Futon

Zabuton are often used for sitting on tatami floors. The word gown is used in several contexts in clothing and fashion:. In Japanese, a zabuton (za, sitting + futon) is a cushion for sitting on. Gowning refers to putting on a cleanroom suit. Quite often these futons are marketed as "earth friendly," especially since they do not contain the chemicals with which some conventional bedding is manufactured. Hospital gown. Additionally, these alternative futons tend to be hand-made. Bedgown.

While still not traditional futons, they lack the springs and synthetic casings of traditional mattresses and tend to be constructed primarily out of cotton. Wedding gown. There is, however, a growing market in Japan for high quality bedding made in the Western style. For academic gowns, also called cap and gown, see academic regalia. Most Japanese people would not recognize a Western-style "futon" as a futon. The most common usage is evening gown, women's formal attire. 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.

They are usually placed on a configurable frame for dual use as a bed and a couch, but are not intended to be stored away during the day. 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 futons are different from Japanese futons in several ways. In addition, many Japanese people beat their futons regularly using a special tool, traditionally made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet beater.

Futons must be aired in sunlight regularly, especially if not put away during the day. 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. Such sets can be purchased for under 10,000 yen. 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 (towelket), and pillow (makura), generally filled with beans, buckwheat chaff or plastic beads.

Japanese futons are flat, about 5 cm (2 in) thick with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya, and are also available at department stores. A futon (布団) is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed.