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Elegant Chrysanthemum Tatami Book Cover (A5)

Sale price$89.00 USD

In stock

This Elegant Chrysanthemum Tatami Book Cover is made from real tatami by Sasasho, a tatami workshop in Oita Prefecture, pairing a woven rush face with a natural-toned chrysanthemum border and sized for A5 notebooks.

Both ends are pockets, formed from the tatami border itself. You slide the front and back covers of your notebook in, and each pocket folds to whatever depth that book needs. There is no elastic band and no fixed spine width, so a slim notebook and a thick one both sit properly. We sized it around the thickest A5 notebooks we carry, including the YU-SARI Fountain Pen Notebook.

Rush is softer than it looks. The face bends and follows the book instead of holding a rigid shape, and it carries the faint grassy scent of a newly laid tatami room. New rush is green. Under daylight it settles over months into the amber most people picture when they think of tatami, so the cover will not look the same in a year.

The border carries a chrysanthemum in natural, undyed tones rather than a bright colour, so it sits quietly against the rush. In Japan the flower stands for health and protection against misfortune, and has long been associated with nobility and calm. Because both ends are bordered, the pattern reads the same whether the cover is face up or face down.

Browse our notebook covers, or see the matching Elegant Chrysanthemum Tatami Pen Tray made from the same tatami border.

Details

  • Size (Closed): For A5 - 7.1" × 9.1" (18 × 23 cm)
  • Weight: 3.5 oz (100 g)
  • Materials: Rush, synthetic fibers
  • Origin: Japan. Made in Oita Prefecture.
  • Brand: Sasasho
  • Note: Each cover is made by hand one at a time, so expect small differences between pieces.

The Story of Sasasho

For over 40 years, Sasasho has played a pivotal role in supporting the local homes and businesses, delivering tatami that underpins the regional and Japanese way of life and culture. Yasuyuki Sasaki, the current president, proudly represents the second generation at the helm of this essential local enterprise.

Sasasho tatami workshop in Oita with a navy banner reading tatami hung above the sewing machine

Sasasho isn't just about making tatami; they're also the local heroes when it comes to repairing fusuma, shoji, and mosquito screens, ensuring every Japanese home feels just right. Embracing tradition while welcoming innovation, they've ventured into crafting tatami mats with unique designs and safe tatami blocks for kids, proving that tradition can evolve and still stay true to its roots.

Sasasho craftsman finishing the edge of a tatami mat in the workshop

For those enchanted by Japanese culture and lifestyle, Sasasho offers a glimpse into how traditional craftsmanship like theirs continues to adapt and thrive. It's a testament to how they're blending the old with the new, inviting us all to appreciate the craftsmanship that has supported Japanese homes and culture for decades.

Elegant Chrysanthemum tatami book cover closed, green rush straw with green pink and yellow Japanese chrysanthemum band
Elegant Chrysanthemum Tatami Book Cover (A5) Sale price$89.00 USD

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