Yuton, or lacquered paper mats, are designed to “beat the heat” because they feel cool and comfortable when you sit on them. In fact, yuton is the seasonal word for summer in haiku. These unique mats are created by layering many layers of washi paper, applying perilla oil to the front and persimmon tannin or lacquer to the back to create a very smooth and reflective surface. They require a large amount of washi paper, and making them entails a great deal of time and effort. Because their production involves more than ten steps and takes at least a month, and also because the use of electrical appliances has become so widespread, only one shop continues to make them today.