”Tatami is Bingo Omote and Koraiberi” this is a phrase referring to ”tatami” mats. That the best high-quality ”tatami” mats in Japan were the ”Bingo Omote”. The all too famous Oda Nobunaga also used ”Bingo Omote” for his Azuchi castle, and so did Toyotomi Hideyoshi for the Toyokuni Shrine.
During the Edo period, the Bingo Omote was donated to the shogunate, and it was so valued there were preservation acts with magistrates appointed as ”Omote bugyo” and ”Tatami Omote aratameyaku”. It was considered as a valuable source of money for the Bingo Fukuyama clan. They were so valued there were special ”tatami” craftsmen especially appointed to the feudal clan.
In Fukuyama, there is a ”tatami” craftsman who succeeds the secret recipes to the creation of ”tatami” from the beginning of the Edo period. Tsuneyoshi Teraoka is the 17th in the lineage from the Fukuyama clan Mizuno Katsunari appointed ”tatami” craftsman.
Continuing to create by hand
Edo period ”tatami” was always hand-sewn. In modern times, the omote ”tatami” even in Hiroshima, with an exception of only a few veterans, have switched to automation.
Teraoka is one of those veteran ”tatami” makers. The prior 16th in lineage made ”tatami” for Kyoto Daitokuji temple, Fukuyama castle yudono, Omotesenke Fushin An etc. and is noted as a Living National Ranking Figure.
Teraoka who has succeeded his father, also has outstanding skills and customizes ”tatami” for famous temples throughout the country. ”Tatami” and Japanese culture are inseparable. Tea ceremonies, flower arrangement, calligraphy, judo, all need ”tatami” to exist. ”Tatami” are the rudiments to Japanese tradition. Hand-sewn ”tatami” and its craftsmen are a valuable asset.
