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Originally Posted by dogsbody70
do they have a stove and oven.
I was told that they cook over a fire in the middle of the room. I am sure someone here can clarify this--
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In reality, the modern kitchen is nothing like that. The
traditional Japanese kitchen is very far from the reality of the
modern kitchen. Cooking over a fire in the middle of the room is likely about as common as it is in the UK to cook over a fire in a hearth.
Modern kitchens are the norm, and newer buildings generally have something along these lines;
Some a bit simpler / smaller, or larger / nicer depending on space and taste.
Open counters in front of the sink and preparation area beside it are popular so that you can face your family while cooking instead of a wall or window.
Every has a stove, but western style ovens tend to be rare - passed up in favor of smaller fish broilers. Baking is usually done in a smaller combination microwave and oven.
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having to wash in a sink before stepping into a bath-- which would be used by most of the family so the water needs to remain clean?
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Things don`t change even if you live alone. The bath is for relaxing and soaking, not for washing. Again, bathrooms are generally quite modern so there is no washing in a sink.
The entire room is water proofed. You shower first, then get into the hot bath. Your dirt is washed away by the shower first so that it doesn`t stick to you again while you`re in the bath.
Sitting in soapy water with the dirt that you scrubbed from your body floating around you is pretty unappealing when you think about it.
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sleeping on futons? the sliding panels that can be moved to enlarge or change a rooms lay out?
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Again, a lot of this is traditional.
Futons are still more common, but are slowly losing to beds as modern houses have dedicated bedrooms. Even more true when it comes to sliding panels. Newer houses are lucky to have a Japanese style room at all, let alone many of them connected.
As people tend to build new houses instead of buying older houses, it doesn`t take long for lifestyles to shift. Every generation usually builds a new house, modern to the times.