Trivia

Kotatsu-special furniture in winter /炬燵

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Pocket

Here in Japan, we use special furniture in winter called Kotatsu to survive in the cold weather. 
Kotatsu is a dining table with short legs that a heater is attached underneath(see the photo below).
As you may know, a typical Japanese room has tatami mats, so Kotastu is situated on the floor with a wool blanket and warm duvet/comforter.
During summer, blanket and duvet/comforter are removed and Kotatsu is used as a table.

Inside of Kotatsu (Brighter part is heater)

People stretch their legs into Kotastu.
It’s very comfortable, so it’s difficult to get out of it once you sit there.
Therefore, things gather around the Kotatsu so that you can reach them.

There is another type of Kotatsu called Hori-Gotatsu.
It has a dug space on the floor below the table for legs.
And people are able to stretch their legs looking like they’re sitting on a chair.
It’s more comfortable than Kotatsu because of the legs’ position.
Also, we will not kick others’ legs unintentionally that sometimes happens inside Kotatsu.

Interestingly, Iran has Korsi which is similar to Kotatsu.
Do these have the same roots?
Let us know if anyone knows about it.

【Translation for language learners of either English or Japanese】/英語・日本語学習者向け翻訳 えいご ・  にほんごがくしゅうしゃむ  ほんやく

ここ日本では、冬になると寒さを凌ぐために『炬燵』と呼ばれる特別な家具を使います。
炬燵は、短い脚の付いた食卓机で、ヒーターが机の下に付いています。
ご存知かも知れませんが、典型的な和室は、畳が設えてあり、炬燵は、毛布や炬燵布団と共に、その畳の上に置かれます。
夏の間は、毛布と炬燵布団は外して使います。

炬燵に足を伸ばして使います。とても心地よいので、一度入ったら、出られません。
だから、手の届く範囲に色々な物が集まってしまいます。

『掘り炬燵』と呼ばれる別のタイプの炬燵もあります。
炬燵の下の床の部分が、足が入るよう掘り下げられています。
椅子に腰掛けるように、足を伸ばす事ができます。
足のことを考えたら、炬燵よりも掘り炬燵の方が快適です。
また、掘り炬燵なら、予期せずして相手の足を蹴ってしまうということも無いでしょう。

面白いことに、イランには、『コルシ』と呼ばれるコタツに似たものがあります。
これらのルーツは同じでしょうか。
どなたかご存知でしたら教えてくださいね。

Pocket

+1
Miki

Good day, I am the founder of Aurora Trip Nippon. Also, I am a Certified National Guide, Certified Tour Conductor, Certified General Travel Service Supervisor, as well as a Kimono Consultant.
I love Japan. So, you could ask us anything about Japan.

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