Kumamoto Igusa Tatami Facing (Kumamoto): season, origin and where to buy

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

KUMAMOTO-IGUSA-TATAMI-OMOTE is a high quality tatami facing of rush that are dyed by mud. Producers are involved in full production process from cultivation of rush to weaving. By using the same length of rush, the color and other varietal characteristics in the facing become beautifully unitary.

Link with the production area

The process of entire production (cultivation, processing and weaving) has developed in the geographical area as the area started cultivation of rush. The tatami facing production became the main local industry, and by 1970, the area evolved as the top tatami facing production site in Japan.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s9.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Find on furusato nozei (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

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FAQ

This tatami facing is woven from rush in Yatsushiro City, Hikawa Town and Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Producers handle every step from growing and mud-dyeing the rush to weaving, and by using rush of the same length they achieve a high-quality facing with uniform color and varietal character.

Kumamoto Igusa Tatami Facing is produced in Yatsushiro City, Hikawa Town (Yatsushiro District) and Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation). Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Kumamoto Igusa Tatami Facing was registered as a Geographical Indication on February 2, 2016 (Registration No. 9). The registered producer group is JA Yatsushiro‐Area, JA Kumamoto‐Uki, JA Kuma‐Area (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives).