Japanese bath culture

Cleaning does not only have to do something in Japan with hygiene, but is an aspect, which coins/shapes the entire culture. Impurity of each kind - physical as mental - is considered as source of many evils and diseases, with the concerning, in addition, with its social surrounding field. It is to be avoided therefore absolutely and/or eliminated. Therefore Japanese dwellings are entered never in road shoes, give it special shoes for the toilet and do not vibrate themselves one not the hands. As the most important forms of impurity are considered in Japan death, Menstruation, birth, crimes and illness. For each case there are certain rituals. After a birth e.g. a birth bath for nut/mother, child and father is prescribed.

The private bath

Today most dwellings have in Japan a bathroom (ofuro), which until before approximately 30 years frequently not yet the case was. Since bathing is part of the social life, the members of a family bathe generally together in a tub. Every now and then also guests are invited as part of hospitality to the bath. If the tub is not large enough for all, after old tradition in hierarchical order one bathes: first the family head, then the men after descending age, finally likewise the women.

The bath water is in Japan substantially hotter than usually in Central Europe, the temperature amounts to 40 to 55 degrees Celsius. The heat is considered as a condition for complete relaxation. Is very important to clean itself and rinse off before the tub bath thoroughly with soap, in order not to contaminate the bath water. The actual bath serves thus not the cleaning, but the social contact and the well-being. Up to 19. Century by the way used one in Japan no soap, separates abrasion the skin with certain herbs or rice bran; that was at the same time a natural Peeling.

Public baths

With the public baths one differentiates between those with natural hot sources, Onsen mentioned, and the remaining, the Sento are called. Since Japan lies in a volcanically active region, there are a great many hot sources, from which over 2000 in public baths are. Most Onsen gives it in free landscape, but one finds her also in cities. In Tokyo for example about 25 Onsen exist. Places with well-known sources of welfare are health resorts after western model. In a Onsen most basins are in the free one (rotenburo), which are every now and then differently kept at a moderate temperature; extremely hot sources, in which also the heat-established Japanese only few minutes can be, are called jigoku (hell). Many Onsen have additionally Saunen, Wellness offers and therapy centers. To the public bath the same rules as to apply the private, always precede the cleaning. Generally in the Japanese bath houses naked is bathed, bath clothes is thus not not permitted.

Before that 7. The Japanese bathed century most likely predominantly in the numerous sources in the free one, because there are no referring to closed baths. In 6. Century (Nara period) was taken over the religion of the Buddhismus by China, what had strong effects on the entire culture of the country. To each buddhistischen temple traditionally also a bath house (yuya) for the monks belonged. These bath houses were opened in the course of the time also for the remaining population, because the principle of the purity plays a large role in the Buddhismus. Private baths possessed however only the wealthy ones. The first public bath house is mentioned 1266. In Tokyo the first Sento developed in the year 1591. The early baths were mentioned steam and/or sweating baths, iwaburo (stone baths) or kamaburo (furnace baths). It concerned around natural or artificial rock caves or stone In iwaburo along the coast the rock was heated up by burning wood; then one poured sea waters over the rock and produced in such a way steam. The entrance to these "“bath houses"” was very small, so that steam did not escape. There were no windows, so that it was inside very dark and the users constantly themselves or in order to signal occurring again, which places were already occupied. The darkness could be used in addition, for sexual contacts, because there was no separation after sexes, and so these baths came into disrepute. They were finally abolished 1870 for hygenic and moral reasons. At the beginning of the Edo period in such a way specified (1603-1867) there were two different bath types. In Tokyo (that Edo meant at that time) hot water baths (yuya) were usual, during it in Osaka (mushiburo) gave. At this time further the common bath of women and men was the rule. With the male visitors, straight also with the Samurai, much likes was bath houses, which employed "“bath girls"” (yuna), to the guests the backs schrubbten, the hair washed etc. some obviously offered against payment in addition, dear services. 1841 were generally forbidden the occupation of yunas, in addition common bathing of both sexes. The sex separation was frequently ignored however by the operators of the bath houses, or the ranges for men and women were separated only symbolically by a line. That drew renewed official prohibitions. Today and woman flax in separate areas bathe in nearly all Sento. There are meanwhile also single tubs.

Japanese bath rules

• In most bath houses naked one bathes. The clothes are deposited in baskets in the changing room.
• Highest rule is to clean itself and schrubben before the bath outside of the basin thoroughly with soap, until the skin is turned red. If there is no shower, the foam with water castings from a container is rinsed off.
• It may arrive in principle no soap lather in the bath water.
• Community basins are carefully too entered, in order not to trouble other bathers. Syringes and Plan are to be avoided absolutely.
• Even if the water is very hot, one may let never cold water approach into a community basin. That would be a rough offence against the label.
• The average bath duration amounts to 20 minutes. It is usual to converse in this time with others or drink something.

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