Cold Comforts

Trip Start Unknown
1
19
22
Trip End Ongoing


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Japan  ,
Tuesday, February 5, 2008

She emerged from the dark, a surreal vision of mile high hair, denim hotpants, knee high socks and silver stilettos flashing through the white snow. A Tina Turner look-a-like perfectly comfortable in the sub-zero temperatures of Hokkaido.

They start them young here. Primary school boys in shorts and a blazer, school girls in the skirt equivalent of the same. Some one told me that the Japanese did it to toughen the kids. Age brings lower hems for men but higher ones for women. The micromini/hotpants with knee high boots is a popular look in Japan in winter.

I found it strange that children should be inoculated against the cold. It became clear in Emi-san's home. It was freezing. There was no central heating. Just one tiny little electric heater. I was informed by another Japanese lady that this is the norm in Japanese homes. Electric heaters are used in the winter in rooms that are currently used.

Suddenly the heated toilet seats made profound sense. In the depths of winter it negated the risk of freezing to the loo.
Print this entry Sapporo hotels