History
The step tansu has always been the most popular Japanese tansu design. It uniquely provided both storage space and access to a second story or loft. In the crowded urban centers of the Edo period, the only way to expand a home was to build upwards. However, during this period it was generally forbidden to have a second story. The step tansu provided a mobile staircase to a second level, that was easily moved when the tax collector came by, since it is constructed of three separate pieces. The step tansu was also a very powerful visual architectural element in the Japanese home, which is otherwise sparsely furnished.
Definition of Kaidan Tansu
The Japanese word kaidan means "steps". Meanwhile, tansu translates roughly to "box", "cabinet", "chest", or "chest of drawers."
Modern uses
They are excellent as stairs to reach loft beds. Also for room dividers and media (e.g. TV) storage unit.
