A futon in Japan

A futon in the U. S.

A futon (布団, futon^?) listen (help·info) is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. A mattress is a mat or pad usually placed atop a Bed, upon which to sleep or lie For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A bed is a piece of Furniture (or a location primarily used as a place to Sleep, and often used for Relaxation. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya as well as at department stores.

Japanese futons are flat, about 5 centimetres (2. 0 in) thick with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp They are often sold in sets which include the futon mattress (shikibuton), a comforter (kakebuton) or blanket (mōfu), a summer blanket resembling a large towel, and pillow (makura), generally filled with beans, buckwheat chaff or plastic beads. Buckwheat refers to plants in two genera of the Dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, and the North American genus Such sets can be purchased for under 10,000 yen (US$97 as of March 2008) but for an expensive set, prices can be twenty times this amount.

Futons are designed to be placed on tatami flooring, and are traditionally folded away and stored in a closet during the day to allow the tatami to breathe and to allow for flexibility in the use of the room. (originally meaning "folded and piled" Mats are a traditional type of Japanese flooring (originally meaning "folded and piled" Mats are a traditional type of Japanese flooring Futons must be aired in sunlight regularly, especially if not put away during the day. In addition, many Japanese people beat their futons regularly using a special tool, traditionally made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet beater. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily A carpet beater or mattenklopper (from Dutch) is a Tool used to clean Carpets and Rugs by hanging them up and beating them

Western futons are only loosely based on the Japanese original, with several major differences. They are often placed on a configurable frame for dual use as a bed and a chair or couch. A chair is a kind of Furniture for Sitting, consisting of a back and sometimes arm rests commonly for use by one person A couch is an upholstered item of Furniture for the comfortable seating of more than one person and typically has an armrest on either side Typically, the frame folds in the middle allowing the futon to be used as a couch and flattens to be used as a bed. They are usually filled with foam as well as batting, often in several layers, and are almost always much thicker and larger than Japanese futons, resembling a traditional mattress in size. Western-style futons are a cheap alternative to a bed or other furniture, and are often sold in sets that include the mattress and frame. Furniture is the Mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body (seating furniture and beds, provide storage or hold objects on horizontal Futons normally feature a removeable and replaceable cover, giving them more versatility.

In Japanese, a zabuton (za, sitting + futon) is a cushion for sitting on. A zabuton (座布団 is a Japanese cushion for sitting The Kanji characters 座布団 literally translated are "seat-cloth-sphere" Zabuton are often used for sitting on tatami floors. (originally meaning "folded and piled" Mats are a traditional type of Japanese flooring