Have you seen in Japanese animes and dramas a small, low table with people sitting around it, warmed by a blanket? In this article, we will talk about this heated table called kotatsu, a table with a cozy blanket.
A Kotatsu is a low wooden table with a heat source underneath, often used in Japan during the colder months. It is usually covered with a heavy blanket, which not only increases warmth but also makes it more comfortable to sit around.
Kotatsu are used both for relaxing and for working, and can be found in homes, offices, and restaurants. The blanket table has been used in Japan for centuries, and the tradition continues to this day.
It is not just a table with heating and a blanket, but rather a cultural invention that brings Japanese families together. Various scenes and stories happen with friends and close families using a Kotatsu.
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Table of Contents
What is a Kotatsu?
The kotatsu [炬燵] or [コタツ] is a small, low table (to fit the legs of people sitting around it) with a small electric heater connected underneath the table. This table is perfect for warming up in the cold of winter.
The kotatsu has a thick padding or comforter called kakebuton [掛け布団]. It is used to retain heat and warm up, as well as to prevent warm air from escaping. Under the table, there is also a mat called jiki [敷き].
This padding consists of 2 blankets called shitagake and another heavier one known as kotatsu-gake. The name kotatsu [炬燵] literally means warm feet. This is just one of the thousands of Japanese inventions against the cold.
The person should sit on the floor or on zabuton cushions with their legs under the table and the blanket spread over the lower part of their body. It was designed to be used with traditional clothing that is open, allowing heat to rise from the legs to the neck.
How did the Kotatsu come about?
The Kotatsu was invented in the 14th century during the Muromachi Period and can be found in most Japanese homes during the winter. Originally, its heater was a coal pit built into the floor.
Also read: What is in a traditional Japanese house?
The kotatsu emerged as a kind of evolution of the Irori, a sunken hearth used to heat the house and cook food. Its predecessor, called hori-gotatsu [掘り炬燵], was a table with a hole in the floor to warm the feet.
Thus, the kotatsu was created, which can be movable instead of being fixed in one place like the hori-gotatsu. In the past, the kotatsu was heated using a pot with coal. Nowadays, it is heated through electricity.
In addition to electric ones, you can still find traditional heating with coal in some places, which can be placed in a hole in the floor or elsewhere, transferring heat through some means.
What are the Advantages of the Kotatsu?
Kotatsu are very loved by the Japanese, especially in cold regions. Families and friends often sit around the table to study, eat meals, drink, or watch television together.
The blanket covers half of your body, keeping you warm in winter. Some even sleep inside the table, but it is not advisable due to the heater and temperature imbalance. Only pets do this.
Many Japanese houses are not properly prepared for winter; not everyone finds it cheap to create insulation and heating in the house due to lack of structure and high costs.
Buying a Kotatsu is a cheap alternative for those who want to warm up in winter. Not to mention that the Kotatsu can be used as a regular table during the summer; just remove the blankets.
There are similar systems in countries around the world: economical and often social ways to warm up while sitting. In Spain and Portugal, there is a round table with a brazier called Camilla.
In the Netherlands, a foot stove is also commonly used. During World War I, British Engineers built ‘Japanese foot heaters’ in the trenches. Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran also have their similar creations.
And you? Have you had the opportunity to use this cozy little table? What was your experience? Don’t forget to share with friends and leave your comments. If only it were cold in Brazil so we could need a cozy little table like this.
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