Last Updated: Dec 20, 2022

Winter by the Irori

The Charm of Traditional Japanese Hearths

“Wintry wind — passing a man with a swollen face.”

— Matsuo Basho

If you haven’t already had a chance to experience them first hand, know that Japanese winters can be pretty harsh. While temperatures never reach exactly what I would call frigid over here (at least in Tokyo), there’s something about the endless dampness that just gets into your bones. Sure, there are days that are rather mild but then again there are also days where no matter what you do, it’s almost impossible to get warm. Moreover, the problem is even further exacerbated by the fact that most Japanese homes are neither insulated nor centrally heated. Outside of the coldest and snowiest of prefectures in northern Japan, modern day Japanese simply invoke a puzzling philosophy towards keeping warm, at least from a western perspective. Do they sit in the lotus position and meditate to free themselves from earthly suffering? No! You see, rather than futilely trying to keep their living spaces at a constant and cozy temperature, many locals instead opt to heat the people themselves.

Now, at least in the modern age, a central feature to keeping the Japanese warm throughout the winter is a…