It is called “KOTATSU”. In
Japan, we use it in winter as a heating device. Kotatsu
is a low dining table covered with a blanket. On the reverse side of that table
top is attached an electric heat source.
Japan
has a lot of moisture because there is a rainy season. Most houses are made of
wood, so we have to prevent it from molding. That means we need to build a
drafty house. If we build a closed house as in western countries, it becomes
moldy!
So
Japan prefers local heating to general heating. Kotatsu is a representative of
local heating.
They
used to use artificial coal as a Kotatsu’s source of heat but it caused
carbon monoxide intoxication. So now, electricity is used instead.
Kotatsu come in Horigotatsu
and Okigotatsu versions. Horigotatsu is placed over a pit while Okigotatsu is
put on that
floor. These pictures
show the latter one.The
former is very rare today because many people live in an apartment where we can’t dig
a hole. So we often use the latter now.
( This is Horigotatsu! ← ← ← )
We
sit close in the Kotatsu and spend in a family way. It is a very humble life of
Japanese choice.
But Kotatsu has a bad point. It makes people so lazy in winter, because if we ｌｅａｖｅ it,
we feel very cold. Therefore we can't go out of it easily. Kotatsu helps us to get
along with our family members. That's why we use it for long time.
