Keep it long, treasure it long.

Comfortably furnish your daily life

Modern people who live busy lives tend to have their brains working at full speed 24 hours a day. Too much information to process can easily lead to fatigue.

Some people practice zazen, believing that breathing is also important for maintaining both physical and mental health. Zazen is popular around the world for relaxing and regulating the mind and body, but the ZAF cushion can also be incorporated into your daily life as a cushion that supports your pelvis and improves your posture by sitting upright. Create 5 minutes in your busy daily life. This is a new habit that just requires sitting on a cushion.

5 Minutes of Zazen

Zaf is just 5 minutes of zaf to start doing nothing. Sit on the ZAF with your back straight, sticking your belly button out. Just by doing that, you can encourage a natural S-shaped spine and create time to breathe slowly. It keeps your pelvis upright, so you can also use it for yoga, pilates, stretching, etc. It is also recommended as a seiza chair for those who are concerned about their posture or have weak legs, hips, or knees. In addition, it was originally used by monks when they sat cross-legged when eating, so it is expected that those who eat while sitting on the floor will be able to adjust the position of their internal organs and improve digestion.

The characteristic of the "ZAF" cushion is its unique shape with folds on the sides. This was designed to make it easy for the shape to change to match the weight of the body when sitting. This rational and ergonomic structure was developed by Zen monks in the Edo period and has long been passed down in the world of Zen.

The filling is "Kapok cotton" which is extracted from the nuts of the kapok tree native to Southeast Asia. It has a natural insect repellent effect, so it has been a favorite material in temples since ancient times when there were many insects coming in and out. It is packed with cotton, so it has an exquisite firmness that does not sag or sink. However, after finishing zazen, the filling will move to one side, so be sure to adjust the shape of the zafu before storing it. After zazen, it is proper to knead the zafu to return it to its original shape. Please knead it slowly and carefully. The removable knit cover is made of organic cotton from India with antibacterial and deodorizing properties, and is soft and comfortable to the touch.

The name tag on which you write your name and date, which is also a key feature of the design, is also taken from a zazen futon. Zazen is done facing the wall, so monks with bald heads cannot distinguish them, so they write their names. Since temples and other places often include the date on items that are donated, the futon can also be used to write the date. This type of design is a nice addition to modern life, and you can take it to the gym or yoga class without worrying about losing it. It is also recommended as a gift for health-conscious people, or for Father's Day or Mother's Day.

Live in the present with your body and mind

Since its founding, Sakae Kinran, which produces ZAF, has been a manufacturer of Buddhist altar implements made from woven fabrics, such as robes worn by monks, curtains for displaying the main hall of temples, and round futons. Located in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, a Buddhist altar implement production area, the company boasts a top-class market share for zazen futons made by craftsmen using traditional methods. The manufacturer strives to "make things that value people's 'feelings'" and has inherited traditional techniques while creating products that are close to the hearts of all people living in the modern age.

In 2018, Sakae Kinran's second-generation owner, Takezawa, started the factory brand "ZAF" for zazen cushions. From an early age, he played with the cotton used to make zabuton cushions, and was interested in watching the manufacturing process while familiarizing himself with the family business. He also felt that his mind was in harmony when he tried zazen when he was feeling serious. These were the reasons he started ZAF.

Takezawa says, "The zafu itself is a traditional Buddhist implement that has been around since the Edo period and supports the posture of zazen. When you hear Buddhism, you may feel tense, but the means to harmonize your mind are very necessary in today's society. That's why I want to spread Buddhism and zazen through design products." Zen has been a tradition since ancient times, and ZAF conveys the awareness of living here and now in a more human and careful way. Why not try zazen as a way to harmonize your mind?