Kyo-tatami: Shigeki Ota (Ota Tatamiten)
In Japan, people are familiar with the tatami found in Japanese-style houses, but there is also a type known as "yushiki tatami", which is used in Buddhist and Shinto ceremonies. While my store generally makes regular tatami from all kinds of materials, including those with and without borders, we also receive orders from temples and shrines. Machines for these special types of tatami do not exist, so we finish all of them by handsewing with ancient techniques.
Profile
1980 Born in Kyoto City
2008 Received certification as a First Level Skilled Tatami Maker
2009 Became licensed as a vocational training instructor (tatami)
2011 Completed the Traditional Tatami Successor Training Course by the Society for the Conservation of Culturally Important Tatami Mats
2013 Received the Master Craftsman of Tomorrow Award from Kyoto
Prefecture
2018 Became a Certified Kyoto Traditional Products Craftsman (Kyo-
tatami)