text: Futon are traditional Japanese sleeping mattresses which are made from cotton batting and covered in fine cloth. A traditional Japanese bed consists of two futon – ‘shikibuton’ which is the base mattress on which one sleeps and ‘kakebuton’ which is the comforter. Today most Japanese use beds, however many homes are equipped with “guest futons” which are stored in closets in tatami mat rooms.\nTry this website. It will teach you a lot. http://www.japancorner.com/default.asp