Getting a kick because I spent yesterday evening looking everywhere for a KOTATSU.

A Kotatsu is a Japanese winter heater that is basically a sit-on-the-floor table with an electric heater on the underside of the table. The whole thing is covered by a thick blanket so that... well... basically... you roast your acorns (ow, my balls) as you keep warm, sitting on the floor, playing dominoes or mahjongg or doing jigsaw puzzles.

They are big bulky items that you use about three months out of the year, so they are getting pretty rare. Then they will flood into second hand stores starting in March.  A relative said they needed one desperately for a get-together on the 28th. He is a crazy person trying to find one big enough, with an appropriate blanket, on Dec. 26. Also, I am pretty sure 200W or something like that is plenty, but a lot of kotatsu get up to 500W or 800W, which is nuts.... hot nuts.

As far as Japanese riverine and marine environments, things are tough all over. My household is trying to protect some local newt species with habitats. They seem to appreciate it, and always seem to be smiling. They are cute and poisonous.