I remember our local bath in Osaka [ 寿楽温泉 ] was closed just after we moved away. It was a necessity for us living in an old machiya with no shower. But, it was also such a deep pleasure that helped me feel like part of the community. I heard after the closure, that it recently re-opened with the help of a local hospital. The value of a sento is so much more than just a bathing place, and I am glad many others seem to see this as well.
Came across your article when I wanted to learn more about Sento culture and really enjoyed it!
I appreciated the different perspectives you shared—on why these public spaces are invaluable and on the fact that modern day living have strayed away from it.
It makes me wonder—if there’s a way to make a case for these public spaces by addressing exactly that loneliness that people living in big cities like Tokyo (or in my case London) often feel. I often long for that sense of community that I grew up with in Taiwan—the trust in my neighbors and simply enjoying seeing them and saying hi in the day to day. But that closeness or trust is not big cities living—with a lot of people coming and going (sometimes forcibly because rent increase)—lends itself to.
When I went to my first sento two days ago—I immediately felt like this would be exactly the kind of space where people, even and perhaps especially for those who are most trapped in the capitalist system, can feel more connected to their surroundings.
Hope your work goes well and excited to learn more!
Thanks for reading! I’m happy to hear about your response to a bathhouse. I agree that although their original function as infrastructure for people without private baths is less essential, in another way they are more important than ever. The challenge is making that value clear in a way that allows them to be preserved under the economic system
This is so refreshing to read.
I remember our local bath in Osaka [ 寿楽温泉 ] was closed just after we moved away. It was a necessity for us living in an old machiya with no shower. But, it was also such a deep pleasure that helped me feel like part of the community. I heard after the closure, that it recently re-opened with the help of a local hospital. The value of a sento is so much more than just a bathing place, and I am glad many others seem to see this as well.
Speaking of that, you might enjoy this one:
https://thepossiblecity.substack.com/p/short-28-peace-of-steam-the-japanese
Thanks for sharing your work. Keep it up.
Came across your article when I wanted to learn more about Sento culture and really enjoyed it!
I appreciated the different perspectives you shared—on why these public spaces are invaluable and on the fact that modern day living have strayed away from it.
It makes me wonder—if there’s a way to make a case for these public spaces by addressing exactly that loneliness that people living in big cities like Tokyo (or in my case London) often feel. I often long for that sense of community that I grew up with in Taiwan—the trust in my neighbors and simply enjoying seeing them and saying hi in the day to day. But that closeness or trust is not big cities living—with a lot of people coming and going (sometimes forcibly because rent increase)—lends itself to.
When I went to my first sento two days ago—I immediately felt like this would be exactly the kind of space where people, even and perhaps especially for those who are most trapped in the capitalist system, can feel more connected to their surroundings.
Hope your work goes well and excited to learn more!
Thanks for reading! I’m happy to hear about your response to a bathhouse. I agree that although their original function as infrastructure for people without private baths is less essential, in another way they are more important than ever. The challenge is making that value clear in a way that allows them to be preserved under the economic system