PURPOSE: To manufacture a tatami matting by inserting a tape-shaped body composed of thermoplastic stretched in the longitudinal direction through a heating component, forming an imitation rush bundled irregularly, weaving this rush to form a tatami matting and fusion bonding selvage hair sections integrally.

CONSTITUTION: For example, an inflation processed cylindrical body is folded as it is into two and cut into pieces of proper width to form a tape-shaped body composed of thermoplastic resin. A plurality of the tapes of proper width (approximately several mm to 20-50mm) are joined together and passed through a heating section to manufacture one imitation rush 5 bundled irregularly. At that time, if necessary, a number of recessed and projected creases are formed on the tape-shaped body which forms wavy creases formed in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the tape-shaped body. The imitation rushes 5... are weaved together with warps 3... to manufacture a desired tatami matting, and at the time of manufacture, the imitation rushes 5 are fusion bonded up and down at central sections 6 of selvage hairs 4 to prevent fraying.