Japanese food. Sleepless in Japan

U different nations traditions concerning them may differ significantly Everyday life. Japan looks especially exotic from this point of view, because this country, due to its location, for a very long time formed its culture and customs in isolation from the states of Europe and Asia. Therefore, Japanese traditions regarding different areas life, for us look unusual and sometimes even strange. Today we’ll see how different the Japanese approach to sleep is from ours. What traditions of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun related to sleep can surprise us?

The first and most important difference is the practice of sleeping on the floor. Most Japanese initially slept on mats woven from straw, while members of the nobility could afford to sleep on more comfortable soft and high mats - tatami. Tatami were made from rice or any other straw; they allowed the body to breathe during sleep, as they were highly breathable. The hard and smooth surface of the tatami made it possible to maintain correct position spine and contributed healthy development musculoskeletal system.

Tatami is used in Japanese homes as a traditional floor covering to this day. Strict rules are followed when weaving these products. So, for example, such a mat can only have clearly defined dimensions (90x180 centimeters and 90x90 centimeters, etc.), its height is 5 centimeters. Tatami mats are also placed on the floor in accordance with centuries-old rules.

In the 17th century, rich Japanese people began to lay a special mattress on top of tatami - a futon, which was handmade from cotton and wool. The cost of such products was very high, and only over time, in the 18th century, mattresses began to become more affordable. In the 19th century, Japan began importing raw cotton, which allowed every resident to purchase a futon.

Typically, high-quality raw cotton is used to produce futons. Raw materials are used exclusively of the highest quality. The cotton is sorted by hand, all debris is removed from it, and it is further fluffed. The resulting cotton is carefully laid out on a special table, the dimensions of which coincide with the area of ​​the future futon. The cotton is carefully distributed over the surface, achieving ideal uniformity of the layer of the future mattress. Once one layer of cotton is evenly distributed, it is quilted and secured. The procedure is repeated again with the next layer. There can be from one to eighteen such layers in a futon.

A futon in Japan consists of a shikibuton mattress underneath and a thick kakebuton quilt.

How is it used? Everything is unusual here too. Futons are shot on the tatami before bed, and in the morning they are rolled up and hidden in the closet. This is very practical and convenient, since Japanese housing usually cannot boast large areas. Don't forget how densely populated this country is. Thus, using a futon in this way allows you to save useful space and use the room not only as a bedroom. IN daytime in the place of their “beds” the Japanese can have lunch, have a tea ceremony, do work, etc.

Even in the traditions of sleep, the famous Japanese minimalism appears, which strives to maximum benefit use minimal space.

Sleeping on the floor is an ancient tradition, but many Japanese still follow it today. In almost every house in the Land of the Rising Sun you will find a room that is covered with tatami. Although today such floor coverings are not cheap at all.

In the 40s of the 20th century, futons began to become popular in the USA, and then began to appear in Europe. However, the Western version of the futon is often not a separate mattress, but a kind of folding sofa or chair. The mattress is placed on a folding metal frame and, when unfolded, forms a comfortable bed. However, futon mattresses are not uncommon, and they are used in many homes in Ukraine.

How can you use a futon?

In Ukrainian stores you can find quite big choice futons are universal thin mattresses. Since your apartment is unlikely to have a room with tatami on the floor, you will not be able to follow the example of the Japanese. However, a futon is also a relevant thing for a resident of Ukraine. It can be used to add softness or firmness to your mattress. Buyers especially often choose it for use on uneven surfaces of folding sofas or old mattresses.

As you remember, the futon easily rolls up and hides in the closet. This is very convenient for using it as an additional sleeping place for guests. In addition, this is a convenient mobile place for a child to play, do fitness, etc.

A futon is a comfortable lounging solution that is quite affordable for most people. It makes sleep comfortable and safe, thanks to its environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic filler. And its ease of transportation and use makes it a practical and necessary thing in every home.

Another unusual Japanese tradition is inemuri.

Another strange Japanese tradition associated with sleep is inemuri - the practice nap in such unusual places as public transport or a meeting at work.

What caused this strange habit Japanese? Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun are a nation for which work often comes first. The Japanese are world-famous workaholics. They get up early and go to bed late and, accordingly, often do not get enough sleep. You may see a Japanese person sleeping standing, sitting, or in any other intricate position. It seems that there are no uncomfortable sleeping positions for them.

In Japan, a person who falls asleep on the street or in the subway will not cause condemnation from anyone around him. People treat this situation with understanding, leniency and even respect. After all, inemuri is the result of a person working hard, and this is very commendable.

It turns out that for inemuri there are even certain rules. So, for example, it is quite acceptable for a boss to take a nap at work in the presence of his subordinates, but subordinates cannot afford to sleep in the presence of a manager. It is encouraged when during such sleep a person shows social involvement, for example, during a meeting he dozes in a position as if he is attentively listening to the speaker. Of course, inemuri should not cause inconvenience to others, much less be a threat to public safety.

Japan is known as a country where they work hard and sleep little - they work a lot and sleep very little. The Japanese Times writes about the reasons for the lack of sleep of Japanese citizens, its consequences and whether local residents really do not have enough sleep. ATIME provides an adapted translation of the article.

Shimizu Fumiyoshi worked for nine months as an intern at a local chain store., then For his hard work, he received a promotion and became the manager of a retail outlet in the suburbs of Tokyo. He couldn't believe his luck. But soon the dream job turned into nightmare — n and eight-hour shifts were replaced by 15-hour work marathons with no break time. Shimizu was happy if he could get at least one or two days off a month. Once he worked for almost a day in a row, and then another, having rested only an hour and a half before that.

As an intern, Shimizu received an average of 300 thousand yen (190 thousand rubles) per month, including paid overtime. After promotion, he, being on par with executive director, was no longer entitled to overtime pay. Now his monthly salary was only 220 thousand yen (140 thousand rubles).

He often had toreplace sick colleagues. "I began to be afraid phone so loudly that I could hardly sleep,- quotes Shimizu The Japanese Times, — I kept waiting for him to call and I will be called to work."

Not only the quantity of sleep suffered, but also its quality. Shimizu began to quickly lose weight and get sick often. Talking to management didn't help.— managers themselves suffered from the same problems.

Seven months later, after a routine medical examination at the company, Shimizu was strongly advised to immediately leave his job and see a doctor. "If it weren't for this, I wouldn't be here today,— says Shimizu, who has been diagnosed with clinical depression, common consequence lack of sleep.— “I didn’t realize before how important sleep is and how lack of it can ruin your mental health.”

Shimizu is not alone in his problem. According to the Japanese organization healthy sleep, every third Japanese suffers from lack of sleep. In a 2009 study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Japan was ranked 28th out of 29 countries surveyed for sleep duration, second only to South Korea. Although an OECD survey showed that the average Japanese sleeps 7 hours 50 minutes per night, data from the Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK for 2010 they say that real quantity sleep even less - and for as much as 30 minutes.

Over the past half century, sleep duration in Japan has decreased by 50 minutes. Because of this, the economy lost 3.5 trillion yen (2 trillion 200 million rubles), because worker productivity decreased and errors became more frequent, road and other incidents. According to Uchiyama Makoto, a sleep expert and chairman of the department of psychiatry at medical school Nihon University, the amount will increase by one and a half trillion if injuries sustained due to lack of sleep are also included.

Uchiyama conducted Japan's first study of insomnia in 1999. He wrote that there are gaps in the study of sleep, however“Sleep undoubtedly affects the health and performance of most people.” For example, the functions of sleep are still unknown. William S. Dement, founder of the world's first sleep laboratory at Stanford University, even said that people should sleep according to the only good reason- because we feel sleepy.

However, over the past few years, scientists have discovered more compelling reasons to get enough sleep.— without it, the risk of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression and cancer increases. It has also been found that lack of sleep may be associated with suicide.

In 1998, the number of suicides in Japan exceeded 30 thousand. In 2014, for the first time in 15 years, it decreased, but t only by reducing the suicide rate among pensioners. “Among people aged 20-30 it continues to grow, says Matsumoto Yuki, presenter Researcher Department of Environmental Medicine at Kurume University School of Medicine. - Because of modern society never sleeps, lifestyle and daily routine become increasingly irregular.”

Lack of sleep affects the brain by restricting blood flow to the frontal lobe, which is responsible for reason. “As a result, our ability to think clearly is impaired, and we tend to make riskier life choices,” Matsumoto adds. “In other words, problems with the frontal lobe can trigger suicidal tendencies.”

In his research, Matsumoto developed a unique "3D sleep scale" that includes not only the duration of sleep, but also its rhythm and quality.Matsumoto's team concluded that lack of every aspect of sleep can lead to mental problems, but people suffering from wide range sleep problems are at much higher risk of suicide.

Surveys like the one conducted by the OECD tend to look only at sleep duration, leading to false results, says Uchiyama. He points to a 2015 study by 15 leading experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the European Society for Sleep Research. It was aimed at identifying the connection between sleep duration and adult health. Based on the results of the study, they concluded: in order to be healthy, h a person needs to regularly sleep seven or more hours a day, but not overdo it - too much long sleep also leads to unpleasant consequences. In addition, in 2002, the University of California at San Diego conducted a survey of more than a million people, the results of which revealed a link between the amount of sleep and the risk of death. Sleep between 6.5 and 7.5 hours is considered the most beneficial, and those survey participants who slept eight hours or more “were significantly increased danger early death."

Based on these findings, Uchiyama is confident that the Japanese are getting enough sleep. In response to the assumption that the Japanese chronically do not get enough sleep and therefore sleep in transport, he states, that it is rather "a manifestation of a sense of safety and security that is not common in other countries." In his own study, examining the brain waves of four thousand sleeping participants, he came to the following conclusion: young people need seven hours of sleep, people over forty need six and a half, and older people can get by with six hours of sleep.

“When it comes to Japan, what the OECD considers bad, is actually the norm, says Uchiyama, and the answer to the question “Do the Japanese sleep enough?” will be positive."

This is little consolation to those suffering from lack of sleep. “Overtime and sleep deprivation go hand in hand in our 24-hour society,” says Shimizu. Luckily his story has a good ending.— he sued his employer, made a full recovery, and now only works three days a week.

Oksana Kurtina

Japanese culture is increasingly penetrating all aspects of European life. The spectrum of this penetration is extremely wide - from traditions to furniture. Today in European interiors one can often find objects borrowed from Asians. The bed was no exception.

The Japanese are big workaholics. They have little time left for sleep, and, obviously, every minute of rest must be used effectively. They sleep on a bed consisting of a hard futon mattress, a small pillow and a blanket, while the sleeping set is placed directly on the floor. After a stressful working day, a person lying on such a bed can quickly and completely calm down and relax.

🈵Incredible but true: according to statistical research, Japanese residents suffer 70% less from spinal diseases than Europeans.

Within the requirements modern world When people sleep less and less, the choice in favor of a Japanese bed is obvious. This furniture is already popular in Europe and the USA, albeit with minor modifications. But still, the basis, like many other elements from Japan, is a minimalist design.

How they sleep in Japan: interesting facts from history

In the 13th century, the vast majority of the Japanese population used straw mats to sleep, and only the rich Japanese slept on tatami mats. Tatami is a fairly hard and dense mattress, which in modern Japan is used to cover the floor. Its thickness is 6-8 cm and is made from rice straw.

It was only in the 17th century that more comfortable sleeping devices appeared in Japan - futons. But not every Japanese could sleep on such a bed because of its high cost. The cost of one mattress at that time was about 1.2 million yen.

In the 19th century, the futon came to every Japanese home thanks to the arrival of imported raw cotton to the Land of the Rising Sun. The place where the rich Japanese slept also changed at this time: they used both a mattress and a tatami.

It is also worth noting that the bed was rarely located in a room special for sleeping. Representatives of the country of samurai do not have a bedroom, as such. Most often, the living room is the place to sleep, where evenings and meetings are spent, and at night a bedroom set appears here.

Japanese style bed: design features

The Japanese style and way of life, as we have already noted, finds its admirers in various parts of the world, and their number is last years is growing rapidly. The Japanese, being practical people, also use appropriate sleeping devices. Samurai, for example, could get enough sleep in 3-4 hours, or even not sleep at all, practicing inemuri. Therefore, it is obvious that sleeping on futons brings significantly more more benefits than sleeping on a feather bed.

Another obvious advantage The Japanese bed, which can also be considered one of its features, is the ability to remove it and free up space, which is invaluable for people living in small apartments.

The advantage of a Japanese bed is the ability to remove it

A Japanese bed can consist not only of a mattress, but also have a frame. The design, unusual for us, is made of wood. There is no need to talk about the benefits of natural foods again. The properties of solid wood have been well known for a long time: products made from them are environmentally friendly, durable, and have excellent performance characteristics.

🈵It is better to choose bedding for a Japanese bed from natural materials. The texture of the fabric is plain, small stylistic patterns are acceptable.

By design, a Japanese bed with a body is a frame made of wood with a pair of supporting beams resting on short legs.

On the beams, or rather, on top of them, slats are laid in a lattice. The frame usually has quite massive (wide) “sides”, which, after installing the mattress, visually resemble a step.

It is better to choose an orthopedic mattress for a Japanese bed, taking into account the size of the bed. It is worth noting that the Japanese style is more likely to use a double bed, even if one person sleeps there. The legs of such a bed, as a rule, are also massive, there are four of them (but maybe five if the bed is of non-standard sizes and very wide).

Ideally, the legs of the bed should not be visible - they are shifted to the center. This move allows you to create the visual effect of the bed floating above the floor.

🈚Remember! The traditional Japanese bed is wide and low. If the proportions are violated, and if the height is chosen incorrectly, it will unfortunately not be possible to achieve authenticity in the stylistic design of the bedroom.

However, as for the legs, they may simply not exist. A bed without legs is undoubtedly much more stable, but at the same time, it is not suitable for everyone. For allergy sufferers, this option immediately becomes undesirable, because dust can be removed from under such a bed only by moving it away.

A long bolster instead of the head of a Japanese bed (photo)

A headboard for a Japanese bed is an optional element. If it is present, it should be extremely simple and strict. A fashionable option for replacing the headboard, which many designers use today, is a long bolster.

🈯Soft and large pillows are taboo for the Japanese. You will have to make a lot of effort to find in the land of the samurai someone who likes to sleep on the fluffed massive pillows that are so beloved in our region. In Japan, small bolsters or small but very elastic pillows are placed under the head.

A distinctive element that will give the bedroom the flavor of the Land of the Rising Sun is a screen. Preference here should be given to a sliding one, made from natural fabrics or rice paper with a wooden frame. The decor of the screen should match the interior of the bedroom.

The best option- stylized landscape. The purpose of such a screen is to hide the bed from prying eyes. If necessary, like the bed itself, the screen can be removed and free up space in the room.

Japanese bed on the floor: futon or shikibaton?

In Japan, not everyone will understand the term “futon bed”. But absolutely everyone knows the concept of “shikibaton”, which means a simple place to sleep.

So, although the “futon bed” and “shikibaton” are close relatives, there are still several differences between the Japanese and European versions. And all because Europeans value sleeping comfort much more more Japanese. Therefore, in Europe, a bed with Japanese roots, but with a very soft mattress that takes the shape of the body, has become widespread.

The European version, despite an almost similar design, is equipped with a much thicker mattress than in Japan, which allows non-Japanese people to sleep comfortably on it.

Shikibaton - a simple place to sleep

In the shikibaton version, you sleep on a mattress placed directly on the floor. The futon bed, in turn, is adjusted to the European standard. Although the structure is very close to the floor, it still does not lie directly on it. And this is especially important for those rooms where a cold draft can walk across the floor.

Friends of Japanese culture and style in both versions receive great opportunity Bring a little bit of Asian spirit into your bedroom. But for older people who have problems getting up from a low bed, it is better to refuse such a place to sleep.

Video on the topic:

Japan is a country with unusual traditions that often differ from customs European countries. However, every tradition in the Country Rising Sun justified by some reason for its appearance. According to one version, the custom of sleeping not on the bed, but on the floor is explained by the fact that the Japanese, due to the overpopulation of the country, often do not have the opportunity to live in houses or apartments with a large area. In many living spaces there is sometimes not even room for a bed. And the Japanese can only dream about double furniture. So you have to use mattresses for sleeping on the floor, which after dreams are easily removed to the designated place.

There are other explanations for the tradition of sleeping on the floor. For a long time Japan was an isolated country with no contacts with Asian and European countries. Therefore, in the development of the samurai country there are distinctive, unique features that are unlike the norms of other countries. For example, night sleep on the floor. In addition, the hot Japanese climate forced residents of the state to look for a cool place to sleep at night, which most often was the floor.

The Japanese are a people who are sensitive to their health. Sleeping on a hard, flat surface helps prevent diseases of the spine and back. But this does not mean that Japanese people sleep on bare floors. For this purpose, they weave thick mats of rice straw, called tatami. Such devices for night sleep perfectly allow air to pass through, allowing the skin to breathe and not sweat. The ancestor of tatami in Japan were hard and uncomfortable wicker mats laid directly on the floor. Later, to soften sleep, carpets were woven - mattresses 5 cm high. They were also located on the bare floor.

Currently, in Japanese homes, tatami is used as a floor covering. To make them, you need to know clear weaving rules regarding the size of tatami and their location on the floor.

Traditional tatami come in the following sizes: 90x180 cm, 90x90 cm, etc. In some houses, a mattress was used on top of wicker tatami - a futon, the filling of which was cotton or wool. However, due to the high cost of a bed floor mattress was considered a luxury and was available only to wealthy Japanese. Now a futon can be seen in almost every Japanese family.

For convenience, practicality, and saving living space, the futon is put away in the closet after sleep, and the tatami is used as a place for holding a tea or lunch ceremony. It is also permitted to perform normal daily work on the tatami surface. In general, modern Japan is characterized by minimalism with maximum benefit from a small living area. Almost every Japanese house has a surface covered with tatami, which, by the way, differs from ordinary flooring in its very high cost.

Orthopedic mattress - an alternative to tatami and futon mattress

Adequate sleep that preserves health, restores strength, brings good mood for the entire next day, increasing productivity, depends, as you know, on a comfortable, high-quality mattress. In Russia they do not weave tatami and do not use futons. An ideal alternative to the unusual Japanese sleeping device in our country are orthopedic mattresses made from materials highest quality. This mattress can be safely used without a bed and placed directly on the floor.

Using a mattress without a bed is typical for decorating a room in a minimalist style. This is a very fashionable, modern trend in bedroom design, which involves the use of a minimal set of furniture to maximize room space.

Most often, young people choose this design for themselves. creative people who prefer comfort, functionality and practicality rather than beauty appearance your bedroom. By buying not a bed, but a mattress on the floor, you can save money material resources, while enjoying a luxurious sleeping space. However, only a branded, comfortable, not cheap mattress can replace a real bed.

Advantages and disadvantages of a mattress instead of a bed

Using a mattress on the floor instead of a bed is typical of the Japanese style. Although modern beds are produced in Japan, there is little demand for them among the residents of this country. Since ancient times the Japanese have followed folk traditions and wisdom, preferring to sleep at night on the floor rather than on a high bed. But don’t despair when visiting the country as a tourist. In all Japanese hotels, great attention is paid to the comfort and convenience of guests, so a double bed in a Japanese hotel is a common thing.

However, do not be surprised that you will be offered a choice of room to sleep in which there is no traditional bed, but instead only a mattress. In any case, the choice will be yours.

But it is worth remembering that many Europeans, having visited Japan and experienced sleeping on the floor at night, purchase a special mattress for their own rest when returning home.

The advantages of the mattress include:

1. height. Often, high beds are fraught with the risk that if you fall from them, you are likely to get hurt and hit hard. This is especially true for children younger age. With the use of a mattress, this problem disappears, because when falling from a small height, the impact force on the floor is minimal.
2. ease of operation. The absence of a bed does not require rules for its operation or repair.
3. versatility. The mattress is not only an ideal place to sleep at night, but also a great trampoline for children to use during the day.
4. matches any style in the interior. Most modern styles do not lose their sophistication when using a mattress instead of a bed.
5. novelty, freedom, youth, carefree. Many people don't accept positive sides sleeping on the floor, preferring luxury beds for installation in the bedroom. Still, if you plunge into the past, you will notice that our ancestors often rested at night on the ground, adding only an armful of hay for softness. Only in rich houses were wide, high beds used, which later became fashionable. Currently, established habits and prejudices prevent many people from giving up bed. Only carefree, young, energetic, free individuals can afford to sleep on the floor, regardless of the norms accepted in society.
6. comfort and convenience while relaxing. Mattress instead of a bed - perfect option for those people who suffer from back and spine pain. After all, a hard, smooth surface gives a feeling of calm, comfort, good rest your body overnight.

The only drawback is that the small height of the mattress in the absence of normal heating or the presence of strong drafts in the apartment can cause colds the person who sleeps on it.

A person will feel uncomfortable when the cold blows from everywhere. Therefore, when choosing a mattress, pay Special attention its height in order to protect yourself from future troubles associated with the absence normal temperature in the bedroom.