2/22    Hello, I have a tatami problem. I bought 2 tatami mats from
        Marukai and I really liked them. I liked them so much that I
        decided to buy a third one to cover up a 6'x9' area. The first
        two I bought came in a box together and are soft and comfy
        to step on. They're also heavier to lift. The third one however,
        didn't come with a box and is really light weight, and feels
        kind of hard and not as comfy to step on. I should have bought
        them in pairs. No return/exchange policy. Is this tatami
        inconsistency normal?
        \_ If you didn't get any answer in 24 hours, why do you expect
           to get answer now?
           \_ Because I'm hoping a Japanese csua'er would know something
              about it. It seems like no one knows/cares these days.
              \_ Quick note: If you actually have time to worry about this
                 kind of bullshit then you probably have too much time
                 on your hands. I realize the Japanese fall into this
                 category (the Japanese are weird people who obssess over
                 everything, which is why their cars are generally more
                 reliable), but I think this is taking it a bit too far.
                 \_ Get over yourself, already; honestly, how much time does it
                    really take to think about this stuff?  2 short
                    discussions about home decoration don't amount to all that
                    much time, guy.
        \_ what is tatami?
           \_ Each mat is 3'x6' and you can lay them out any way you
              want, the constraint is you don't want 4 corners to touch
              each other since that is inauspicious. The following is an
              example, you can build up any size you want with the
              above constraint, recursively:

              2 tatami  3 tatami  4.5 tatami
              +---+     +-+---+   +-+---+
              +---+     | +---+   | +-+-+
              +---+     +-+---+   +-+-+ |
                                  +---+-+
              6'x6'     6'x9'     9'x9'
           \_ Japanese for "rug", basically a soft mat. I don't even know why
              someone would post this, it's a non-issue.
              \_ More like Japanese for "floor." It's a soft mat that covers
                 parts of the floor you wouldn't want to wear your shoes on:
                 http://www.garden-gifts.com/images/tatamiroom.JPG
                 In a Japanese home, tatami rooms are traditionally where
                 you'd sleep. They usually come in 3'x6' rectangles.
                 \_ Do you mean 1X2 meters, or are these American made, or
                    do the Japanese use feet?  I'm not trolling, I'm genuinely
                    curious to know if there's a non-SI unit being used in
                    Japan.  The distiction is non-trivial if you're laying
                    out a big floor.
                    \_ Tatami mats predate SI.  Traditionally they were
                       0.5 ken by 1 ken; the exact length of a "ken" varied
                       by time and place, though, so tatami sizes varied
                       too.  Several slightly different sizes are still
                       in use.  One common size is 0.91m x 1.82m, which
                       happens to be almost exactly 3' x 6'.
                       \_ I am in awe of your knowledge of Japanese metrological
                          history.
                 \_ eh, ok. So why don't they just use carpets?
                    \_ 1) Tradition, 2) tatami mats are easier to integrate
                       with the floor so that they don't move, and 3) tatami
                       mats are usually much easier to clean than carpet.