Captivating foreigners living in Tokyo！The winter time "Kotatsu"
１ A must have item for getting through the cold winters in Japan, the "Kotatsu"
Foreigners visiting Tokyo may be fascinated by some of the items unique to Japan. Foreigners who have stayed in Tokyo have been fascinated by the Kotatsu, a Japanese winter tradition, and there are lots of people who want one to use it in their home countries. The comfort of the Kotatsu is amazing and it's hard to separate yourself from it once you use it. There is no such item like a Kotatsu overseas as most homes have central heating that heats the entire house during the winter, so having a Kotatsu is quite rare for foreigners, but in Japan, it is a must have item that can't be forgotten about once used.
The charm of Japan is that you can experience all four seasons, but winter in Japan is very cold with days when the maximum temperature falls below 10°C in the city of Tokyo. Japanese people find it hard to handle the cold weather, often saying "I just can't!" Without exaggerating, it would be safe to say that there is at least one Kotatsu in every household.
In this article, we will tell you about the Kotatsu, one of the most popular items among both Japanese and foreigners.
２ The history of the Kotatsu in Japan
The Kotatsu is not something that foreigners are familiar with, but it is said that the Kotatsu was thought up in Japan during the Muromachi era, with a history of more than 500 years.
The Kotatsu is said to have been made by applying ashes to charcoal in a hearth which would adjusting the level of heat, then placing the hearth into a leg well with a table placed over the well which was covered with a futon or with clothes. Later, during the Edo era, wooden structures were built to be placed around the hearth and covered with the current style of futon blanket. As time went on, the height of the hearth was lowered and a Kotatsu with a leg well was introduced.
In Japan, houses are well-ventilated to help bring relief from the heat and humidity of the summer, but in the winter, because the house is well ventilated, this presents a problem with keeping the house warm in the winter. With a home that has good ventilation, it is inefficient to have central heating as cold air will stagnate down. The Japanese have a culture of sitting on the floor so they came up with the idea to make the Kotatsu so they could keep the lower body warm efficiently.
When the Kotatsu was invented, there were lots of house fires because the futon that covered the hearth would catch fire from embers that came from the charcoals, but during the Meiji era, a Kotatsu that allowed you to sit with the hearth in a leg well, away from the table and futon was devised by the British. History tells us that the number of fires decreased and that foreigners were a big part of the evolution of the Kotatsu. The birth of the electric Kotatsu, which has become mainstream in modern Japan, is said to have been introduced around the end of the Taisho era and after WW2, it became more and more popular. Around this time, various types of the Kotatsu were invented and gained notoriety. Presently, it is one of the must have items at home that people can't get enough of in the winter. As you can see, the Kotatsu has been a popular item for many, many years.
３ The charm of the Kotatsu that we want foreigners in Tokyo to know
From a long time ago, the term "Kotatsu and mikan oranges" represents a wonderful scenery unique to Japan and can be said to be a symbol of a happy family. A Kotatsu is difficult to have if you live alone in Tokyo, but it has always been a symbol of family warmth because they are common in homes, and especially at the home of grandparents.
The Kotatsu is loved by Japanese people not only because it is comfortable, but because it warms up quickly and can warm your whole body efficiently, and because you can feel the warmth directly. Also, because the heat is contained to the area under the futon, there is no worry about the room drying out from the heat.
４ The Kotatsu can be dangerous！？ Let's take a look at what to be careful about when using
The continuous use of the Kotatsu will be common if it gets really cold during your stay in Tokyo, but there are unexpected dangers to be aware of when using. Depending on how you use it, it can be very dangerous, so be sure to check the precautions below in order to use a Kotatsu safely.
・Dehydration
Winters bring about dehydration, which can happen to those of us who forget to hydrate ourselves, and dehydration can especially happen when you are using a Kotatsu as your body temperature rises.
Even if you are not sweating, the water in your body is being used up quickly.
The phrase mentioned earlier "Kotatsu and mikan oranges" is not only a phrase that represents scenery unique to Japan, but it is also a phrase that came about due to the effectiveness of mikan oranges in preventing dehydration while using a Kotatsu.
A Kotatsu is so comfortable, it is easy to fall asleep while using one, but when you sleep, you sweat easily which can dehydrate you even more. So when using a Kotatsu, be sure to keep yourself hydrated by eating mikan oranges.
・Low temperature burns
If you stay under a Kotatsu for a long time, there is a possibility of getting a low-temperature burn that damage the deepest part of the skin. The areas where circulation is poor, such as the shins, ankles and heels are areas where there is a high risk of getting low-temperature burns, so please be careful.
・Burns and fire
In Tokyo, some foreigners prefer to do their laundry indoors so as to prevent theft, but drying clothes and towels using a Kotatsu instead of a dryer may cause burns or a fire so please refrain from doing so. In Japan, there have been Kotatsu related fire deaths because of this kind of misuse.
In addition, there have also been cases of fires starting because the table leg is on top of the power cord. The power cord is not visible because of the futon and there is always the possibility that something may be on top of the power cord so be sure to check it regularly.
５ In Conclusion
In this article, we have explained some of the details about the ever so comfortable "Kotatsu", capable of warming your body to the core and helping you to forget about the cold in Tokyo. The Kotatsu, one of the more popular items among all heaters, is a must have item for foreigners. In foreign countries, people don't usually sit on the floor, so be sure to try a Kotatsu out when in Tokyo.
We hope that the details about the Kotatsu and how to use one safely introduced in this article will help to keep you warm during your stay in Tokyo.
