The Story Woven Into Tatami-beri

Tatami-beri is easy to overlook — a narrow band of fabric bordering the edge of a tatami mat, brushed underfoot without a second thought. But that quiet strip of cloth carries centuries of Japanese history.

A Mark of Rank

The earliest records of tatami-beri go back to the Nara period. Tatami itself wasn't for everyone back then — it was reserved for noble households and temples, and the trim bordering it was part of that exclusivity. Commoners, if they used tatami at all, made do with plain cut cloth.

By the Heian period, the rules had grown far more specific. The thickness of a tatami mat, and the color and pattern of its edging, were dictated by the rank of whoever sat on it. Even in the tea ceremony, different mats carried different edgings depending on their role — one for the guest of honor, one for the host, one simply for stepping across the threshold. This link between tatami-beri and social standing held firm all the way through the Edo period.

How the Modern Trim Took Shape

The tatami-beri we recognize today traces back to a style called "kōki-beri," which emerged sometime between the Meiji and Taisho eras. The materials shifted too — from hemp and cotton originally, to polyester and other fibers over time, opening the door to far more colors and patterns than the old feudal system ever allowed.

Much of that pattern-making relies on jacquard weaving, a technique for turning intricate designs into thread. It was invented in France, and reached Japan in 1873, when weavers from Kyoto's Nishijin district traveled abroad to learn the method and bring it home. Once traditional Japanese motifs met this new loom technology, tatami-beri gained a whole new range of expression.

Kojima, Okayama

One of the centers of tatami-beri production is Kojima, in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture — where high-quality tatami-beri is still woven today.

From Status Symbol to Everyday Object

What once signaled rank is now simply beautiful fabric, open to anyone. At HASHICO, we take that same tatami-beri and reshape it into knife saya and small accessories — things you can carry with you, every day.

A strip of cloth with centuries behind it is about to become part of your daily life.