Environment World

“Japanese-only public baths to pay damages” is the headline from one news article on the subject. While it is true that one Japanese bath was successfully sued for 3,000,000¥ the article alludes that racism is common practice in many establishments. It is not, not in Tokyo of outside. I lived in Kyoto for a year and a half before Tokyo so I’m not being idealistic. The cash reward is equivalent to $25,000 at today’s rate. Some baths are wary about foreigners using their bath, maybe even racist but on the whole I don’t think that’s the case. It is mostly due to fact that Japanese baths follow a certain etiquette that a foreigner may not be aware of.

Important things to remember if you every have the pleasure to enjoy a Japanese bath: wash your self before you enter the bath. That might sound strange to a westerner but Japanese baths are not for bathing, they’re for relaxing. No splashing or any king of horseplay and be respectful of others. If you’re not wanted at the establishment then don’t go there, there are plenty of other places that will offer you the services you want. A more common refusal for a bath is for people with tattoos, Japanese or Western (remember criminals have tattoos). I have a tattoo and I’ve never been refused, your mileage may vary. Because of my MS hot water is not a good thing, makes me very weak after the bath. I’ll gladly put up with it for a bath.

I need a happy thought. I’m getting very tired of the commute to work by Tokyo’s subway and the audiobooks I listen to are only keeping from committing a heinous crime. Not enough to fly above the heads of other commuters. Let’s see … I got it. A movie I saw this year that I highly recommend to all. The movie is in the American theaters now, it’s called “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki.

Spirited Away



Hayao Miyazaki


The movie starts with a lonely child traveling with her parents. The parents are a bit obtuse, but aren’t all parents? They come across a place that isn’t like other places. After a few events (the first half moves quickly) the girl is forced to sink or swim and she swims with such a force that is magical to watch. The title of this movie in the Japanese theaters is “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi”, which is the main character’s name. While most Japanese anime is not made for kids but this is an exception. This movie was made for older kids and if you have a kid in you you’ll love it also. The business history of this movie was that this was the highest grossing movie in Japanese history (and Japanese theater has a great history). Never mind the business this is easily the best movie I’ve seen this year and it’s made it to my personal top ten list. I have only seen the Japanese version not the American version so your mileage may vary, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. There may be a few things in this movie that might go over the head of an American audience, I had to ask my Japanese girlfriend a few things but then again I’m a bit obtuse also. For the most part it is a great story that the main part of the story would be comfortable with any age (over 10 yrs). The movie is rated PG for a few intense scenes (not intense for an adult). I would tell everyone that needs a short escape to run out to the theater and see this movie.