Dow Kakoh and KURARAYKURAFLEX Jointly Develop New Tatami that Realizes the Feel of Straw Tatami At Barely 4kg, It Is the Industry's Lightest Tatami Mat, with Triple the Heat Insulation Capacity of Straw Tatami Mats

Despite the traditional use of tatami mats made of rice straw, there have been ongoing difficulties related to supplier circumstances that precede customer preferences:

• (1) Insufficient straw materials
• (2) Reduced requests due to aging tatami artisans
• (3) The need for price reductions and uniform quality

Consequently, there has been a shift towards tatami mat construction materials that use absolutely no straw.

This new tatami mat construction material has been constructed from Dow Kakoh's "STYROFOAM" extruded polystyrene foam boards and KURARAYKURAFLEX's steam-jet type non-woven fabrics by using new-and-improved DK Boards designed for tatami mats.

These 'DK Boards' have a combined two-layer construction that is a combination of a layer capable of absorbing shock and providing cushion as well as a layer able to retain rigidity.

Characteristics of the New Tatami are as follows:

Lightweight

With a single tatami mat (50mm thick, 910mm wide, 1,820mm long) weighing just 4kg, a significant reduction in weight has been achieved compared with conventional tatami, thus lightening the burden on workers.

Reference: straw tatami mats approximately weigh 30kg and tatami mats constructed from general-purpose materials weigh approximately 10 to 20kg

Feel that is close to straw tatami

Reducing the burden on legs and hips, this product pursues lifestyle comfortable via tatami.
Displaying superior shock-absorbing capabilities during falls, this product helps to prevent accidents in the home.

High heat insulation capacity

This product has tripled the heat insulation capacity of standard straw tatami mats (thermal resistance value: 1.2m²K/W).
Displaying superior energy saving capability, this product is expected to lead to reductions in energy costs and CO₂ emissions.

From here on, Dow Kakoh and KURARAYKURAFLEX will make strides in developing new markets by leveraging the technological and product development capabilities of both companies.

• * "STYROFOAM" is a trademark of Dow Chemical Company.
  "STYROFOAM" extruded polystyrene foam boards - which were developed by the U.S. corporation, Dow Chemical Company - began to be produced in Japan in 1962 and have been the industry's top seller for over 40 years as a product synonymous with superior heat-insulation materials.
• * Steam-jet type non-woven fabrics produced through KURARAYKURAFLEX's steam jet manufacturing methods - a world's first - enables the manufacturing of a wide range of non-woven fabrics by combining such materials as Kuraray's propriety EVOH fiber with various manufacturing conditions. Non-woven fabrics that are treated with EVOH fibers under high heat and high pressure provide light and flexible construction materials for board frames that feature superior sound and heat absorption, thus capturing attention as an appropriate material for making tatami.

Sales route

Nationwide "STYROFOAM" tatami mat distributors to tatami stores

Retail price

¥18,000 per tatami mat (Karuzo Tatami; reference price includes manufacturing costs)

Sales targets

After five years: 1 million tatami mats

Overview of Dow Kakoh K.K.

Overview of KURARAYKURAFLEX Co., Ltd.

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