Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow With Free Pillow Protective Cover, 19" x 29"

I came to this pillow because I wanted a "buy it for life" pillow, but my previously chosen down pillows were not firm enough for me and went too flat or they held my head too highly aloft. I wanted something that would hold my head close to the mattress but not too close. I wondered if this pillow would do the trick and at its price I considered it inexpensive enough to experiment with (plus I needed to hit a minimum order total so that I could get my Prime Add-On items).I am SOooooooooOOooo happy that I bought it.I am a side sleeper and this pillow holds my head in a completely neutral position meaning that my head is held exactly the distance between my ear and my shoulder when I am vertical, but now in the horizontal position. No neck strain at all! And it is firm enough that no matter how much tossing and turning I do during the night, it doesn't flatten out and change that initial position.It is smaller than standard US pillows. But so what? My head is smaller than them, too. The only thing is that it isn't as asthetically pleasing to see it swimming about in my standard US pillow case. I could use sewing skills and take in my pillow cases so that they fit the pillow but 'ain't nobody got time for that'. However, if you are someone with a keen asthetic sense who needs all cases to size-match your pillows, just know that you have a project ahead of you, here, once you get your best pillow ever.I don't know what else to say about the pillow. It is a pillow. It is the right pillow. It holds your head just the way you want it to as you sleep. It is heavier than other types of pillows (except, maybe, those latex foam ones).If this is the right pillow for you, you'll know it within a week. If not, I'll happily accept your Sobakawa donation ;)

I've been using a Sobakawa for almost 20 years. It solved every problem I ever had with mushy feather pillows or spongy synthetic pillows. The Sobakawa supports and molds to your head and neck at a natural angle. Your head doesn't sink too much into the pillow so that you end up breathing your exhaled air. There is no pillow enveloping your face or bending your neck. You are supported and there is less pressure on your shoulders if you sleep on your side. The support is just PERFECT. Your head will stay cool as the hulls do not trap heat.Every friend to whom I have recommended the pillow LOVED the support and feel but two complained about the noise. Funny, I have never noticed it. You may hear some shuffling of hulls as you adjust it but while you're sleeping, it is very quiet and peaceful.Another thing I love about this Sobakawa in particular is that the size is PERFECT. Most traditional pillows feel like a mini mattress under your head, but this pillow's size is just right. Not too big, not to small. If you are someone who has always had sleep problems, especially problems falling asleep, then TRY THIS PILLOW. It worked wonders for me. I'm a normal sleeper now. The only problem is when I go away for the weekend and forget to bring my Sobakawa!

In search for a "Secret Santa" unisex gift for Christmas with a limit of $20, I wanted to be creative and stray away from the typical candles, throws (blankets), and the like. That's how I stumbled upon this item (a Sobakawa buckwheat pillow). I've actually been in search for a good pillow for myself for some time now because, on top of being a very light sleeper, I am not an "active" sleeper (sometimes, I rarely change positions when sleeping and sometimes I toss and turn, but all in all, I do not move around very often during the night), so I often wake up with a sore neck or not very well rested. I would also like to note that I have a history of chronic migraines, and pillow support is critical to comfort during the times I experience a migraine. There have also been times when I've woken up with migraines because of an unrestful sleep. Sometimes I need a lot of neck support, but I don't like it when my pillows are too soft. Like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", I was in search for something not too soft, not too hard... but something that was "just right". Typical memory foam type pillows rarely work very well for me because, although they can conform to your shape, I often find that it is uncomfortable when I move around and the pillow needs to re-conform to my new position. Softer and fluffier pillows are usually a for sure "no-go" for me because it is almost a guarantee that I will wake up with achy neck and shoulders.The Good News: Upon receiving this pillow, I tried it that very night. I woke up the next morning with no complaints in terms of the firmness. It has been about 3 weeks now, and I use this pillow every night. I will likely not be going back to any of my other pillows, though I do have many other types of pillows on the bed (at least 4 kinds). I like that this pillow is stiff enough to support my neck, but also capable of conforming quickly whenever I move. I used to sleep with a very stiff pillow because it supported my neck and head nicely and was the only one that wouldn't make me wake up with an achy body, however, it is so stiff that during the nights when I rarely move, I would wake up with a sore neck. This pillow seems to be able to provide that "just right" type of support that I have been lacking in other pillows that I have tried.My Gripes: Since one was meant for a gift, I was a little disappointed that when I received the package, it did not have the Sobakawa box pictured for the item and I feel like it made it look a bit cheap when wrapping it as a present - but that has little to do with the actual pillow itself so, moving on... The four stars, instead of five, is that the pillow is rather small. It is the smallest of all the other pillows I have, for sure, but, it is big enough to still have just enough pillow left when I move from my left side to my right side (I am a side sleeper) but I am on the very edges of the pillow on either side. I think it would make an excellent travel pillow, but otherwise, its size makes finding a pillow case to protect this pillow rather difficult. I actually tried using one of the larger pillowcases I have and changing the direction of the way is supposed to be inserted so that it perfectly covered the length of each side of the pillow and just tucking in the excess fabric in the bottom side of the opening, however, I found that sleeping with the pillow like that changed the way the pillow supported me because it was TOO perfect making the pillow too snug inside the pillowcase and the conform-ability it used to have was non-existent. So, I removed the pillowcase but I'm uncomfortable with the vulnerability it has to oils (from hair or skin) and other dirt. And frankly, I simply prefer a larger size for my pillows. In response to the smell other people have complained about in their comments, I did notice a slight smell when I opened the package for the first time, but it was not so strong that I was unable to sleep, and after several days I don't smell anything at all. Another thing to note: I also purchased a pillow for my sister and she likes the pillow, but does not sleep with it. She doesn't notice an unpleasant smell from her pillow, however, she sleeps with her baby in between her and her husband and she has noticed that when she uses the pillow and she moves around too much, the baby wakes up because it makes a rustling noise.All in all, if I were in the market to purchase an additional pillow, I would likely purchase another buckwheat pillow from Sobakawa. I would recommend this pillow.