Kotatsu: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

In Japan, most homes lack central heating, and are very thinly insulated, so most people rely on electric space heaters. The most common form is the ''kotatsu'' ("heater table") which consists of a low table with an electric heater built into its underside, with a very thick quilted drape around it. People wanting to stay warm seat themselves on the floor under the table. The drape keeps the heat trapped underneath, and it travels through the inside of clothing to heat the sitters' bodies. If they're so inclined, they can scoot almost all the way under the table and use it as a makeshift heated bed, although there is a belief that falling asleep under the kotatsu makes you vulnerable to [[Catch Your Death of Cold|catching a cold]].

 

 

Kotatsus tend to show up in two situations:

* [[Slice of Life]] will have a (usually female) group of friends sitting around a kotatsu, murmuring about how warm and comfortable it is, rambling on about their lives, napping, and every single one complaining that someone else should go get some snacks. Often prime [[Sleep Cute]] and [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] territory.

* ''[[Love Hina]]'' uses the ecchi version a few times (and the non-ecchi).

* ''[[Negima]]'' has the Slice of Life use.

* ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' in one manga chapter. (Fuyuki and Natsumi. Guess who has to go get the snacks?) Meanwhile, Keroro attempts to convince them to come out from under it so they can take him to the store to buy Gundam models.

* ''[[Lucky Star]]'' episode 13 has an extended [[Seinfeldian Conversation]] about kotatsus.

* ''[[Ichigo Mashimaro]]'', of course, has the Slice of Life version a couple of times. In one episode picture, Miu and Matsuri share the space underneath.

* In ''[[Watashi no Ookami-san]]'', the [[Big Bad]] [[Evil Overlord]] Subaru... spends his days under the kotatsu sleeping or watching television. (When he isn't attempting lay Komomo on top of it...)

* The Kotatsu table proves to be the bane of Chiaki's existence in ''[[Nodame Cantabile]]''. '''IT TURNS PEOPLE INTO LAZY SLOBS!''' He has Nodame to thank for introducing it to him, and almost ruining his life there and then. When he finally gets the chance to clean up his apartment and throw the table away, Nodame takes it from the trash and [[Crowning Moment of Funny|mentions how someone threw out a perfectly good Kotatsu.]] Chiaki was less than thrilled about it.

* Tamaki from ''[[Ouran High School Host Club]]'' has an obsession with them particularly when he first came to Japan. Probably because they symbolize the kind of close, warm family life he so desperately wants.

** It apparently runs in the family because {{spoiler|when Kyouya meets Tamaki's mother on a class trip to France she excitedly asks him if he owns a kotatsu.}}

* ''[[Colorful]]'' spices up the standard ecchi fare in one episode by having the lecherous male get his just desserts while trying to devour the tasty view.

* In ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' the members of the Axis gather around a kotatsu to sign the Tripartite Pact. It even pays homage to the page image.

* As a young girl, Tsukimi from ''[[Princess Jellyfish]]'' used to fall asleep curled up under a kotatsu blanket after being fed a good meal by her mother.

 

[[Category:Furniture Tropes]]

[[Category:Kotatsu]]