Every winter, Timmy and Tommy have had this bizarre cylindrical object in the corner of their store. They call it a “round space heater,” but it’s unlike any other I’ve seen.
Turns out this is a fairly popular design for a convection kerosene heater. Instead of blowing hot air in one direction, it radiates heat evenly in all directions as warm air naturally rises through the chimney-like center. The round shape isn’t just cute; it helps distribute heat more uniformly and makes it safer to place in the middle of a room.
Variations of this design are especially common in Japan, where compact, portable kerosene heaters have long been used to warm small homes and shops during winter. It’s a very Animal Crossing detail: practical, a little old-fashioned, and quietly cozy.
Japanese brands like Toyotomi and Corona are the top manufacturers of these in Japan; in fact, the Animal Crossing version seems inspired by elements of both.