Winter in Japan:Kotatsu (portable low heating table)
In previous entry titled "Seasons in Japan ", I wrote that Japan experience 4 seasons through a
year. Generally, March to May is Spring, June to August is
summer, September to November is fall, December to February is winter.
I also wrote that winter in Japan usually is stressful month for 9th grader and senior high school students (12th grader). Because they need to take entrance exam to get into high school or University. I remember I studied stuff all nights, and my mother made a quick light meal for me with a little bit of snacks on side.
In Japan, 9th graders have choice as to which high schools you would like to go to (some are private and some are public), or whether they like to start working right away.
If you choose to go on to high school, generally,you would study hard and visit the high school of your choice on the date specified and take a test. Test subjects are varied schools to school.
High school senior students (12th grader) also need to study hard if they choose to go on to University/college because they need to take an entrance exam again.
First step for them is to browse through University/College booklets and choose which faculty they would like to pursue, at which University/college. Then,narrow it down to handful of University/college of their choice to take a test for. Then,check their test subjects and study hard aiming to pass the test.
Private University/college usually hold entrance exams at their location with their choice of subjects (In my case,some Universities required Japanese and English test only),while public/national University/college cannot choose the test subjects on their own and all senior high school students who wish to go to public/national University/College take the same test with basic subjects; Japanese, English, History, Math, Science etc.. at the regional auditorium on the same day.
Therefore,winter is quite stressful for 9th and 12th grader.
Such cold, stressful winter season, one thing you would see at most Japanese family homes, and you would probably love about is portable low heating table called "Kotatsu".
Usually,you would see them in the living room,where family members gather to watch TV or eat dinner together. On the tatami mat floor, our family put a small size soft blanket, and then place the low table that has electric heater underneath. Then,cover the low table with quilt,place the table top and insert the electric code to outlet and flip the switch "on", adjust the temperature and enjoy the warmth of "Kotatsu".
I came across youtube videos where you get to see how you prepare "Kotatsu".
Kotatsu (portable low heating table)
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
When we had dinner in winter months,we often ate on the Kotatsu table, and also watched TV together with PJ underneath the Kotatsu because by the time you would go bed, PJ is nice and warm.
I also came across youtube videos where you get to see French bulldog enjoys warmth of "Kotatsu".
"Kotatsu" (portable low heating table) and French bulldog "Fuku"
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Other than Kotatsu heating element, we had gas stove nearby and it warmed up the room very nicely and we placed kettle on top of gas stove so that the air would not get dry out, also we used to put the seedless mandarin orange and roast the orange on top by moving the orange little by little so that all sides are roasted.You may think it odd but it was tasty warm fruits desert we often enjoyed.
Did you know that there is "Kotatsu" for cats in Japan? I did not have cats there so,I did not know this but it seems,there is a "Kotatsu" for cats.
"Kotatsu" for cats;Cat "Reo" sleep under the Kotatsu"
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
In the winter, usually at evening, we used to hear someone singing "Ishi yaki imo, oishiiyo!" ("Stone grilled sweet potato.It is delicious!") from truck passing by,in Japan. It is actually a recording through megaphone. The guy cooks sweet potato in the back of the truck using stones. American sweet potato is orange fresh but Japanese sweet potato is yellow fresh and less moisture. Very tasty when grilled like this.If your area had Asian stores,you would most likely find Japanese sweet potato.
I came across youtube videos where you get to hear Sweet potato guy's song from truck in Japanese.
Ishi yaki imo (Stone grilled sweet potato)
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Do you see anything similar to the stone grilled sweet potato trucks in your area?
I also wrote that winter in Japan usually is stressful month for 9th grader and senior high school students (12th grader). Because they need to take entrance exam to get into high school or University. I remember I studied stuff all nights, and my mother made a quick light meal for me with a little bit of snacks on side.
In Japan, 9th graders have choice as to which high schools you would like to go to (some are private and some are public), or whether they like to start working right away.
If you choose to go on to high school, generally,you would study hard and visit the high school of your choice on the date specified and take a test. Test subjects are varied schools to school.
High school senior students (12th grader) also need to study hard if they choose to go on to University/college because they need to take an entrance exam again.
First step for them is to browse through University/College booklets and choose which faculty they would like to pursue, at which University/college. Then,narrow it down to handful of University/college of their choice to take a test for. Then,check their test subjects and study hard aiming to pass the test.
Private University/college usually hold entrance exams at their location with their choice of subjects (In my case,some Universities required Japanese and English test only),while public/national University/college cannot choose the test subjects on their own and all senior high school students who wish to go to public/national University/College take the same test with basic subjects; Japanese, English, History, Math, Science etc.. at the regional auditorium on the same day.
Therefore,winter is quite stressful for 9th and 12th grader.
Such cold, stressful winter season, one thing you would see at most Japanese family homes, and you would probably love about is portable low heating table called "Kotatsu".
Usually,you would see them in the living room,where family members gather to watch TV or eat dinner together. On the tatami mat floor, our family put a small size soft blanket, and then place the low table that has electric heater underneath. Then,cover the low table with quilt,place the table top and insert the electric code to outlet and flip the switch "on", adjust the temperature and enjoy the warmth of "Kotatsu".
I came across youtube videos where you get to see how you prepare "Kotatsu".
Kotatsu (portable low heating table)
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
When we had dinner in winter months,we often ate on the Kotatsu table, and also watched TV together with PJ underneath the Kotatsu because by the time you would go bed, PJ is nice and warm.
I also came across youtube videos where you get to see French bulldog enjoys warmth of "Kotatsu".
"Kotatsu" (portable low heating table) and French bulldog "Fuku"
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Other than Kotatsu heating element, we had gas stove nearby and it warmed up the room very nicely and we placed kettle on top of gas stove so that the air would not get dry out, also we used to put the seedless mandarin orange and roast the orange on top by moving the orange little by little so that all sides are roasted.You may think it odd but it was tasty warm fruits desert we often enjoyed.
Did you know that there is "Kotatsu" for cats in Japan? I did not have cats there so,I did not know this but it seems,there is a "Kotatsu" for cats.
"Kotatsu" for cats;Cat "Reo" sleep under the Kotatsu"
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
In the winter, usually at evening, we used to hear someone singing "Ishi yaki imo, oishiiyo!" ("Stone grilled sweet potato.It is delicious!") from truck passing by,in Japan. It is actually a recording through megaphone. The guy cooks sweet potato in the back of the truck using stones. American sweet potato is orange fresh but Japanese sweet potato is yellow fresh and less moisture. Very tasty when grilled like this.If your area had Asian stores,you would most likely find Japanese sweet potato.
I came across youtube videos where you get to hear Sweet potato guy's song from truck in Japanese.
Ishi yaki imo (Stone grilled sweet potato)
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Do you see anything similar to the stone grilled sweet potato trucks in your area?
I'd LOVE having a warm table like this! It is so cold here and such a pain to have to start up a fire in the woodstove to make it warm up some. It's still hard for me to get around very well, though the pneumonia is cleared up. The doctor said I'd still be weak from it for quite a while. This table sounds heavenly! I'll bet they are kind of expensive though. OC could probably use one like the pug had to help her back and hips stay warm. I try to keep a blanket over her back, but I don't know if it gets to hot or if she's just moving around to much for it to stay there.
Anyway, I thought this post was quite interesting both about the table and about the Japanese school system for the higher grades. Thanks for sharing!
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I was thinking the other day how you can have a warm table like Japanese Kotatsu (portable low heating table) here in the states. Then, I thought what if you will set up the low table in the living room, cover the table with electric blanket and possibly place nice smooth piece of table top-to be on top. I have not done this, and I am not sure if it works, though.
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