Years ago, when I stayed at my friend’s house around in Dec, she secretly put a hot water bag in my futon.
I didn’t know anything about it, so I braced myself for going into the cold futon.
I was extremely impressed by the warmth that eased the tension instantly and her unobtrusive consideration.
When I returned home, I made a hot water bag debut too and I use it every winter since then.
I find quite intolerable to feel cold while sleeping.
But on the other hand, I feel reluctant to keep the heaters on as it makes the room dry and unpleasant.
For me, the hot-water bag is the best as I don’t prefer using electric stuff such as electric blanket too.
To confess the truth, this year, I have begun using the hot-water bag already since the beginning of November and it is an indispensable partner for me.
My friends who have lived at the foot of Yatsugatake longer than me taught me how to spend the winter here.
Some friend says clearly, “I would just bury myself at home” and some other told me a bit of profound story, “The cold of winter is for the joy of spring”.
Among those, I was taught to “enjoy handcrafting coverings for the hot-water bag”.
Boil hot water, pour it into the hot-water bag, wrap it with your favourite covering and put it in the futon a little before going to bed.
That way, you can finish the day by surrounded with warmth.
Indeed, this little time and effort may be an entertainment specific to the cold winter.
By the way, there was my friend’s wedding the other day and I wore kimono for the first time in two and a half years.
Two and a half years ago, it was an occasion for my child’s Omiyamairi*, but I can hardly remember myself wearing kimono.
Looking at the photo at that time, I remembered that I was trying my very hardest for the new born baby and I couldn’t afford to think about what I wear.
Two and a half years later, I was glad to feel the “desire to wear kimono to my dear friend’s celebrating occasion”.
Since it started from that desire, I was able to appreciate everything from putting Tatoshi* out of drawers, putting on kimono and the manners while wearing kimono, to putting back after finished wearing.
Up until the occasion, there was somewhere in my mind that I was feeling “I like kimono but troublesome”.
Now, including the troublesome, I feel the time spent related to wearing kimono is precious.
Suddenly, I thought that kimono and hot-water bag were somewhat similar.
Unlike the things that can be switched by on and off, it is the warmth that can only be gained through the time and process of preparation and clearing up.
As a person who weaves kimono textiles, I wish I could deliver kimono that can provide people a sense of ease when they wear, just like you feel instantly when you enter the futon warmed by the hot-water bag.
It was a winter morning when I woke up in the faint warmth of the hot-water bag and thinking such thing.
*Omiyamairi: The custom of taking one’s baby to a shrine to pray for blessing
*Tatoshi: Wrapping paper for kimono when keeping.