Hotta A, Iwai K
J Hum Ergol (Tokyo). 1976 Sep;5(1):3-16.
Field research on mode of living was undertaken in the winter of 1962 and 1973 in households in public residences owned by the Japan Housing Corporation. Factors affecting mode of sitting and sleeping were analyzed for 63 households replying to questionnaires in both years. Three modes, the floor, chair-beds, and their combined use were classified for three major living activities of meal-taking, relaxing, and sleeping. Rate of households with the chair-bed mode was the highest for meal-taking and the lowest for sleeping. Choice of the chair-bed mode was associated with young household heads, smaller family size, separation of sleeping rooms from dining space by a wooden floor, and possession of furniture for relaxing and fixed beds. The adoption of the floor mode was common to households with only elderly people who, in spite of ample space, preferred it and those with small children. The floor mode was also frequent in houses without dining-kitchen areas where meals and sleeping were usually done in the same room. The combined mode was found for all of the three living activities. The results confirm that each pattern of floor utilization was closely related not only with resident factors but also with limited living space and the family's own way of living.
