Volume 11　日本のお風呂は素晴らしい!


Communal Bathing Culture

Ann: What about, uh, onsen? I mean, do you like them? Do you go to them? I know that often from a foreign perspective it's, kind of, for some people it's unthinkable to get naked into a outdoor or indoor bath with a bunch of strangers. 

Michael: It never bothered me and I love onsen. A couple of years ago, though, my brother came to visit with his son, my nephew. And I was thinking, "OK, well, I've got to take them to some very Japanese type things," and I thought, "OK, onsen is perfect," 'cause I love onsen. I mistakenly assume that everybody loves onsen. And, you know, my brother went along with it and his son, and they did the whole thing. I told them what they should be doing, what they can't do in the onsen and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and at the end of it my brother just stared at me with a strange look on his face and said, "That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever done." And that struck me as odd and I've got so used to the style here. But in England, yeah, as you said, people find that incredibly embarrassing - to be naked with people they don't know.

Ann: Which is kind of a paradox, don't you think? Because, Japanese, you know, culturally, I mean, people are known to be, like, more reserved or private, perhaps, than in the West, you know, where people are more sort of letting it all hang out. And yet Americans or, you know, I guess, uh, you know, and British feel embarrassed or uncomfortable often in that kind of situation, where you would think it would be the opposite. 

Michael: That's right, . . . you would. 

Ann: Did your brother like your Japanese bath at home?

Michael: Uh, yes. Yes. I think anybody who encounters a Japanese bath for the first time is gonna think, "Wow, this is such a great idea."

Ann: What's not to like?

Michael: What is not to like about it, you know? It's, it's just the perfect kind of bath time I think. But it's the idea of that communal bathing that is difficult for some people from the U.K. and, as you say, the States.

Ann: Yeah, yeah.

Michael: But yeah, you know, it's great to take people who are visiting Japan. It's such a Japanese experience and hopefully the next time they won't be so embarrassed. 

Ann: That's right. I mean, I remember when I first lived in Japan, actually, I had no shower and no bath so I used to go to the sento. And, uh, at first I felt very odd going there with my bucket of bath things, and then I saw everyone else was. And some people walk over there in their yukata and so on, so I thought, "Well OK, I guess, uh, it's OK to do this," you know, even though you're outside. So, um, certainly friends and family that have come to visit, in Japan, whether they visit the sento or whether they use the bath at, at home at our house are instant converts to the Japanese way of bathing.

Michael: Absolutely yes, yes.

Ann: So, well we've really enjoyed being with you this month and we will look forward to being with you next time.

Michael: Yes. Please join us.

Ann: See you next time. Bye.

Michael: Take care. Bye-bye.