On May 17, 8:20 am, chuckers <chucker...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Monday, May 16, 2011 3:56:59 PM UTC+9, Declan Murphy wrote:
> > On May 16, 11:16 am, CL <flo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > On 05/16/2011 10:14 AM, chuckers wrote:
>
> > > > On Sunday, May 15, 2011 11:45:19 PM UTC+9, Fustbariclation wrote:
> > > >> It's getting a bit chilly for my summer jinbei - I'm in the Southern
> > > >> Hemisphere.
>
> > > >> I was wondering if anybody knew anything about winter jinbei. Is there
> > > >> a different design? What material(s) are they made from?
>
> > > >> Most importantly, is there somewhere I can buy them from mail order
> > > >> (on-line ideally)?
>
> > > > Not really winter jinbei but I think you might want a samue or hanten.  I just packed away my hanten for the season.  Use it every winter.
>
> > > > I will stick with jeans though.  jinbei/samue don't really do it for me.
>
> > > When you look for hanten, make sure you don't fall for the "lined happi
> > > coat" scam some places lay on you.  I looked at some online sellers and
> > > think you ought to demand they pay for the KY jelly.  They can afford it
> > > at the markups they are charging -- US$ 65.00 (JPY 5,300) for a hanten
> > > that you can get at the local Komeri or Kasumi for JPY 800 is a very
> > > good deal ... for the seller.
>
> > > Then you'll need your white cotton long underwear bottoms and tops, plus
> > > three pairs of fuzzy socks, to be worn simultaneously.
>
> > > The ultimate winter accessory, though, is a kotatsu, kotatsu cover,
> > > kotatsu chair (adjustable, of course) and a case of 1.8 liter bottles of
> > > mugi-jochu and a 2 liter hot water pot for your oyuwari (umeboshi
> > > optional, although they put quartered cucumber slices in it in Hakata).
> > >   What you need to do is locate all of them in front of the TV with the
> > > refrigerator (filled with cup noodle and beer) and microwave in easy
> > > reach.
>
> > > A nineteen-year-old kotatsu mate, or several to be installed on a
> > > rotating basis, is a very much added plus.
>
> > I still haven't bothered obtaining a kotatsu. Other than hori-kotatsu,
> > everytime I've sat at one its been uncomfortable. Never enough leg
> > room, no support for my back, etc etc. Do you have an unusually large
> > kotatsu or something?
>
> Back support is provided by the za-isu (sold separately.)  Apparently, so is the blanket/comforter you are put between the table top and the legs but it didn't say that on the box.  In my single days, I got caught out by that.  So, the kotatsu ended up being a chabudai that I would pile all kinds of crap onto or rest my feet on when I was sitting on the low couch behind it.  Eventually, it had to be given to the sodai-gomi people because the spousal unit didn't think it would work well with the imagined interior (not imagined by me.)

A hori-kotatsu would solve those problems I think. During the winter
when I'm doing some work at home, I just put the laptop on the dining
room table and use a small space heater. Okazaki winters are pretty
mild though.