Japan - How to #20 - Bed/Futon

[FatHedgie]

If a couple moves in together, do they buy a bed or push the futons together? Or so they sleep completely separately?

[zack5417]

The person under me u sound like a sales man no offence

[Goat5611]

i think its buckwheat in the old pillows. they stay cool in summer and warm in winter!

[mattosso83]

Doesn't hanging the futon's outside over the balcony defeat the purpose of keeping the inside of your place clean? I imagine the outside of the balcony's aren't nearly is clean as the standards Japanese seem to have for the cleanliness inside their homes?

[youngsplash85]

@mattosso83 lol good observation. I wanna know too

[Carocchisan]

You've probably figured out by now, but what's in the heavy pillow is called Sobagara, buckwheat husk.

[DubstepPromos]

futon is comfortable. I sleep on the floor at friends house and feel better than when i normally sleep on my bed.

[MizzWizlette]

I have this even out of Japan >.<

Seriously comfortable though and gives my room loads of extra space .

[ZorraHokage]

..... Do you worry about cockroaches? I strongly hate them and feel that whatever they touch is "contaminated"... I wouldn't like it if a cockroach was crawling so close to me while I was sleeping on a futon... I like western beds because they are above the ground, but I really want to go to Japan. So are cockroaches much of a problem?

[puketinho]

@ZorraHokage if they have some of them somewhere, you can kill them with insecticides like the west do.

[ZorraHokage]

@puketinho Likely. Thanks for answering.... Wow. I really sounded OCD about cockroaches in that. lol

[NeoGrimz543]

Sounds like a buckwheat pillow.

[caldevera]

i can't believe it's comfortable bec..it really doesn't loook it.

[DarkPiercingLight1]

do some japanese people have western dinner tables, silverware and beds? if you were to have those things in your home and you invited you japanes friends over for lunch how would they react to that?

[phoenixdoane]

@DarkPiercingLight1 lol don't worry. most of japanese people are westernized.

[Pyroguekenesis]

Ah, sigh....I wanted to replace my bed with a futon when we had to change the bottom parts...but noooooo Australia its so hard to find a place that sells futons.. =_=;

[Videogamehunter358]

futons in japan are different then wester futons cause the futon i have has a frame like a bed & can turn to a couch.

[silverPjs]

hanging out your mattress and duvet in freezing winter kills dust mites and they smell so good, fresh and crisp.

[198CharlesMartel198]

Anyone hearing weird noises like the camera picking up celphone signals and stuff?

[danagasta1]

SOFT! love futon, I have that instead of a bed because of my back, really great for it...and you can always move it right out of the way for extra space :D

[divine101]

is it rude to have sex on the futon? do you have a video on sex etiquette?

[zofoblues]

I went without a bed for 3 mons and after getting my bed, I couldnt stand it.I wanted to be back on the floor as my bed hurt my back. Well now in used to the bed again but being on the floor is good for your back.

[bluesteelmagnolia]

Any sofas?! What about the living room?

[xwete95]

How long have you lived in Japan?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@mizjpn

Yes....

I explained that in the video, didn't I ... ^_^

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@mizjpn

Yes....

I explained that in the video, didn't I ... ^_^

[Leecher4711]

I like that! Firm is good! Most beds are far too soft for me ... hotels are particularilybad! So thumbs up for that one !  (^_^)

[Quy4life]

i want a futon! I need it in American so i can sleep on it!

[mellowsky47]

They have the same thing in Korea. I like them.

[chinaownseverything]

japan beds are fireproof so u can hide in case of a nuke

[finalcut75]

Errr... How does sex work in there ?

[mikey0000]

@finalcut75, it works quietly! No bouncing spring noises to wake up the neighbors.

[allhailstentor]

There is a special futon for couples. However, you can use a futon just like a bed for that sort of thing. Most Japanese girls would likely prefer the lights on dim and the covers over their bodies, as they are very shy and very conscientious about their body.

[angelwings1086]

My mother had one of those pillows... I don't know where she got it from and I have no idea what was in it but I actually really liked it, I found it very comfortable and used to steal it from her as often as possible. ^_^

[birddogg62]

What about blowup beds, like say an aero bed?

[tawan20082008]

I thought that a "futon" is a sofa that converts into a bed. I must have been wrong about that

[shinx12345]

@tawan20082008 think of these ones in this video as japanese/aisan style ones.

[DjurslandsEfterskole]

How can that be more comfortable? I believe you if you say so, but here in the western countries we always try to make it as soft as possible whilst sleeping. Is it soft? Does it hurt in the start? Do you always lay on your back?

[wamuiruh]

it looks comfertable but I wouldnt have had sex there

[KyoshioNiwa]

I guess it's all about preferance. I've only slept on a japanese style futon once and I didn't like it, I felt like I was sleeping directly on the floor. It was very hard to me. Not enough padding between me and the floor. But I prefer sleeping on something very soft and squishy that I can really sink down into, so my feather down bed is more suitable and by comparison it's easy to see why I'd think a futon is hard.

[benisjammin29]

sex...on those beds...

[belagiorgo]

wow thx man :D i like to watch other culture

[butch1026]

some sat that the floor corrects back promblems because it is solid and flat

[nbsr1]

@butch1026 In a long term - yes. It strengthens up muscles, which solves the root cause of "back problems". However, I wouldn't recommended it to people who already suffer from acute back aches.

If you're tall, you may find that living in Japan is bad for your back. Especially if you're working in offices. Standard office furniture is fairly low and of rather poor quality. With some of them (esp. table tops) not being adjustable you're going to have a problem with your back someday.

[Wishmiss]

On another note, a reason to hang the futon outside would be sunlight. the sunlight acts as a natural disinfectant. once again this might have already been said, but I'll just say it again. Plus, good to know, it's also a good idea to take a western mattress outside and sun it for a bit! Helps kill icky stuff that lives in there.

[Wishmiss]

I think you mean buckwheat pillows, probably already mentioned, but just in case I'll say it again. We have a few buckwheat pillows my dad enjoyed them b/c they kept his head cool at night. he was a quadriplegic, so he didn't move much at night, and the coolness factor was very helpful. Also it crates good support for the neck which was very important for him.

[Renegade4al]

It might be good for your back, but it doesn't look very comfortable for the "extra" activities...

[shylildude]

@Renegade4al lol

[DudeFlu57]

western beds and pillows ftw!!!! makes you feel boss

[xSilentKhaosx]

Is there a such thing as a "bad" futon? I'm going to be moving sometime soon and instead of a bed I think I want to get a Japanese futon. But I don't know much about them as far as prices and if one futon is better than another.

[DanielR305]

futons are great if you can get onto the floor that is lol because I cld noway get on the floor 4 dear life lol but I have a specialised bed that goes up and raise feet and head etc it comfy yet its big enough 4 two these days as I was once a big guy nearly over 2 yrs ago now. Anyway what are the futon beds like that have heaters under them like and is there anything to watch out with them at all. Apart fr getting burnt of course!

[kvhottie]

You're vids are awesome and i love your voice! They were all very helpful!! Im going to a school year abroad in japan next year and these vids have helped me SO MUCH! Arigatou.

[jinkazamalovnat]

dude u rock i want to live in japan someday

[animecrazi29]

i think it's interesting that they try hard to keep things clean with shoes and what not, but they have futons outside with air and pollution and bugs

[DragonBaine]

ok this is rly cool, and even without trying it out i know how it feels, my matras is like rock in my western terms.

sleeps great! and im SO serious...about this I WILL GET MYSELF ONE OF THOSE AND TEST IT!

Ill let ya know if its indeed better then a hard western matras.

[Chuloloc]

Awesome. A clean sleep. Much love for Japan.

[aileedaddy]

Thumbs up

Do they have any carpet in the houses there?

[SAJANOVA]

cool bed hehehe ... can't imagine sleepin' on floor

[xXxdeadloverxXx]

Well, I live in a western country and the floors have tiles and stragely enough I feel more comfortable sleeping on the floor than on the bed.

[kr4zyr4ver]

do you need to was the futon now and then or if you air it out regularly it will stay fresh?

[phantasmbunny]

@kr4zyr4ver

Most places say you should NEVER wash the futon. Any kind of moisture on the futon can result in growth of mold or mildew.

[swirlingabyss]

Could you be talking about buckwheat hull pillows? I remember they were the rage here in the US when I was younger. Supposedly they breather really well and keep you head cool.

[kr4zyr4ver]

@swirlingabyss thats what i was thinking he meant. yeah i would think your head would be a bit cooler because like you said it can breath better.

[Sephiroth21682]

mine are outside right now, im about to take them in. all i can hear all day is people hitting the futon with the dusters.

[Acepepsi]

it would really suck to hang that outside.. forget it.. then have it get caught in the rain :p ... and it would also most likely happen to me if [when] i head there sometime lol

[kerflop]

is there a problem with bad backs or soreness after sleeping in japan? and if someone does have a bad back or something of the sort, do they get a certain type of bed?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@kerflop

Futon are good for backs.

[1ukjunglednbraver]

@kerflop hard floors are good for backs

[sidescrollin]

@kerflop yeah big soft mattresses are actually harder to sleep on and your heavier parts and joints are pushed further down in a disproportionate manner. Usually people with back problems and the like in western places are prescribed FIRM beds.

[Imsoangry]

When I took a trip to Japan my sophomore year, our group stayed at a youth hostel, and later, a ryuken. Tatami and futons are really, really damn comfortable, and pretty cool since you're close to the floor. If we weren't waking up early to visit some new attraction every day, I would say that my nights in Japan were filled with some of the best sleep I've ever gotten. Then again, I've always liked sleeping on floors and carpets, so maybe it's just me.

[metube555]

TheJapanChannelDcom, you mentioned that you sleep with your girlfriend. couples who are not married can live with each other? what is the tradition there?

[LordPayne]

@GlascoIndustries

I wouldn't call her overweight, but she is kind of a twit.

But hey, that's part of life, learning new things and improving old things.

[HewieOfHG]

except for

TheJapanChannel if all of you guys are going to cut my damn throat for asking questions so i dont fuck up in japan then i wont comment any more on japanchannel's videos any more because you think all of your questions about drugs are fare more important then logical questions japanchannel dont take this comment with vinegar but all of the other people in this thread are FAGS so rely all of you think befor spamming me my love for japan is to great to not ask these questions GOOD BY

[ToomasKedrov]

looks like my cute sexy bedroom ^_^

[seonidh]

Tatami soft? I never slept on something so hard in all my life. I had five futons and still couldnt get a good nights sleep. Im buying a bed the next time.

[xXhikaru7Xx]

OMG that looks more comfortable than my bed :D

[vampierknight111]

i have a japanese pillow and i did not even know

[ZMVPZ]

do you often get spiders and things crawling on you at night sleeping on a futon?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@ZMVPZ

No, Japanese keep their houses very clean.

[dendara100]

@ZMVPZ depends where you are as well...if you're in a woody/foresty(?) type areas, there seems to be a lot of insects (not necessarily inside) like cicadas... I knew of a girl talking about that somewhere on Youtube lol

[lolbleach1]

@ZMVPZ Dude Buddy:D Of course if there is Spiders in the room or something:D

[psico666]

knowing only english can you get around japan, or you need to have some knowledge in japanese?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@psico666

We wont get far with only English.

[nightskill01]

on the other hand you have more space in your room, because you can take the whole japanese bed and put it in your locker or something like that...

5 STARS ^^

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@nightskill01

Exactly.. and quite often people only have one room.

Thanks for the 5!

[kawaiifull]

This makes me want a futon really bad!

[Serkant75]

you nearly look japanese yourself just living there : )

[Revenization]

I want a sand pillow! I could hit people with it!

friend walks up

Hey what's up?

WACK!!

AHH!

[DazzyBoy12]

pillow fight ? haha

[Ramo2332]

That would be funny :))

[cocoshanell10]

@Revenization lol

[DelialFallen]

I sleep on a futon at home, on a hardwood floor, with 2 layers, pretty much like your bed... but I'm not Japanese, never been to Japan - didn't even know there was any relation between what (I thought) I discovered to be the most comfortable sleep and Japan. Funny.

[thekatrid]

I have a question:

I can understand how the Japanese want to air out their futons when the weather is nice...but laying them over the balcony like that? I mean, aren't balconies dirty? Do they put down some sort of protective sheet or something before they put the futon out in the elements like that? Or do they scrub down the balcony?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@thekatrid

They often hang them over poles.. but where ever they put them they try to keep clean.

[alikokos]

definitely a bit confusing. i can see where one can be frustrated. no picking of nose or blowing of nose, no tipping... but go ahead hang your sleeping mat and sheets outside for the skin cells to fly out.

eh...

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

good point :-D

[FinalFan0]

Ya know... I believe that they say it is better for our back if we sleep on the floor...

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Yeah, I think so too.

[torentazos]

fuutons!! hey how about ummm... suitons and all that? are they beds too!?

[kennhzor]

yay! my brother taught in japan for a year and he said he really liked the Japanese style beds in comparison to western style. i agree with him, it seems so much more comfortable.

[feryad95]

konichiwa i will trave to japan soon about 9 years cus i'm 14...yeah is it worm there exept winter ?????

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Yes, except in winter :-)

[Jemima1377]

Thank you so much for posting this! I have been wondering for a long time, what a futon looks like and found it really interesting. Thanks for answering my question so very fast!!!

Looks quite comfortable to me, as it must feel solid yet still soft to some degree. Also I noticed the covers are different from what I know (matching the sheet, but without pattern on the lower side)!

If it were more common around here, I think I'd love to sleep in one of those!

Great video!

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Thanks!

Glad you liked it :-)

[freakmrhyde]

Do standard bed are affordable there or they are considered luxury ?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Yes, affordable and just a matter of choice.. and space..

many people here dont have room for a permanent bed.

[freakmrhyde]

Thanks. If the rooms are as small as the road that you shown on one of your car video, I understand more why they use those type of bed ; ) .

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Smaller!

[kairiXhikariX]

don't come knocking if the tatami is rocking lol

[allgoo19]

One of the reason Japanese use futon is space saving purpose. While it's not used during the day, they put it in the storage called "Todana(deep closet with a shelf at the mid height)". If you don't have the storage space to put it away, it beats most of the purpose.

[allgoo19]

I'm forgetting many Japanese words. ^_^;

Todana in my previous comment should be replaced by "Oshi-ire"

[geminielf7]

Yeah I move around A lot when sleeping so I will keep my western bed... thanxs!

[CuriouserNCuriouser]

No insects crawl on the floors in Japan? I have my futon---in the U.S.--- raised up on a wooden platform.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

It is one of the many reasons they are paranoid about keeping their homes clean, no shoes inside and so on.

[waltermh111]

I have slept on the floor most of my life, and its good.

Even when I am in a hotel, I will sometimes take the floor anyway.

Depends on my mood, if I want some variety and its convenient.

Its hard to find a very comfortable bed though. Overall floors are better for you.

I am sure it might take some getting used to, but that wouldnt be a fault with the floor, more like a fault with being used to beds.

[allgoo19]

Nice thing about futon, you don't have to worry about falling off.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

How true :-D

[Nokpest11]

But how are you supposed to jump on the bad and giggle and clap your hands if you heard good news? :(

And i couldn't imagine waking up after a short night, and the first thing is to stand up from the ground. But you know what would be the perfekt thing to combine with such type of bed?

---->Floor Heating!!

[mattchew1993]

haha, i would never be able to sleep that low to the ground my beds like elevated up alot :P

[xoxzombiezxox]

i have a futon bed. it comes off the ground 2 ft :) its like cherry wood then it has a soft place in the middle.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Luxury !!

[EvtheNev]

Man i dunno if i could get used to that, even my bed in the army barracks looks more appealing lol ... Great video though as usual, dunno how u think of these random topics but i love them.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

When I spot stuff I have not seen outside Japan I shoot it!

And also have a list of requests from subscribers.

(This one was a request.)

[GamerEntertainer]

That must have taken some getting used to..

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Not long.. it is better than it looks :-D

[MOUNTAINOUS]

i sleep on a fouton but i have 3 of them on top of each other on the floor. ouch yours is skinny

[Margaret808]

I'm surprised that's comfortable. Good video, as always :)

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Thanks :-)

[PyrimidKingJindai]

I would do the same here in austraila

[lilangel8932]

when i visited japan i stayed in a room with some friends and they had both beds and a futon and it was hilarious. it took us like forever to figure out how in the world to put together this thing properly! ha ha

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

I can imagine  :-)

[m3hm0]

cool stuff as always xD

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Thank you!

[HewieOfHG]

is it true that if you go to japan automatically they think you are a stupid foreigner some chick on a video said that and i need to know

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@HewieOfHG

Sweeping statements like that are rarely true.

Maybe her behavior resulted in that experience for her.

[mandowarrior123]

@HewieOfHG possibly presumed to be ignorant

[japangamesrocks]

i always enjoy ur videos! im half japanese but, it reminds me of all my memorys in japan, Thank you!

[charlesnicholaides]

And to this day people I know think I'm weird for sleeping on a sleeping bag (not in it--on it), with a sheet and blanet on top. I'm going to start refering them to this video to let them know I'm quite normal. :-)

[Ninjaboy890]

Great vid as always :)!

[Evilhamster13]

Their pillows are filled with beans actually....at least thats what i have heard from an article on japanese futons.

[Germanalien84]

Ohhh that reminds me of home. We don;t sleep on futons, but in germany when there is nice wether you can see all blankets an pillows haning outside to freshen up. I miss it sooo much. :(

[AbortedSheepFetus]

I think it might take a while to get used to, but it would be great for my back, as I have problems with slouching.

Great video once again, keep it up =D

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Thanks, more coming!

[Malediciton]

I sleep just like them

5 stars as always

[KunoichiKira]

i actually have a bed that folds up, and i never use it. i just sleep on a sleeping bag + blanket on the floor...its better back support, since after a while, the bed will sag and your spine will get all bent. i always woke up with a sore back because of it. ): the floor, though :D always stays solid!

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Very true!

[wewowhownow]

I sleep on a futon very comfortable.

[FoApple]

Never really knew that :) I dont mind either or im a pretty good sleeper as long as its a good sleep.

[pain303]

the pillows are full of beans or plastic pellets. they are heavy and loud. but they stay cool through out the night. not to mention, they do not collect bacteria that makes you sick like allot of pillows made of down, foam or cotton.i have one and i would die if i ever lost it.

[reymiland]

For years when we would go on vacation I would get to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag and loved it. I now sleep on a mattress on the floor and love it too. Nothing better for my back and legs.

Thank you for the video.

[Raydeus]

Futons are waaay more comfortable for me than matresses. Before switching to futon there was always a chance I would wake up with back pain for no good reason. This is no matter what type of matress I would try. But ever since I switched I've never suffered from back pain and always sleep surprisingly well.

PS > Although I put the futon on a bed base made of wood and not on the floor, but the result is the same.

d(^^d)

[SinsOfScotlandYugioh]

I've always kinda wondered if futons falling off balconies was a problem in japan because in anime whenever they do it they just fling it over the side and leave it there. Doesn't look like it would be much of a problem IRL though cause it looked like there was some sort of peg/clamp device keeping them on the side.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Yes, we usually use a big peg.

Anime is about as accurate about real Japan as Hollywood is about real America. :-)

[RyRyVids]

I sleep in a bed and I live in Japan... Beds are becoming more and more popular with the Japanese. Inlaws got one too. That's cool that you go the traditional way tho.

[TheTwelfthDoctor]

lol ; while i'm watching this, i see next

to your vid a commercial about the most luxurious beds ever made.

=\

[scapenite23]

lol i saw that too. contradiction there.

[watastupid]

i sleep like that now and have been for years i do have a bed but choose that way koz ive always wanted to go there and im going soon so YAY your vids a very helpfull cheers mate might send a msg when i get there koz me and ma bro will get lost lolz....arigato gozaimuz...lol sory about spleelingb =O)

[drackennecrophina]

I slept on a tatami mat and futon in one of the hotels I stayed at in Japan. Not nearly as uncomfortable as I thought it would be, but we had pillows with what felt like tiny plastic balls. Really firm and inflexible - not my style. Still, bring a pillow from the States and I'm fine with futons. :3 Great video!

[Demonboy1314]

what i dont get is i tried sleeping on like.. a sleeping bag and it was SOOO UNCOMFTERBLE isnt sleeping on that really weird?because its so low and stuff? i mean if its low wouldnt it have much less support, ect then bed? or is it accually better for you? ( sorry if this is a stupid question..=[ ..)

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

I prefer it.. very comfortable.

[Lolismad]

sleeping on the floor is GR8!

I slept on the floor for 2months last year cuz I got sick and tired of my old bed..

[Degenskonto]

It might be comfy..But it looks crazy small!

[Enigura]

Actually sleeping on a firm surface is good for your spine. Allows it to striaghten out, so thats not bad for you really. Even if some people might think it to be uncomfortable. And you'll never have to worry about falling off your bed...

>.>" Man or man that hurts.

[reaper4255]

I've slept on something similar at a friends house, they're actually really comfortable.

[9056666]

cool :)

[NodnarbRS]

I watched this on my iPhone in my western bed. ;-) time to sleep. おやすみなさい ;D

oh, I wanted to ask you( if you don't mind my asking) what your level of Japanese is... Like pretty good, fluent, native... And another thing do you think in japanse at all?

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

My level is basic.. my grammar and vocab are bad..

I only speak Japanese all day so, yes, I think in bad Japanese most of the time.

[Alphamabeticaly]

Huh, you really weren't kidding about hanging out the futons. That's just one building on one day.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

Yeah, I thought about driving around the town to show everyone doing it... but we already have an "around the town" type video...