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Goodbye! I am returning the Japanese matting (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tatami

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'the japanese matting' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'goodbye i am returning' is the wordplay.
'goodbye' becomes 'tata' (I've seen this before).
'i am' becomes 'i'm'.
'returning' says the letters should be written backwards.
'im' back-to-front is 'mi'.
'tata'+'mi'='TATAMI'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tatami that I've seen before include "Japanese straw mat; a mat, it (anag.)" , "Jap. floor mat" , "Japanese rush and straw matting" , "Floor-covering" , "Jap. room matting" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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