Kotatsu-Mikanizm is the eternal of "Kotatsu and Mikan", born at Japanese winter culture. You may notice there are many typical Japanese magazine catchcopies say "Fuyu Ha Kotatsu De Mikan To <that-item>", that means "In winter, eating mikans at a kotatsu with <that-item> is best". Some of Japanese feel that copies are oldest and cheap, but most of Japanese people agree with the Kotatsu-Mikanizm.
Kotatsu is heating appliance that is in widespread use in Japanese people's home. Kotatsu is different to any other stoves or fan-heaters: kotatsu is a set of a low dining table and a large blanket. The under of table has heater. Sitting down in the blanket and put your legs in under the table, is how to use of kotatsu. Japanese people often lie about in kotatsu during winter vacation. That's realy best way to spend vacation: sitting or lying in kotatsu and reading books or watching TV, and eating mikans.
Mikan is the ultimate furuits in the Earth. Mikan is called "mandarin orange" in English (google says, I personaly do not know though). Mikan, that little cute golden magnificent fruit are surely a kind of oranges but is not same as Orange or Grapefruit. It is Mikan. A word "Mikan" in two kanji ![[蜜柑]](mikankanji.gif)
means "Mitsu(honey)-Kan(citrus)". Mikans are softer than any other oranges and easily to be peeled cleanly with your hands. And mikans also have very soft membrane at a segment of a mikan, so you can eat a segment in only one bite. Bite, every bite make mikan's sweet juice spread in your mouth. Sweet, sweeter, sweetest but also freshest of citrus fruits. Japanese most famous mikan is Legendary Mikans of Ehime.
See the flash animation will tell you enough than I can say.
http://pya.cc/pyaimg/pimg.php?imgid=20633
ttp://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~t02755th/reanimation/sm.swf
J to E translation of "Mikan no Uta" is below.
(Come on!)
There are many types of mikans
But Mikan of Ehime is only one
Eat Mikans of Ehime then
Taste well the farmer's love
There are some guys chuck away the peels
Don't chunk away the peels
Put that in the bath and then, warm, warm
People's hearts melt softly then
The World be the One
Fly high over the world, The Mikans of Ehime!
(Come ooonn!) (Mikan Mikan Mikan) (Come fly to me!) (Mikan Mikan Mikan)
(Mikan Mikan Mikan) (Mikan!)
Mikans of Ehime is No.1 of the world
Feel the Mikans with your body
Guys who donot respect the Mikans
Must DIE with the Mikan's hand!
A home that has Kotatsu but Mikans is
Lost Japanese soul
Get back the Japanese soul
Get back!
Squeeze Mikans
That is the Pom-juice
Water of Life! Pom-juice
(Mikan Mikan Mikan) (More!) (Mikan Mikan Mikan)
(Mikan Mikan Mikan) (Mikan!)
(Sussy)
Drink with everybody, the Soul of Ehime
Eat Mikans then you will be Saved
As much than Orange
That is the Golden fruit
Water of Life! Pom-juice
(Saeeakka) (Mikan Mikan Mikan)
(More!) (Mikan Mikan Mikan)
(We're lovin' it!) (Mikan Mikan Mikan)
(Wwaaahhh!) (Mikan!)
(Mikan Mikan Mikan) (Mikan Mikan Mikan)
(Mikan Mikan Mikan) (Mikan!)
(Fly!)
Just go/sit/rolling into a kotatsu to warm your body, and read books, watch TV or watch the net, and do eat Mikans. That is all. You may notice you ate dozen of mikans addictively after a while. Surely too too much of eating is not good, but FAR better than smoking or drunk. Mikans are realy healthy fruits. May Kotatsu and Mikans be with you!
News clips from Japanese newspaper etc.