Japanese Bath, The 
asked by fusionz on November 10, 2006 11:16 AM
In the West, a bath is a place one goes to cleanse the body. In Japan, one goes there to cleanse the soul. Bathing in Japan is about much more than cleanliness: it is about family and community. It is about being alone and contemplative, time to watch the moon rise above the garden. Along with sixty full-color illustrations of the light and airy baths themselves, The Japanese Bath, delves into the aesthetic of bathing Japanese style and the innate beauty of the steps surrounding the process. The authors explain how to create a Japanese bath in your own home. A Zen meditation, the Japanese bath, indeed, cleanses the soul, and one emerges refreshed, renewed, and serene.
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I have had great difficulty in finding good information about Japanese soaking tubs of the kind that I saw in Japan. This book, written for the U.S. market, not only contains a plethora of wonderful pictures and ideas for the tub I was planning for my bathroom, it included suppliers and other resources that have proven invaluable.
reviewed by mags on November 25, 2006 1:37 AM
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I love the concepts in this book, so much so that I long to have a house with two bathrooms, one with toilet, one without, with a separate bath and shower area, and if I can't have a view with a nice garden, I could at least have a great overhead skylight. Now, doesn't that sound like heaven?!
Now, obviously, I can't have a japanese bath in my apartment, however I have found a way to make do with what I have. I have a little plastic footstool for the bathroom now that I put in the tub, and I wash in about an inch of water, scrubbing with my bar of Neutrogena while my feet soak. Then I put on my exfoliating gloves, massage my feet and then rub my soles with my so-called "foot rock", and I splash off with a Glad container of water all over. Then I do the hair while the water drains, and rinse off hair and bathtub. and then, oh, then, do I remove the stool, put fresh clean water in the tub as hot as I can stand it, cut out the light, put on soft jazz and light my PierOne fresh herb candle, and contemplate the stillness for about 15-20 minutes. Naturally, I don't do this every day, and I only do it in the evening..and this works for me because mornings just aren't good, and there's something about waking up already clean!
I never realized the Japanese were so clean. I worry that other countries want to emulate our wasteful ways too much, and don't appreciate that they have things we Americans may want to adopt as well. After reading this little book I'm so envious. Interesting that people take a bath right after work. The public bath sounds less than appealing, but a private oasis is definitely something to consider for my next home.
I have come away with a new respect for the Japanese (I wonder if the Chinese are as meticulous), and I take way better care of my bathroom now. I bought a wonderful, terry-towel robe, but would like a "summer-weight" one. Most of all, I would love to visit California and some of those bath houses, like the one shown on page 13 with the adorable "temple cat" patrolling the entryway.
Thank you, Bruce and Yoshiko, for writing this book!
Now, obviously, I can't have a japanese bath in my apartment, however I have found a way to make do with what I have. I have a little plastic footstool for the bathroom now that I put in the tub, and I wash in about an inch of water, scrubbing with my bar of Neutrogena while my feet soak. Then I put on my exfoliating gloves, massage my feet and then rub my soles with my so-called "foot rock", and I splash off with a Glad container of water all over. Then I do the hair while the water drains, and rinse off hair and bathtub. and then, oh, then, do I remove the stool, put fresh clean water in the tub as hot as I can stand it, cut out the light, put on soft jazz and light my PierOne fresh herb candle, and contemplate the stillness for about 15-20 minutes. Naturally, I don't do this every day, and I only do it in the evening..and this works for me because mornings just aren't good, and there's something about waking up already clean!
I never realized the Japanese were so clean. I worry that other countries want to emulate our wasteful ways too much, and don't appreciate that they have things we Americans may want to adopt as well. After reading this little book I'm so envious. Interesting that people take a bath right after work. The public bath sounds less than appealing, but a private oasis is definitely something to consider for my next home.
I have come away with a new respect for the Japanese (I wonder if the Chinese are as meticulous), and I take way better care of my bathroom now. I bought a wonderful, terry-towel robe, but would like a "summer-weight" one. Most of all, I would love to visit California and some of those bath houses, like the one shown on page 13 with the adorable "temple cat" patrolling the entryway.
Thank you, Bruce and Yoshiko, for writing this book!
reviewed by blueoasis on November 28, 2006 5:00 AM