Japan’s Kotatsu is the Coziest Way to Stay Warm in Winter
![Japan’s Kotatsu is the Coziest Way to Stay Warm in Winter](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Kotatsu2.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85&blur=80)
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Ahh, winter — when humanity wages war against the plummeting temperatures.
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In the battle against the bitter cold, some batten down the hatches by turning up the heat, while others arm themselves with an extra blanket.
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And then there’s Japan, who came up with the most ingenious invention in the history of winter warfare: the kotatsu.
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The kotatsu, the coziest of contraptions, is composed of a table frame underneath a futon which then has a tabletop placed over it. A heater is affixed to the underbelly of the tabletop, hidden from view by the cascading fabric.
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Its use dates back to the 14th century, when the charcoal-powered cooking hearth, or irori, was modified to include a seating area.
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The hearth’s primary function gradually shifted from cooking to seating, and a wooden platform with a quilt placed over it was later introduced. This proto-kotatsu was known as a hori-gotatsu, translating to “ditch, fire, foot-warmer”. It is sometimes still used today.
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Although its design would change in a variety of ways over the next few centuries, its most dramatic improvement wouldn’t occur until the mid-20th century, when electricity replaced coal as its fuel source.
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The result? A nice, toasty slice of heaven that offers a much-needed respite from the harsh cold.
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No one can resist the snuggly allure of the kotatsu — especially cats!
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More like nekotatsu, amirite?
Check out this video below for more on Kotatsu culture:
How’s that for staying warm?
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Did you grow up with a kotatsu? Or do you stave off the freezing cold another way? Let us know in the comments!
Featured Image via Flickr / tarte777 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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