slumber parties

japan is the land of unintentional slumber parties. most people here sleep every night on the floor atop a futon cushion they've hauled out of the closet and covered with layers of blankets. and every morn, the mattresses are refolded and stowed in the hollow space behind paper sliding doors. you see these 'beds' draped over balconies, airing out in the new spring air. you catch grandmothers beating the shit out of these cushions with fly swatters that seem way too small for the job. so when we all get together for a byob [bring your own bedding] party, the sheer volume of mattresses and blankets we use is crazy.
here we are enjoying breakfast that mama megan cooked up at her place on the morning after a great night out.

here's the stack of bedding that it took to keep us cushioned and warm in the niigata winter.