I haven't had one in an age for a variety of reasons, but growing up as an anime fan (1980's Uruesi Yatsura fan!) and seeing them as a staple in so many slice of life shows, my curiosity got me in my younger days. They're definitely a great little thing. I suspect if they ever got popular here we'd see them somehow causing a million fires and accidents though.

If that were the case they would be a health hazard in Japan, but as one person was telling me the heaters are on a very low setting. Its on a frame, far away from the cloth, and provides a small amount of heat, that under the blankets keeps you very warm and snug. Its perfect, and I wish they made them here... and no, they don't need a high setting, just a low setting that is enough to provide heat to be kept under the blankets. I would love one.

But it's what people will think of based on space heater fires that are caused regularly during the winter along the northern states. That kind of fear gets transferred onto something like this pretty easily by a lot.

There's a pretty decent selection at amazon, but of course it varies by seller and pricing as to what's really worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/YAMAZEN-BSK-75-B-Casual-Kotatsu-Japanese/dp/B005O3Z7TW

heaters. I had two of them catch fire within a ten month period. Even though they were Underwriter Lab certified, and both were less than 18 months old! Luckily I never leave a room where there is a portable heater going, or I might have contributed to a raging fire that destroyed the house I rented.

Because the heat is kept in by the blankets (really quilts), it's a very low heat source. Just like if we go to bed under a quilt, the 93 temp on our skins gradually heats up the bed.

It's actually a very safe way to be comfortable - much safer than most space heaters. And economical.

I would only want a Japanese-made one, though. Chinese made stuff is prone to melt even when it never possibly can. I had a Verizon cable model power supply short out and cause the modem to catch fire. The dog alerted me, for which I am thankful.

The modem was smoking when the dog finally convinced me that there was a genuine problem, but the power supply was partially melted. And it was a defect in manufacture, because the power supply was plugged into a power supply strip which tested out perfectly fine in controlled circs, and which I am still using.

Ever since then I have instituted new precautions for all electronics.

PS: The dog was smug for MONTHS. She never, ever let me forget that she was right and I was wrong. This happened when my husband wasn't there, and she kept trying to make the point to him that I was a dangerous firebug. It got so bad that when I would go to cook dinner and he was there, she would race histrionically into the kitchen and stand there staring with huge eyes and flinching as if the stove were going to blow up. She only did that around my husband, though. Ratfink!

I am cracking-up at your description of her

That's a type of bulldog that is more akin to the "old" English bulldog. They can get quite large. When she's slimmed down to her optimal state, she tips the scales at 92. For a female she's a large specimen. This is pretty much what she looks like:


Her coloration is white with a few brown spots, but otherwise she looks a lot like this one at a UK breeder:
http://www.alapahabluebloodbulldog.co.uk/eljay.htm

In our area the best ones are the not registered breeds, but the dogs still being bred on the farms as working/hunting/herding/children-herding utility dogs, because they are purely selected for temperamental characteristics, endurance. strength and good health.

They are very loyal and companionable, very affectionate and gentle with humans (although not with animals), exceedingly social and intelligent, and wish to be masters of their universe. Unlike most bulldog breeds they have a lot of endurance and agility. Mine set up an obstacle course for herself on the farm when she was young and used to run it for fun in quite hot weather.

For GA, they are great - they are far more heat tolerant than the standard English bulldogs. They have sometimes been used as stock dogs, and some of them have the herding instinct, and use it to try to herd people. They widen their eyes and stare straight into yours, which really startles people because it's a human trait. Almost all of them are very manipulative in a way similar to golden retrievers. It takes them years to finish growing - mine did not grow fully into her ribcage and muzzle until after she was three.

And good Lord, they are bossy. She likes the temps to be between 68 and 72, and informs you if her temperature range deviates indoors. She will wander around with a blanket draped over her back all day if it's chilly inside and then go out and roll in the snow if she's in the north, or lie around panting artistically alternating with coming up and woefully staring at you because it's 75, and then trot outside and sunbathe when it's in the 90s. The insistence on a certain temperature range indoors is purely harassment.

Now that is a very clever little drama queen!

We're regretting that decision! It's terribly missed.

They may not work for someone who is older and needs help getting up, but for everyone else, its a great way to keep warm and snuggly..during the winter time!

And they have been around a long, long time!

Kitties like to be warm!

Our kitty loves it.

but I fear I might have to travel to Japan before I can do that.

I'd recommend trying a Japanese toilet before you die....

The so called washlet.

http://www.amazon.com/SW844-01-Washlet-Elongated-Toilet-Cotton/dp/B0018L9OZ2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1392522178&sr=8-3&keywords=washlet

like in Korea???

Had hard time staying warm there--in the North that is.

I want one!

Part of the reason they are so popular in Japan as opposed to here is that the average Japanese household has no central heating/cooling/or insulation.

I believe that in addition to the Kotatsu, japanese families tend to use space heaters (especially in the north) and hot water bottles to stay warm.

I bet you could save a good amount of money here in the US if you could convince your family to use a kotatsu and turn off the heater.

Two or more people will end up fighting over who has to leave the kotasu and go get something. They are so cozy you will not want to leave. You'll even end up taking a nap there!

I built a Kotasu for my cat using a heating pad.

You can make your own kotasu with a safe heater like an oil filled one. A table, A blanket and on top a board. It's pretty basic.

I mostly use hot carpet.

Stay warm

They are also nice as communal spaces that go well with some hot sake or sochu.

Kinda like sitting around the campfire.

and achieve the same effect.

I think most instructions say not to set/ sit anything on top of them!

placing an electric heater under a blanket would be just as dangerous if not more than an electric blanket...