When I first arrived in Japan in 1987, it was a freezing day in January. With flurries outside, I entered an unheated apartment, with no running hot water and drafty windows. It hasn't become any warmer but I've learned there is a method to beating the chill factor! If you can't insulate the whole house, then insulate yourself.
The trusty kotatsu table is the first line of defense. A table with a heating element under the top and a blanket draped all around so you can stay cozy and warm - at least from the waist down. It serves as a convenient place to dry wet socks and ferment natto as well. Just don't let anything catch fire!A heated carpet is another key item, although it does add to your utility bill, a warm floor is comforting. The downside is that the heated carpet is difficult to store during summer. My husband took ours and put it under the kotatsu table so he can heat his butt and his feet at the same time. Go figure.
It is worth investing in proper window coverings. Since you can't do much about the poorly insulated buildings, you can do your best by keeping the cold out of the windows. I find that double layers - a combination of blinds (preferable cellular type) and curtains - can insulate a room dramatically. I just ordered blinds from the http://www.blindschalet.com/ and coupled with shipping from Bongous.com I saved over 60% compared to local purchases. Also, we make the most of the sunny moments by opening the blinds and letting the sun heat the air!
The Japanese also have a number of traditional ways to keep warm, such as wearing a heavy quilted indoor jacket (hanten) or sitting around a kerosene heater. Creating small spaces with sliding doors and partitions also helps conserve heat. Some older homes and temples still use charcoal-burning hibachis (but these must only be used where there is plenty of fresh air - outdoors, near an open window, entry hall).
Finally, the best way to warm up the body and soul is to soak in a steaming hot bath. Soak until you are as red as a lobster and then dash out, dress warmly and crawl into bed! A glass of warm sake or red wine doesn't hurt either.(cartoon by Simon Howden, http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/)
1 comment:
I do always wonder why in the blogs I've read (and some manga), the COLD in Japanese homes seems so prevalent. I guess since Japan is so modern and wealthy, I assumed everything is heated/ac like in the US. Was cute to read about a lady who had a house built with totally heated floors due to non-fond memories of freezing winters pre-new-home.
We're in Miami, and it is so rarely cold here, I don't even have a coat and my sweaters are usually stored. But we've had a very cold series of fronts, gone down to the 30's even, and I've been freezing my butt off. I never put the heat on, so we just use lots of blankets and i layer t-shirts and sleep clothed, as opposed to usual nekkid napping. I am so used to our mild to hot weather, that the cold feels so novel. However, I don't want months of cold, like we hadi n NYC. I do not like heading out in freezing weather. Bleh. But a few chilly weeks a yaer is refreshing. I definitely need new sweaters. :) Mine are so old and neglected.
Stay warm.
Mirtika
Post a Comment