expression, noun
mesh of a tatami mat; stitch spacing on tatami
Refers to the visible weave pattern or the distance between stitches on the surface of a tatami mat. Often used in set phrases like 畳の目を数える (to count the tatami stitches) when describing idle or bored behavior.
畳の目を数えて時間をつぶした。
I killed time by counting the stitches on the tatami mat.