Feature Exhibition: Items that Warm You Up

Feature Exhibition #3 Items that Warm You Up

•10/17(Tue.) ~ 12/10 (Sun.) Closed: Mondays
（If Monday falls on a national holiday, the next day）
• 09:30~17:30 (last entry: ~17:00) 
• Adult: ¥200, HS and Uni.: ¥150, No charge for Junior High School Students and younger

-A Collection of traditional heating devices -

Photo of Woman Shopping Kotatsu Foot Warmer at a Wholesaler

In Japanese old calendar, some days are associated with Chinese zodiac, which features various kinds of animals such as rat, ox, pig, boar and more. The first boar day of the year has been celebrated to wish for the wellbeing of the boys in the family. (Don’t worry, girls wellbeing is also wished on the second boa day of the year.)
A mortar placed upside down topped with a kitchen cutting board turned into a special altar for the event. Above the altar, mochi rice cakes in red and white colors, and gohei, strips of white papers were decorated. This was also a day for people to start using heating devices such as kotatsu foot heaters or braziers. People used to believe that if these heating devises are used on a day of boar, they won’t cause a fire. In case the family missed the date, they had to wait until the next boar day to start using their heating devises.

Hibachi Brazier

It’s getting cold and winter is fast approaching. This exhibition features many traditional heating devices or items to warm up yourself or your living space. Some are rarely seen today and some are still exists but with changes in their design as time passed. Seeing this, you may feel nostalgic.
Variety of designs and materials exist for these devices to cater to the different need of users. You may be surprised to learn a unique way of using a heating device.
Please explore the world of Japanese traditional heating devices which warms your body and heart up!

Posted by Takamura