Sitting on Japanese tatami mats may reduce anxiety and support task engagement
· Medical Xpressedited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan
Gaby Clark
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Robert Egan
Senior Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
peer-reviewed publication
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
Researchers at Kyushu University, publishing in the journal Scientific Reports, found that using mats made from Japanese Igusa, or rush grass, was associated with increased activity in regions of the brain related to concentration and engagement. Surveyed participants also reported reduced tension and anxiety after using Igusa mats. Igusa has been used in Japan for centuries, and the research team hopes scientific evidence of its health benefits will provide new value for this traditional material.
What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a Japanese-style room? Is it the floor-level furniture? The sliding wood-and-paper doors? Or is it the smell? Also called a tatami room—or Washitsu in Japanese—these spaces are defined by their tatami flooring, which has been part of Japanese culture and architecture for centuries. The unique smell of the Washitsu comes from the tatami, specifically the Igusa that makes up the mat surface.
"In Japan, the scent of Igusa is associated with comfort and relaxation. However, there is very little scientific evidence to support such claims," explains Associate Professor Kuniyoshi Shimizu from Kyushu University's Faculty of Agriculture, who led the study. "Our team has been using objective scientific methods to investigate the effects of Igusa on people. Previously, we showed that the aromatic compounds in Igusa have relaxing effects. This time, we wanted to explore other benefits like mood, stress resilience, and task engagement."
Testing tatami against plastic
In their experimental setup, the team placed volunteers in a soundproof room under two conditions: sitting on Igusa mats or sitting on unscented polypropylene plastic mats. The volunteers then completed simple tasks while the team measured their reaction times and brain activity using an electroencephalograph (EEG). Afterward, the team administered psychological questionnaires to assess the volunteers' stress and comfort.
Brain signals and mood shifts
"We had a total of 17 volunteers with an average age of 21.5 years. When we compared the results of tasks performed on the Igusa mat with the control condition, we saw a significant difference," explains Shimizu. "The EEG results showed that when participants were sitting on the Igusa mats while completing their tasks, they had increased beta wave activity in certain parts of the brain. This indicates that they had enhanced focus and better cognitive engagement."
Moreover, the team found that under Igusa mat conditions, gamma wave activity showed clear changes between resting and task periods across many brain areas. Alpha wave activity also remained more stable during rest periods. Together, these patterns suggest increased stress resilience through more efficient relaxation.
Afterward, volunteers reported reduced tension and anxiety after using the Igusa mats. However, other aspects of mood showed no significant change.
A traditional material under review
This study provides new empirical data on the possible benefits of Igusa mats, specifically their potential to reduce tension and anxiety and support stress resilience when performing tasks.
"We had a small number of participants in this study, so the next step is to replicate the experiment with a larger, more diverse population. In addition, we only evaluated short-term responses, so we would also like to investigate the long-term effects of Igusa use," says Shimizu.
"For generations, Igusa has brought comfort to Japanese living spaces. But today, its use has decreased due to changes in lifestyles and modern housing environments. Through our research, we hope to deepen our understanding of how traditional materials can influence people and discover new applications for them in contemporary society."
Publication details
Stress resilience and engagement enhancement under the usage of Igusa (Juncus effusus L. var. decipiens Buchen.) mat: a crossover study, Scientific Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-47520-8
Journal information: Scientific Reports
Key medical concepts
Clinical categories
Psychology & Mental healthPsychiatryNeurology Provided by Kyushu University Who's behind this story?
Gaby Clark
MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →
Robert Egan
Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →
Citation: Sitting on Japanese tatami mats may reduce anxiety and support task engagement (2026, September 8) retrieved 8 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-japanese-tatami-mats-anxiety-task.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.