Kotatsu - Use

Use

In the 21st century, the kotatsu consists of the electric heater attached to the frame, which is no longer limited to wood but can be made of plastic and other materials. Generally, a blanket (or shitagake) is draped over the frame under the table-top. This first blanket is covered by a second heavier blanket, known as a kotatsu-gake (火燵掛布). Kotatsu-gake are often decorative and can be designed to match home décor. A person sits on the floor or on zabuton cushions with their legs under the table with the blanket draped over the lower body. The kotatsu was designed for people wearing traditional Japanese style clothes, where the heat would enter through the bottom of the robes and exit around the neck, thus heating the entire body.

Most Japanese housing is not insulated to the same degree as a western domicile and does not have central heating, thus relying primarily on space heating. Heating is expensive because of the lack of insulation and the draftiness of housing. A kotatsu is a relatively inexpensive way to stay warm in the winter, as the futons trap the warm air. This is also the time of the year where many activities take place around the kotatsu, such as eating, reading, watching television, and socializing. Families may choose to concentrate their activity to this one area of the house in order to save on energy costs. In the summer, the blanket may be removed, and the kotatsu can be used as a normal table.

It is possible to sleep under a kotatsu, though unless one is quite short, one's body will not be completely covered. This is generally considered acceptable for naps, but not for overnight sleeping for many reasons: one's body is not completely covered, yielding uneven heating; the table is short, so one may accidentally touch heating elements when moving while asleep, risking burns. Traditionally, children are told that they will catch a cold if they sleep under a kotatsu. However, pets such as cats frequently sleep under kotatsu and are small enough to fit completely underneath – comparable to cats who sleep on floor heating vents in western countries (Japanese homes do not generally have floor heating vents.)

During the winter months in Japan, the kotatsu is often the center of domestic life. In the evening family members gather around the kotatsu to enjoy food, television, games and conversation while keeping their bottom half warm under the kotatsu. It has been said that, "once under the kotatsu, all of your worries slip away as a familiar warmth takes over and you become completely relaxed."