Protected local food
Kumamoto Igusa
くまもと県産い草
Igusa is the soft rush that tatami mats are woven from. Kumamoto igusa grows around Yatsushiro and is dyed in mud the traditional way to give it its colour and shine.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 2 February 2016
- Region
- Kyushu & Okinawa
- Official name in Japanese
- くまもと県産い草
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 熊本県八代市、熊本県八代郡氷川町、熊本県宇城市
The grass in your tatami
The fresh, grassy smell of a new tatami room comes from igusa, a soft rush. Kumamoto igusa uses long-stemmed varieties bred by Kumamoto Prefecture for weaving, such as Hinomidori and Yunagi. Some of them may only be grown by farmers in this area.
Dyed in mud
After harvest the rush is dipped in a slurry of special clay, a step called dorozome. It evens out the colour, adds a soft sheen and helps the rush keep its quality for years.
Where it grows
It grows on the plains of Yatsushiro, Hikawa and Uki, beside the Yatsushiro Sea, which together form Japan's leading rush-growing area.
Good to know
- Look for igusa coasters, slippers and small mats in Kumamoto shops. They are light and easy to pack.
- Compare with Kumamoto Igusa Tatami Omote, the woven tatami facing made from this rush.
Questions travellers ask
Is this a food?
No. It is one of the non-food products in Japan's GI register, alongside foods.
Why does new tatami smell so good?
The smell comes from the dried rush itself, and it fades gently over time.
Where it comes from
More protected foods from the same area
Crafts from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.