In recent years the lifestyle of Japanese people has become westernized, and the opportunities to sit on tatami have become fewer while the use of chairs has increased however zabuton are often used to supplement the function of chairs particularly if the seat or backrest is hard or the seat is cold.
近年では日本人の生活が欧米化し、畳の上に座る機会が減り、椅子に座る機会が増えた訳だが、特に座席や背もたれの弾力性が足りない場合や、座席が冷たい場合などに、椅子の機能を追加する意図でこの座布団を用いるケースが見られる。