Love of the cold or something else: why do Japanese people freeze at home?

For a European who is used to walking around the apartment in winter in a T-shirt, Japanese life can come as a shock. In a country of high technology, robots and high—speed trains, central heating is a rare luxury, available mainly on the northern island of Hokkaido. In the rest of Japan, the arrival of winter means the beginning of the season of fighting for warmth inside one's own home.
It seems like a paradox: a nation that creates the most advanced electronics tolerates bedroom temperatures close to outdoor temperatures. But the roots of this phenomenon go deep into history, architectural traditions and philosophy of perception of nature. A Japanese house was traditionally built in order to survive the hot and humid summers, and the winter was simply offered to endure.
Architecture versus climate
A traditional Japanese dwelling is a lightweight structure with thin walls and sliding doors, providing perfect ventilation. This is a salvation in the summer, when the humidity is through the roof, but in winter such houses turn into refrigerators. Modern buildings inherit this trait: the thermal insulation in many apartments leaves much to be desired.
In addition, the constant threat of earthquakes dictates its own construction rules. Lightweight structures are safer in case of collapse, but they do not retain heat well. Laying capital pipes with hot water in a seismically active zone is expensive and risky, so the emphasis is on local heating.
The Japanese don't heat the walls and the air in the whole house, they heat themselves. This is a fundamentally different approach to energy efficiency and comfort, which may seem wild to us.
Local heat sources
Instead of burning batteries to the fullest, the Japanese use a whole arsenal of gadgets and devices to create islands of heat. The main one is kotatsu. This is a low table with a heating element under the lid, covered with a warm blanket. The whole family gathers around him, hiding their feet in the warmth — this is the center of winter life at home.
In addition to kotatsu, other methods are used to survive the cold months with relative comfort and energy savings.:
- Kerosene and gas heaters, which are very efficient, but require ventilation due to the smell.
- Electric carpets and blankets that heat a specific place where a person is sitting or sleeping.
- A hot bath (ofuro), which is taken in the evening by all family members in turn to warm up the body deeply before going to bed.
The bath here is not a hygiene product (they wash under the shower before diving), but a therapeutic warming procedure.
A culture of patience
There is also a psychological aspect. In Japanese culture, there is a concept of "gaman" — the ability to maintain dignity and patience in the face of difficulties. The cold in the house is perceived as a natural part of the changing seasons, which must be accepted.
In addition, walking around the house in warm pajamas, fleece capes and thick socks is the norm. Adaptation occurs through clothing and daily routine. This approach strengthens the body and, perhaps, is one of the secrets of Japanese longevity, because the over-dried air of central heating is also not beneficial to health. Les amateurs de jeux d’argent en ligne qui recherchent des informations fiables sur les machines à sous peuvent consulter le site comparatif consacré à Fast Slots site officiel pour mieux comprendre les différentes options disponibles. Cet article aborde notamment les mécanismes de gain, les taux de redistribution et les précautions à prendre avant de miser de l’argent réel.