Kotatsu - a hybrid of the table, blankets and a heater: how to use, pros and cons

For many years, Japan has steadily maintained its leadership in various "high" technology. In this case, the ingenuity and originality of the Japanese people have shown long before scientific progress, which began to develop at the end of the last century. One of the clearest examples is the kotatsu table, which, together with its main mission plays the role of a heater. It was created in the late XV century.

What is the kotatsu

Kotatsu - a traditional table in Japan, small in size, with installed inside the heater covered with a futon (a sort of hybrid of the mattress and blankets). On top of the entire structure stacked countertop.

Winters in the Rising Sun Country relatively warm, without strong temperature differences, but sometimes rooms gets very cold, even more so - in the traditional Japanese homes, where relatively wall thin.

And because the electricity in this country is expensive, people do not warm up the house, and warm themselves. Because in the winter time they sit down to kotatsu. The temperature regime of modern heaters that are installed on the table, it is possible to control the regulator, and the futon perfectly retains heat.

How to use the kotatsu

To warm up, the Japanese sit around the kotatsu on a special pillow called "Zabuton" - you can completely hide a futon or wrap a leg. Blanket insulates a small amount of the heated air, which does not circulate through the house, but only for the comfort of the human body.

Reference! As they say the Japanese themselves, their unique invention makes you feel comfortable even in a room that is not fully heated. It is quite profitable, as it directly kotatsu not require significant electricity costs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since kotatsu purely Japanese invention, the chairs are not needed. You can comfortably eat at the table, use a laptop or just carry on a conversation with family and friends for tea.

Naturally heated by only the lower part of the body, but that is enough to keep warm and feel the home atmosphere of warmth and comfort.

In addition, in our country, for example, are always on radiators, and the kotatsu can be installed instead of the heater in very cold days (in Japan it can be limited, but in our country a permanent additional heating required).

Incidentally, in Japan, this invention is not only used in homes - there are even kotatsu trains.

Around kotatsu friendly atmosphere, and is it possible to somehow communicate with family, while just under a blanket? All the family members feel closer to each other and much more comfortable.

In addition, if you use the table alone, we can fully get under it and enjoy the memories of childhood, when we all loved to build "tents".

Under the table is enough space for a night's rest, but still there is one drawback. Japanese parents often do not allow children to relax in the kotatsu at night, as there is a certain risk of ignition of this furniture. The heated plastic and other flammable materials from which made the table, can be a real trap for the kids during the night's rest.