History Main / Kotatsu

* In ''AxisPowersHetalia'' the members of the Axis gather around a kotatsu to sign the Tripartite Pact.
* It even pays homage to the page image.

''Mikan'' (known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_(fruit) satsuma]] in the west) are a species of mandarin orange that are considered to have a lot of nutrients important for getting through the winter (they also have an advantage of being ''in season'' in winter), so it is common to see a bowl of them on the table. For many Japanese, a kotatsu holding a bowl of tangerines is ''the'' archetypal symbol of winter.

* [=Ecchi=]/{{Hentai}} will almost always have a boy and a girl doing homework or studying for exams together. Important naughty bits are under that table, so when a pen or some other minor item gets dropped under ''the huge honking comforter nothing should be able to get under by accident'', it is inevitably the guy's duty to look under there, [[PantyShot stare at panties]], [[HandInTheHole reach around trying to find the item]], find [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean something soft]]... and let ecchiness ensue.

* In ''{{Watashi No Ookami-san}}'', the BigBad EvilOverlord Subaru... spends his days under the kotatsu sleeping or watching television. (When he isn't attempting [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean lay Komomo on top of it]]...)

''Mikan'' (known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_(fruit) satsuma]] in the west) are a species of mandarin orange that are considered to have a lot of nutrients important for getting through the winter, (they also have an advantage of being ''in season'' in winter) so it is common to see a bowl of them on the table. For many Japanese, a kotatsu holding a bowl of tangerines is ''the'' archetypal symbol of winter.

''Mikan'' (known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_(fruit) satsuma]] in the west) are a species of mandarin orange that are considered to have a lot of nutrients important for getting through the winter, (they also have an advantage of being ''in season'' in winter) so it is common to see a bowl of them on the table. For many Japanese, a kotatsu holding a bowl of oranges is ''the'' archetypal symbol of winter.

''Mikan'' (known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_(fruit) satsuma]] in the west) are a species of mandarin orange that are considered to have a lot of nutrients important for getting through the winter, so it is common to see a bowl of them on the table. For many Japanese, a kotatsu holding a bowl of oranges is ''the'' archetypal symbol of winter.

[[caption-width-right:350:''HidamariSketch'' shows us how it's done.]]

* The Kotatsu table proves to be the bane of Chiaki's existence in ''NodameCantabile''. '''IT TURNS PEOPLE INTO LAZY SLOBS!''' He has Nodame to thank for introducing it to him, and almost ruining his life there and then. When he finally gets the chance to clean up his apartment and throw the table away, Nodame takes it from the trash and [[CrowningMomentOfFunny mentions how someone threw out a perfectly good Kotatsu.]] Chiaki was [[{{Understatement}} less than thrilled about it.]]

* [=Ecchi=]/{{Hentai}} will almost always have a boy and a girl doing homework or studying for exams together. Important naughty bits are under that table, so when a pen or some other minor item gets dropped under ''the huge honking comforter nothing should be able to get under by accident'', it is inevitably the guy's duty to look under there, stare at panties, start reaching around trying to find the item, find [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean something soft]]... and let ecchiness ensue.

* In {{Rinne}}, Ageha the Shinigami (who has a crush on the titular character) buys one of these for 100,000 yen, duped into thinking it's a "friendly square" that generates an intimate space with anyone. Instead of getting her closer to Rinne though, [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming in the end it brings the main cast closer together.]]

* In {{Rinne}}, Ageha the Shinigami (who has a crush on the titular character) buys one of these for 100,000 yen, duped into thinking it's a "friendly square" that generates an intimate space with anyone. Instead of getting her closer to Rinne though, [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming in the end it brings the main cast closer together.]]

* The Kotatsu table proves to be the bane of Chiaki's existence in ''NodameCantabile''. '''IT TURNS PEOPLE INTO LAZY SLOBS!''' He has Nodame to thank for introducing it to him, and almost ruining his life there and then. When he finally gets the chance to clean up his apartment and throw the table away, Nodame takes it from the trash and [[CrowningMomentOfFunny mentions how someone threw out a perfectly good Kohatsu.]] Chiaki was [[{{Understatement}} less than thrilled about it.]]

* ''{{Persona}} 4'' includes kotatsu scenes in the later parts of the game. Nanako wants one, and the party eventually gets one for her.

* In ''{{Kamichu}}'', Yurie spends an entire episode sitting, lying, sleeping, and even using the phone under the family kotatsu.

* {{Colorful}} spices up the standard ecchi fare in one episode by having the lecherous male get his just desserts while trying to devour the tasty view.

In Japan, most homes lack central heating, and are very thinly insulated, so most people rely on electric space heaters. The most common form is the ''kotatsu'' ("heater table") which consists of a low table with an electric heater built into its underside, with a very thick quilted drape around it. People wanting to stay warm seat themselves on the floor under the table. The drape keeps the heat trapped underneath, and it travels through the inside of clothing to heat the sitters' bodies. If they're so inclined, they can scoot almost all the way under the table and use it as a makeshift heated bed, although there is a belief that falling asleep under the kotatsu makes you vulnerable to catching a cold.

* [[http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3590113/ This awesome Pokemon fanart]] has the Cyndaquil family gathered around one.

* [[http://d.facdn.net/art/cat-chan/1269186610.cat-chan_pokemon_japanz.jpg This awesome Pokemon fanart]] has the Cyndaquil family gathered around one.

* Tamaki from ''OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' has an obsession with them particularly when he first came to Japan.

* In ''{{Kamichu}}'', Yurie spends an entire episode sitting under one.

* Tamaki from ''OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' has an obsession with them perticularly when he first came to Japan

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hidamari_sketch_kotatsu.jpg]]

* The Kotatsu table proves to be the bane of [[NeatFreak Chiaki's existence]] in ''NodameCantabile''. '''IT TURNS PEOPLE INTO LAZY SLOBS!''' He has [[AdultChild Nodame]] to thank for introducing it to him, and almost ruining his life there and then. When he finally gets the chance to clean up his apartment and throw the table away, [[TheDitz Nodame]] takes it from the trash and [[CrowningMomentOfFunny mentions how someone threw out a perfectly good Kohatsu.]] Chiaki was [[{{Understatement}} less than thrilled about it.]]