Kota Tsuki

Destiny, I know how you feel. I myself used to spend a lot of time on office chairs watching at screens.
I tried those ergonomical chairs, where you sit partly on your knees, but I was not too pleased with them.
At home I often sit on Floor chairs, or zaisu as we call them in Japan. I personally feel like it allows for a
better posture. Then again, I am used to sitting on the ground, as it is part of my culture, not sure if it is recommendable for everyone.

Kathleen Sanderson wrote:Could the kotatsu heater be run off a small solar system?  And what do they use for cooking in Japan?  Heating hot water?

Kathleen

According to this website kotatsu usually run on 110V, since this is the standard voltage for Japan. So basically a solar system that could handle a "normal" device should be able to handle a kotatsu as well right?

In Japan old houses usually rely on electricity for cooking, while newer houses have gas as well. The main reason why gas isn't as popular as in other countries is because of the earthquakes that frequently occur and the added risk of fire that causes.

Greg Harvey wrote:I saw a webpage of 7 gadgets from Japan that we need. This one fits what Paul is saying about heating your body and not the room. It is the Kotatsu and is a heater you put under a table with a blanket that goes to the floor and you stick your lower body under the table and blanket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44NE37YSjjU#t=61

Kotatsu tables are really awesome! Even when the room is very cold, the kotatsu still keeps you warm and cosy. When I went on wintersport in Japan (Hakone, Nagano) there was one at the hostel and even though it was very cold in the room, the kotatsu provided all the warmth me and my friends provided. Strange enough, for some reason, the kotatsu tables always seem to make me fart. I spent some time looking for a kotatsu outside of Japan as well.

I don't see why this wouldn't work. Actually the refrigerator is a device that in my opinion is strange to use in winter.
It is cold inside so we crank up the room temperature, at the same time expecting our fridge to remain cool and thereby increasing the energy necessary for the fridge......