The Step Tansu became popular item of furniture during the early Edo period in Japan in the 1600's. Japanese for trunk or chest, Tansus served useful functions, one is easy storage for bedding & house hold items with all their drawers and shelf spaces & the step design also made climbing easy to the loft above the main living area. Japanese home owners were taxed according to the livable area they occupied, in order to save paying living space tax money, Tansu owners moved their Tansus away from loft areas, a tax loophole was no means of entry to the loft meant that the loft couldn't be classed as a livable area. Some Japanese would trick the Japanese tax man by having the Step Tansu made into two halves, an upper and a lower half, which a hinge fastener would be used to bring the two halves together. By doing this the two halves of the step Tansu could be fixed together and be made into a square cabinet avoiding all suspicion to a loft. Please click the banner below to see all my products!