That's Japan (volume 6)- The Damn it's cold edition

borrowed from here

You wake up and turn off the air conditioning, you walk outside of your nice and toasty room and are suddenly startled awake by the bitter sting of cold. You sit down on your toilet just to get warmed up, since it's heated, then you hop into the shower and are shivering as you clamber into you clothes and finally you are able to stick your legs into your Kotatsu, slip on the 5 toed socks and start nibbling on your kimuchi nabe. You look on the calendar and notice it is almost New Years eve, so you have to think about ordering some Osechi. Did this happen to you? Chances are you are in Japan- because, definitely, That's Japan! It's time to take a little dip into the wacky world of Japanese culture!

1. Kotatsu - When you first see a Kotatsu- you might think to yourself- "now what the heck is that?" Looking a little like a table with a tent propped under it, it's an odd sight for those Westerners like I that are used to central heating in their apartments. But considering how cold houses are kept here without heaters pre-installed in all rooms- when you stick your legs into the bottom of this heated table you will be hooked. Keeping your legs nice and toasty goes a long way to keeping your mind and body happy on those cold days in Japan!
2. Heated Toilet Seats - Though I have seen heated toilet seats in North America, I had always thought of them as an unnecessary luxury. Coming to Japan, again I quickly learned their value and understood why pretty much every household I've been to here has one. Come on you've never sat down on a cold toilet seat in the middle of winter? Those days are gone for me!
3. 5 toed socks - Like a glove for your foot. Apparently these keep the toes nice and warm, but- well- they just look silly. Enough said!
4. Nabe/Oden - Nabe, also known as hot pot- is a staple from the first day that is cold onwards. Sitting in front of the hot pot boiling away on a cold day warms up your face and you stomach and, let's face it- is just yummy. I even go for hot pot sometimes in the middle of summer- though it is generally regarded as winter food. Oden is a type of hot pot that features a more unique flavour and lots of fish cakes and mochi and eggs- usually slathered with very spicy Japanese mustard- it's great! Actually I think I will be eating some tomorrow!
5. Osechi - Yes, there is a traditional New Years food. Apparently, according to wikipedia
the tradition dates back to the Heian period a long, long, long time ago. I always talk about it with my students, but honestly I have never had an Osechi meal. Apparently traditionally it consists of broiled fish paste, rolled omelette, herring roe, seaweed, black soy beans, sea bream, and sardines. While reading this on your screen, it doesn't sound that appetizing- the Japanese have a unique talent for making mediocre-sounding foods actually quite amazingly delicious!

Beautiful, fashionably challenged in a cool way, delicious, cold? That's Japan!