Customer Tatami review for reduced back pain

A customer suffering from back pain and sciatica chose custom-made tatami mats made to fit the size of the room.

These custom-made mats were a perfect solution for converting an otherwise blah dining/sun room with cold gray ceramic flooring into a room for respite and healing work with my clients. It has also been great for yoga, meditation, and even entertaining friends.

[ Before ]

Room is asymmetrical

I was initially disappointed when gaps showed up between the edges of the mat and some parts of the wall given the inherent asymmetry of the room. Thankfully, I found a simple and affordable solution using non-adhesive flexible neoprene foam strips of different thicknesses which blended really well with the overall look. From a distance, you won’t be able to tell.

Flexible neoprene foam strips often used to tighten gaps in refrigerator doors and windows

I had done prior research and knew that Chinese look-alikes would cost me less. However, I decided to save on other home improvements and invest in ordering custom mats from Tokyo Tatami as a way to honor the purpose of the room as a space for respite and healing by going for originality, culture, and craft. I also knew that I was not likely to get the quality and attention to detail from Chinese versions or other mass-produced options. Equally important, my experience with Tokyo Tatami’s customer service has been wonderful and for me, that takes the cake!

(Adhesive lint roller makes it very easy to clean under and on the surface of the mat without damaging the mat)

I’ve had the mats for almost a year now and they have held up well so far to daily foot traffic, furniture loading, and gentle vacuuming. To extend the life of the mats, I’ve decided to use a lint roller for daily cleaning so I can do less vacuuming. You can see that I’ve also placed bamboo slates under the cabinet legs to minimize surface dents.

A few months ago I suffered severe back pain and sciatica nerve pinching, the pain did not go away despite physical therapy. Then about a month ago, it struck me to sleep on the mat. Since then, my back pain has significantly reduced.

[ Layout of tatami mats ]

Tatami mat type

Classic Black-Heri Tokyo　Green　

Tatami mat size

66.6 “×37.2 “×1 “　　4mats
74.4 “×33.3 “×1 “　　6mats

Place (area) of residence

North Carolina United States

The back of the tatami mat has a non-slip.
Just put the tatami on the floor is okay

Tatami mats are not connected with each other when just laid on the floor.
Tatami has an anti-slip gripper on their back, which works against moving apart provided that they are laid on a smooth wooden floor.