Japanese society has managed to preserve many ancient national traditions that coexist perfectly with the modern lifestyle. Among them are numerous ceremonies that fill the everyday life of the Japanese family. The so-called "tea ceremony" is known all over the world. Japan has its own national characteristics and bath, or in Japanese "ofuro". One of the strange traditions associated with the Japanese "bathing ceremony" - a mandatory shower before visiting the ofuro. We will understand why this should be done.
What does a Japanese ofuro look like
The Japanese are one of the cleanest peoples; they zealously monitor their appearance. Therefore, the tradition of daily bathing is deeply rooted in the national mentality. Ofuro today is not just a tribute to tradition, but also an urgent need for every resident of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Interesting! How important is the bathtub for the Japanese, says its very name, which consists of two parts: the prefix "o" (お) and "furo" (風 呂). The second part of the word actually means "bath", and "o" is a prefix expressing the polite, respectful attitude of the speaker to the subject mentioned by him.
Traditional ofuro
The first mention of ofuro belong to the beginning of our era. Since ancient times, the Japanese have loved to relax in the geothermal springs, with which their volcanic islands are so rich. Later, the most ingenious of them (or the most lazy?) Decided to arrange such healing springs right at home. For these purposes, barrels made of cedar, oak or larch were originally used.. There were also varieties in the form of recesses in the earth, lined with stone from the inside.
The design of the traditional ofuro looked like this: a tank of round or oval shape, with a diameter of about one and a half meters and a depth of 80-90 centimeters.
To take a bath in Japan, unlike Russia and Western countries, it is customary to sit, shoulders immersed in water. For this, there is a special fit inside the ofuro bath. It can be used both as a step and as a kind of highchair.
Water was heated in a container heated by fire with stones that were lowered into the water, or with the help of a special design stove.
Modernity
Even today, with the high cost of square meters, the Japanese are not ready to abandon the luxury of having their own traditional bathtub in the apartment. True, it already hardly resembles those wooden or stone vats in which medieval samurai loved to bask. Modern ofuros are a high-tech product of the scientific and technological revolution.
The plumbing produced by the Japanese industry today, including bathtubs, is only comparable with the modern products of their automobile industry.
Reference! Ofuro have a case with powerful thermal insulation to avoid unnecessary heat loss. The built-in or plug-in computerized "climate control" ensures the maintenance of the set temperature and water circulation.
Temperature
Of particular note is the water temperature in the Japanese ofuro. It, in comparison with the bathroom, which we are used to taking, is quite high and averages 45-55 °, and in some cases reaches 60-65 °.
Important! Ofuro, like the Russian bath, has long been credited with many healing properties. She perfectly tones up, restoring the forces spent during the day.
To improve the healing properties of the bath, various medicinal and aromatic additives are added to the water: cedar sawdust, medicinal herbs, natural flavors.
Attention! Even official Japanese medicine recognizes the undoubted benefit of the traditional bath for the treatment and prevention of various diseases.
The bath is not for washing: how the Japanese take a bath
As we see, the traditional Japanese ofuro bathtub, oddly enough, is not intended to be washed at all. In this, in fact, lies the answer to the question: "why do the Japanese, before taking a bath, wash themselves thoroughly in the shower?"
How is the Japanese bathroom
A typical bathroom in a Japanese apartment usually consists of a hallway, a dressing room, in which there is a washbasin and a washing machine. Here, the Japanese undress before getting into the washing room itself. Dirty clothes are loaded into the machine, and while the Japanese takes water procedures, his laundry is washed.
The bathroom itself is equipped with an Ofuro bathtub, and next to it there is an ordinary shower. Moreover, to save space, this is not a traditional shower cabin for us, but just a shower head mounted on a tiled wall.
Drain holes were made in the bathroom floor to divert shower water into the sewers, and wooden grilles or synthetic rugs are placed on top of them. Another feature of the Japanese soul is the obligatory presence of a small chair. After all, here it is customary to take a shower not while standing, like ours, but sitting.
In the bath - after the shower!
So, before immersing their body in a hot healing bath, the Japanese thoroughly wash their sweat in the shower.
In ofuro, the use of soapy water is prohibited! Therefore, in order to avoid the ingress of dirty water and soapy foam, it is closed with a special cover or rubber mat.
Water, like electricity in Japan, is not cheap at all, despite the fact that the country is located in the middle of the ocean.
Important! Ofuro is filled only once a day, in the evening, and the whole family takes turns relaxing in it.
Exactly therefore, they lower into the bath only after a shower.
One bath for the whole family
Traditionally, the head of the family first takes the tonic procedure, then his spouse. And only then their offspring plunged into ofuro. Parents take small children who cannot be left alone in the hot tub. However, such a scheme is rather arbitrary. And spouses, especially newlyweds, easily enjoy ofuro in each other's company.
Today, many ancient national traditions are a thing of the past. But ofuro remains an integral part of modern Japanese life. The reverent attitude of the Japanese to their national bath resembles the attitude of Russians to a bathhouse or Finns to a sauna.
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