Not Down, Not Synthetic: This Centuries-Old Japanese Filler Keeps Pillows Naturally Cool All Night

A bright white bedroom with white beds, a large window with sheer curtains, light wooden flooring, a grey rug, a white lamp and a glass vase filled with flowers.

As I recently found out, Japan is a place where everything just feels better. The streets are cleaner, the food is more flavorful, and the pillows are cooler.

Putting aside memory foam, down, and synthetic materials, every pillow I slept on in Japan was defined by a distinctive layer of buckwheat husks. They were surprisingly comfortable and supportive, with impressive breathability and cooling properties.