“Soba” is the Japanese word for buckwheat, a plant in the same family as rhubarb and sorrel. The seeds of the plant are harvested, hulled, and ground to make noodles and other flour-based foods.
The “kawa” on the end of the word means “leather”, so “sobakawa” literally means “Buckwheat leather.” However, properly translated, it means the hulls of the buckwheat plant. Sobakawa pillows are filled with buckwheat hulls, a material that offers a lot of sleep benefits.
A handful of clouds… err… microbeads
Not all products labeled “Sobakawa” are genuine buckwheat pillows.
A Google search for “sobakawa pillow”, will provide links leading to a product called the “Sobakawa Cloud Pillow.” This pillow isn’t filled with buckwheat hulls, but instead uses polystyrene microbeads as a filling. It is not the same as a natural buckwheat pillow; the Cloud Pillow has simply co-opted the name for marketing purposes.
Read more: The Microbead Pillow Will Comfortably Ruin Us All
Cloud Pillow vs. the Read Deal
The Cloud Pillow product isn’t a true “sobakawa” Japanese buckwheat pillow. It’s not the best purchase. There are several reasons to avoid this pillow:
- It is not durable. They lose supportiveness–the polystyrene microbead filling breaks down quickly with use.
- The microbead fill tends to shift, causing the pillow to lose its shape easily.
- They initially release a foul-smelling gas (the smell tends to dissipate with time).
The Cloud Pillow’s polystyrene beads are produced with petrochemicals. It’s definitely not a all-natural pillow, something that most true sobakawa pillows can claim.
Buckwheat pillows, on the other hand, are much better because they:
- keep you cool at night thanks to the air flow between the hulls.
- offer terrific long-term support for your neck and head.
Compare any buckwheat pillow to the Cloud Pillow, and you’ll find that the real Sobakawa pillows win out every time!
Sobakawa Pillow: What You Need to Know
Buckwheat pillows are made with all-natural materials, including buckwheat hulls, organic cotton, etc. They’re made free of man-made fabrics, so you won’t have to worry about exposure to materials that can cause allergic reactions.
One great thing about Sobakawa pillows is that the buckwheat hulls used to fill the pillow are often locally-grown. American buckwheat is grown and harvested for the production of these pillows. By buying the buckwheat pillows, you not only support the local economy, but you do so by purchasing a fully renewable material.
Buckwheat hulls in a pillow: don’t eat these!
The benefits of buckwheat pillows are many:
- They offer excellent support — Did you know that many doctors and sleep physicians recommend buckwheat pillows? The buckwheat hulls used to stuff the pillows shift according to your position, making it easy for you to sleep with the proper support no matter what your position.
- They’re highly versatile — Whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, a sobakawa pillow offers versatile support. Plus, if the pillow has a zipper, you can add or remove the filling in order to make it as thick or thin as you want. You can find them in all shapes and sizes—from king size pillows to keyboard rests and sleep masks.
- They’ll keep you cool — If you sleep hot, this is the pillow for you! I tend to sleep very hot at night, and goose down pillows–while comfortable for the most part–leave me sweating all the time. With a buckwheat pillow, air passes through the hulls, cooling me down and making it easier to sleep.
In summary, sobakawa buckwheat pillows are the natural option you’re looking for. You’ll find that they’re supportive, cool, and as eco-friendly as it gets.
Our Hullo sobakawa pillow is made with 100% organic cotton, locally-sourced buckwheat, and top-notch American materials. If you’re interested in a better night’s sleep, it’s time to try buckwheat pillows! Don’t take my word for it—check out these customer reviews.
