thin padded mat laid on tatami
A thin cushion or mat placed on top of tatami flooring for added comfort or protection.
My grandmother used a thin padded mat instead of a zabuton cushion.
Standard kanji spelling for this tatami mat.
Variant kanji form using 蓆 instead of 筵; less common.
Compound of 上 (うわ, 'upper') and 筵 (むしろ, 'woven straw mat'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word describes a thin mat placed on top of tatami.