How to Stay Warm in Japan

The Japanese don't use insulation in their buildings, which leaves the students to come up with ways to stay warm.

* Baba shaa-tsu -- Grandma shirts. Like long johns.

* Hot Cairos -- Little hot packs. Some are sticky, so you can heat your belly!

* Hiza Kake -- "Knee Pulls" Pretty much lap blankets

* Loose Socks -- Leg warmers. Quite fashionable here.

* Kettles -- Since the Japanese can't stand dry air, they put kettles of water on the kerosene stoves.



The girls aren't allowed to wear pants, and aren't supposed to wear tights. So instead they wrap their lap blankets around them and shuffle through the hallways. As most of the lap blankets are emblazoned with Disney characters, I find this method the least aesthetically pleasing.