It's getting cold , a bit frosty, you might say. But I'm used to having frost on the windows of my house, even in the summer time. This is due to an amazing phenomenon in Japan called frosted glass.
Never underestimate the use of frosted glass in Japan. Here, it gathers into patterns of flowers, squares, swirly patterns and stars. You might rather call it decorative glass as the patterns in it make it look more like something you'd wrap a present with.
When I moved into this house 12 years ago, I took it over in the condition the previous tenant, an 81-year-old lady, had left it when she moved to the mainland. This gave me an opportunity to see firsthand how Japanese people live: cloistered. The abundance of frosted glass ensures not only that only subdued natural light comes in, but also that you'll never be able to see outside.