Japan’s bathing culture is considered quintessentially Japanese. No guide book of Japan is complete without instructions on how to take a bath. A short history.
In Honolulu there are only two scenarios in which you are allowed to make an outdoor fire. One is for an imu oven and the other is for a Japanese bath.
Winter is probably the best time to read this article. The extreme warmth of the water of a Japanese bath, and the wonderful feeling of community of its public baths, warm both body and soul.
I notice most Americans take a shower in the morning. Japanese people take bath in the evening almost exclusively. They want to wash off sweat (from the humid weather) and dirt (from work) before dinner or before going to bed. Taking a morning bath is considered luxury and wasteful.
I was born and grew up in the Netherlands during a period when taking a shower daily was considered wasteful. We didn’t have a bath until I was 12 years old. We were allowed to bathe or shower only once a week.
When I moved to the States in 1980 I learned to shower every morning. Then when I moved to Japan two years later I had to change again and started taking baths every evening.
I love bath, but I didn’t know about the history behind. It was very interesting! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you very much, Miki. I love how in our ordinary lives we are all surrounded by fascinating stories.
Suddenly I find myself in the mood for a barbarian bath.
In Honolulu there are only two scenarios in which you are allowed to make an outdoor fire. One is for an imu oven and the other is for a Japanese bath.
I lived in Hawai for two years and have fond memories of the imu oven. I never took a Japanese bath there, unfortunately…
I hope you are able to take a Japanese one 😉
On note 4: of course we don’t understand hot water as a separate word. We are barbaric.
lol For many centuries Westerners were actually called “Southern Barbarians” in Japan 😉
And that’s changed? 😄
Thank you very much for restacking.
Winter is probably the best time to read this article. The extreme warmth of the water of a Japanese bath, and the wonderful feeling of community of its public baths, warm both body and soul.
I notice most Americans take a shower in the morning. Japanese people take bath in the evening almost exclusively. They want to wash off sweat (from the humid weather) and dirt (from work) before dinner or before going to bed. Taking a morning bath is considered luxury and wasteful.
I was born and grew up in the Netherlands during a period when taking a shower daily was considered wasteful. We didn’t have a bath until I was 12 years old. We were allowed to bathe or shower only once a week.
When I moved to the States in 1980 I learned to shower every morning. Then when I moved to Japan two years later I had to change again and started taking baths every evening.