。<br />
“畳を入れる和室の寸法を測り、枠内に隙間なく綺麗に収まるようにしないといけない。その感覚を掴むまでに3年くらいかかった。”<br />
仕上がった畳が部屋にぴたりと綺麗に収まる様を見ると嬉しくなるそう。<br />
お客様も美しい畳の仕上がりに喜ばれる瞬間です。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/1d190482-23e1-4b70-b60a-87706fa7bd3c-b2izhL0omLtkC3afT3rRWrNRlsHKPv.jpg' caption='畳の手縫いは非常に力のいる作業。'></photo>
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<h1>現代の暮らしに活かす畳の魅力</h1>
<paragraph>小柳畳商店では、住居用の畳のほか、畳を身近に取り入れられるような商品づくりにも取り組んでいます。<br />
ユニークなものの一つがレーザーで刻印する“畳の命名書”。<br />
仏壇前の畳についた線香を落とし焦がした跡から閃いたそうです。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/b9ddb262-da9f-44f6-bff2-c3a3b933da66-BuwRueSWHrt1OJIZ1VguGvr5T6h9lF.jpg' caption='畳の命名書。'></photo>
<paragraph>畳をカットしカバーを作り土台を包む製法で作った「座・あぐら」という畳椅子は正座した足が痺れないようにするために考案。<br />
同様の製法で丸椅子も製作し洋室にも畳を取り入れられる一品が出来ました。<br />
暮らしの中で得たヒントから新たな畳製品をうみ、畳を生活の中に落とし込んでいます。<br />
素材も従来のい草の他、色のバリエーションが豊かで色褪せがなく、カビが生えない和紙畳を使用した商品も多数展開しています。<br />
アイデア豊かな製品づくりとと和紙畳の活用で、現代の暮らしに寄り添うデザイン性の高いモダンな畳を提案しています。</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/f062d769-215d-4d35-9218-2167c879f0a3-ih6XmefbbhftDAmvpxwqmNMUuAWXvl.jpg' caption='畳を作る技術で開発した「座・あぐら」。'></photo>

<h1>畳を生活の一部に
</h1>
<paragraph>“家業を継ぐ時は家に和室が少なくなっている時で、まずいと感じていた。”<br />
竜士さんは畳離れの危機感を感じつつ、若い世代にも畳の魅力を伝えようと努めています。<br />
“畳文化がなくなりつつある上で、“配置”という点での魅力の伝え方もある。”と竜士さんは言います。<br />
例えば新築やリフォームの際には小上がりを作り畳を取り入れることを提案したり、“この部屋には低い家具を配置したほうが広く見えるし、畳も合いますよ”などと助言をしたりと空間を通して畳の意義を伝えています。
</paragraph>
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<paragraph>畳が家にない世代にも畳の良さや店のことを知ってもらうためインスタグラムでの発信にも
力を入れています。“案外若い世代(30代)でも畳に魅力を感じてくれる人は多い。ある程度若い層でも畳を使い出している実感はある。”と手応えを語る竜士さん。<br /><br />
“もっと畳を普及させて後世に受け継いでもらえるようにしたい。これまでの畳の使い方とはまた違う形で発信をしていきたい。もっと畳を生活の一部としてポピュラーなものにして、次の後継者が苦労しないようにしていきたいと思っている。”<br />
現代の暮らしに馴染む畳の在り方を追求されています。</paragraph>

<h1>A dream: to carry on the 150-year-old family business of tatami-making.</h1>
<paragraph>“My dream for the future is to inherit the tatami business.” This is what Ryuji Koyanagi, the fifth-generation successor of Koyanagi Tatami Shop, had written in his kindergarten essays. Since his home stood right next to the tatami workshop, he grew up helping his father and grandfather on a daily basis, playfully getting involved in tatami-making as if it were a game. After graduating high school, he attended a tatami school while also working for three years at a tatami shop affiliated with the school. From the age of 21, after graduation, he has been supporting the family business alongside his father, the fourth-generation head.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/a3b344c8-5a30-4049-93e9-c046bc38a92c-tiev88sm4ycguBHFIkDQnT2pkIin4D.jpg' caption='Ryuji Koyanagi, the fifth-generation successor.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/19c8b1eb-5913-4bdb-9785-6943ede5cd00-S1QvkSwgzpLt9OfGHuEV31FDmt78W3.jpg' caption='Inside the workshop.'></photo>
<paragraph>Ryuji’s words reflect both deep respect for his father and his own vision for the future of tatami.
“Although I feel that fewer people are using tatami these days, tatami is still the best flooring material suited to Japan’s climate. That’s why I want to share the culture of tatami even more,” he says passionately.<br /><br />
Celebrating its 150th anniversary, Koyanagi Tatami Shop continues to produce high-quality tatami mats for residences with proven craftsmanship. At the same time, they also create products beyond traditional tatami concepts—such as tatami chairs and smartphone cases—to showcase tatami’s appeal.</paragraph>
<h1>One tatami mat crafted to fit a space.</h1>
<paragraph>Tatami is made using a combination of specialized machines and handwork, with about 20 mats completed per day. The rush grass used comes from both Japan and China, with 90% of the domestic supply grown in Kumamoto Prefecture.<br />
Domestic rush grass is notable for its gentle, soothing fragrance similar to vanilla, created by a relaxing compound called vanillin. Its uniform color and thickness, along with tightly packed fibers, make it durable and uniquely appealing. Depending on the customer’s requests and intended use, they select between high-quality domestic grass and the more affordable Chinese alternative.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/b83d749c-7fa9-48bd-9386-4d9ae50fcc27-qGLIQFgv1kXCv0nO3VS9KTzOMHRGPG.jpg' caption='Top: Chinese rush grass. Bottom: Japanese rush grass.'></photo>
<paragraph>Tatami for homes is custom-made to fit each room’s layout. When a pillar stands in one corner, the mat is carefully hand-shaped to fit around it. Sewing the thick tatami edges by hand requires significant strength, leaving the craftsman drenched in sweat.
“The most important thing in tatami-making is the sizing,” says Ryuji. “You have to measure the dimensions of the room precisely so that the tatami fits perfectly into the frame with no gaps. It took me about three years to master that sense.”<br />
He says that seeing a finished mat fit neatly into a room is one of the most rewarding moments—both for him and for the customers who delight in the result.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/3e0012b3-5788-4507-b49d-155484438886-AA4ejTiSUMAekJ0EiHqXKofeLXHEZA.jpg' caption='Hand-sewing tatami requires intense physical effort.'></photo>
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<h1>The appeal of tatami in modern life.</h1>
<paragraph>In addition to residential tatami, Koyanagi Tatami Shop also creates products that allow people to bring tatami into their daily lives in new ways. One unique idea is the “Tatami Naming Certificate,” where names are engraved into tatami using a laser. The idea came from the burn marks left on tatami by incense sticks before a family altar.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/71b8e53f-30be-4db7-823b-bf4d82f7bfa3-jtiiWsJefkqiEUimbOS9ecDsCxDSSu.jpg' caption='Tatami Naming Certificate.'></photo>
<paragraph>They also created the tatami chair “Za-Agura,” designed so that sitting cross-legged doesn’t cause numbness. Using a similar method, they developed round stools, offering ways to incorporate tatami even into Western-style rooms. These new products, born from everyday hints, bring tatami into modern living spaces.<br />
In addition to traditional rush grass, they also use washi paper tatami, which offers rich color variations, resists fading, and prevents mold growth. With these innovations and creative designs, they propose modern tatami that harmonizes with contemporary lifestyles.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/270229a2-5033-4de0-a0a8-22790e19c0e1-VVC6aHLgveHXdXjpDF7v9mv3sgacRr.jpg' caption='The tatami chair “Za-Agura,” developed with tatami-making techniques.'></photo>
<h1>Making tatami part of everyday life.</h1>
<paragraph>“When I took over the family business, Japanese homes already had fewer tatami rooms, and I felt this was a serious problem.”<br />
Feeling the crisis of declining tatami use, Ryuji is striving to share its appeal with younger generations. “Tatami culture may be fading, but its value can still be conveyed through how it is arranged in a space,” he says.<br />
For example, he suggests adding a raised tatami platform in new homes or renovations, or advises, “If you use low furniture here, the room will look more spacious, and tatami will match well.” In this way, he communicates tatami’s significance through spatial design.</paragraph>
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<paragraph>To reach younger generations who may not have tatami in their homes, he actively shares information on Instagram. “Surprisingly, even people in their 30s find tatami appealing. I’ve felt that more young people are starting to use tatami,” he says with confidence.<br /><br />
“I want tatami to spread more widely and be passed down to future generations. I’d like to share it in ways that differ from traditional usage, making tatami more familiar and part of everyday life. That way, the next successor won’t have to struggle as much.”
He continues to pursue ways tatami can fit into modern lifestyles.</paragraph>

長崎県で畳文化を守り続ける小柳畳商店では、畳を作るだけでなく、ライフスタイルに取り込みやすくなる工夫をしています。
畳を使った空間の提案から、椅子などのアイデア商品の開発など現代の暮らしに馴染む在り方を追求されています。

Koyanagi Tatami Works, based in Nagasaki Prefecture, is dedicated to preserving Japan’s tatami culture. Beyond simply making tatami, the shop strives to adapt it to modern lifestyles—offering design proposals for tatami-integrated spaces and developing innovative products such as tatami chairs—pursuing new ways for this tradition to blend seamlessly into contemporary living.