
You sit in a zaisu chair the same as any other chair. Given that it sits directly on the floor, you can either put your feet out in front of you, cross your legs or kneel and fold them underneath.
Full Answer
What is a zaisu chair?
Zaisu is a Japanese-style floor seat that can be used as a meditation chair for sitting like Japanese. The special design of Zaisu avoids back pain which usually happened during sitting without back support.
Is sitting in seiza more comfortable than sitting on a chair?
My grandmother who passed said she’s more comfortable in seiza than sitting on a chair. She sat in seiza even when she was relaxing with her family. She was born in the 1920s and the general Japanese families used to live on tatami. There might have been some western-styled room in big houses even at that time, but it was exceptional.
What is the correct sitting style in Japan?
Traditionally, the correct sitting style in Japan is seiza, kneeling with the weight on top of the lower legs, which are folded underneath the body. However this can become painful after long periods of time or for people who are not used to it, so many prefer the zaisu, where the back is supported and legs can be positioned more comfortably.
What are the benefits of zaisu?
This makes it easier to relax when you sitting on the floor. Some Zaisu are foldable, which can be very convenient. By adjusting the position of the back you can sit in more upright positions, or lean back, in a more relaxing position. Shop for Zaisu online!

How do you sit on a Japanese chair?
Approach the cushion from the left and sit 'seiza' Squat down, put your hands on the floor and only then slide yourself right toward the cushion. Touch down on your knees and then sit on your heels, with your feet out flat beneath you. This kneeling position is known as seiza (正座)—literally, "correct seating."
Are Zaisu chairs comfortable?
While it may not be the most comfortable chair given that the backrest is all wooden, it is still very well built, with very high quality honey oak wood and a nice cushion. The cushion only gives you about an inch before hitting the solid part on the bottom but it's pretty comfortable for me.
How do you sit on a Japanese floor table?
Typically the Japanese eat at low dining tables and sit on a cushion placed on tatami floor (a reed-like mat). In formal situations both men and women kneel (“seiza”), while in casual situations the men sit cross-legged and women sit with both legs to one side.
Why do Japanese still sit on the floor?
Sitting on the floor has long been part of Japan's way of life. In traditional homes, people eat and sleep on straw floor mats known as tatami. Numerous Japanese cultural activities, from Zen meditation to the tea ceremony, are done completely or partly while sitting on the floor.
Are Japanese floor chairs good for your back?
Also known as Japanese floor chairs with back support, these chairs allow you to sit comfortably on the floor as you continue working on your responsibilities. These chairs can be an excellent option for those that live in enclosed spaces.
What are Japanese chairs called?
A zaisu (座椅子) is a Japanese chair with no legs but a normal chair back. They are often found in traditional rooms with tatami mats, and are often used for relaxing under heated kotatsu tables.
Is sitting seiza healthy?
Ergonomically, Seiza helps in maintaining proper vertebral alignment, aiding and even preventing back pain. Additionally, sitting in an upright position helps improve blood circulation, a vital part of general muscle, bone, and organ health.
How do you sit seiza without pain?
0:242:57How to Practice to Sit in Seiza, Stretch for Seiza and Other Options for SeizaYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you need more support or if you don't have a pillow you can use a blanket and roll it up andMoreAnd if you need more support or if you don't have a pillow you can use a blanket and roll it up and put it under your butt. So you don't have much pain while you're practicing how to sit in seiza.
How do you sit on a tatami mat?
In a tatami sitting room, there are certain ways to sit that are considered good manners, for example when guests are visiting. Cross-legged is considered more casual. Seiza (正座) is the most formal way to sit on tatami mats. You bend your legs and sit on them, with your feet crossed under your bottom.
Why do Japanese say San after name?
As a rule of thumb, in Japanese business life, the surname name is always followed by the honorific suffix “san” (meaning “dear” or actually “honorable Mr/Ms.”). There are of course many other options such as “sama” (highly revered customer or company manager) or “sensei” (Dr. or professor).
Do Japanese use pillows?
Further, instead of fluffy, feathery western-style pillows, they use a traditional Japanese pillow known as a sobakawa pillow. As one of the top five healthiest populations in the world, they must know what they are doing!
Why are there no chairs in Japan?
Chairs are one of the many foreign technologies that Japan has wholeheartedly adopted, but most Japanese people would just as soon sit on the floor. In fact, you're more likely to be afforded the luxury of a floor seat at a posh hotel or restaurant than at a cheap one.
How do you sit a seiza?
To sit in seiza requires coming to a kneeling position momentarily, with the heels propped up; if one remains seated on the heels with the balls of the feet touching the floor and toes flexed forward, it is called kiza (跪座 / 跪坐).
What is it called when you sit on the floor in a Japanese restaurant?
Tatami Seating (Zashiki) Zashiki is a traditional Japanese restaurant seating arrangement featuring a low table set on tatami flooring. It's found in more traditional Japanese restaurants, izakaya, and kaiseki restaurants.
What are Japanese dining tables called?
chabudaiThe chabudai is a traditional table used in Japan that requires floor seating, such as a tatami mat or zabuton cushion. The short-legged table ranges in height from 15 to 30 centimeters. Typically, it was made of wood and round in shape, though oval and square shapes also exist.
Why is Japanese furniture so low?
'' This is because in traditional Japanese houses, from ancient times to the present, there was very little furniture to sit or sleep on. Without chairs or bedding, the Japanese generally used the floor to sit and sleep on.
What is Zaisu Floor Chair?
As the name already suggests, the floor seating is a chair that you can place on the floor unlike the regular chair with legs. Since it has no legs, the seating part of the chair is situated directly on the floor, and the best thing is it will not make your room or apartment look packed with furniture.
Keeping The Japanese Tradition Alive
The Japanese have extreme family values, and over there most of the families sit on the floor when they are having food or spending quality family time together. Zaisu floor chairs keep that tradition alive, and these innovative chairs actually originated from Japan and are now becoming famous all over the world.
What Kind of Zaisu Floor Chair Should You Buy?
If you have decided to equip your apartment with floor chairs, then there are several things that you should consider before you rush to get a floor seat. Here is a detailed list of all the factors you should consider:
