Over the years, various ancient civilizations including Babylon and Mesopotamia have been known to sleep on mattresses filled with cotton. This type of bedding was preferred for its comfort, support and could be used in different climatic conditions. However it is the Japanese who have been credited with creating and popularizing what is today referred to as futons.

Originally from Japan, futons are thin mattresses and were typically designed to be spread on special kind of flooring common in Japan known as tatami. This flooring was in the form of mats that were made of rice straw. Tatami covered the floors of most of their houses. The actual word “futon” in Japanese means bedding, and included the futon mattresses and duvet coverings or comforters.

Futon Space Savers, such as this futon loveseat, make small spaces larger and more functional.

In Japanese the mattress like structure that is today referred to as futon is known as shikibuton while the duvet is known as kakebuton. Original Futons were slightly different in structure. They measured about two or three inches in thickness and were made of long staple cotton which happens to be the most valuable part of an unprocessed cotton ball. This long staple made the futon sturdy and prevented any bumps or pulling apart of the mattress. As a ritual, the Japanese took their futons to what was then known as a futon specialist who removed the outer covering, washes the cotton and returns the covering. The same was done for the beddings used to cover. This practice was carried out once every year.

A daily practice among the Japanese involves rolling out futons every night to sleep on and roll them up again in the morning. They are usually stored in closets during the day or put out to air in the sun. Apart from the fact that they were comfortable, Japanese people like the portability of the futon and this was due to space being very important and well regarded in ancient Japanese culture.

The Futon concept has been adapted in various cultures by becoming common bedding in many parts of the world. Unlike in traditional Japanese culture, other cultures use futons for various uses and not only for sleeping on. In America the futon began to gain its foothold in the late 1960’s and early seventies. What started with a few Japanese people introducing it to American friends turned into a flourishing industry. Futons started being hand made in America through cottage industries, which distributed them to different locations.

The concept started being slowly adopted by people outside the Japanese culture owing to its comfort and its ability to save space. As the industry grew, the popularity of the futon created the need for formal regulation. Federal standards began to be complied with in the mid seventies and required the manufactures to carry out similar standardizing texts as conventional mattress makers. The irony is that the western style futons are now just as popular in Japan as they are in other parts of the world. Modern futons are now mass produced all over the world in various shapes and styles.