Japan: Where Modern Convenience Meets Ancient TraditionBaths and bathing culture are fundamental to everyday life in Japan. A recent survey found that more than 80 percent of people in Japan take a soothing soak in the bath for at least 30 minutes every day. This makes the bathroom an important part of the Japanese home. In recent years a number of high-tech Japanese innovations have turned the Japanese bathroom into a showcase for Japan’s unparalleled levels of comfort and convenience.

Japan’s Ancient Love of the TubBathing has always been an integral part of Japanese culture. Surrounded by the innumerable hot springs that dot the length and breadth of the Japanese archipelago, Japanese people have long been in the custom of taking baths. The prosperity of the modern age has brought the luxury and convenience of hot springs and public baths into the average Japanese home.

The Japanese style of bathing is a little different from the practice common in other countries. In Japan, people wash and scrub themselves in a separate washing area before getting into the bath. Only after this thorough cleaning stage is over do they actually get into the tub itself for a restful, relaxing soak in the piping hot water, soothing the muscles and easing the mind after the stresses and strains of the day. Japanese companies have produced a wide range of technological innovations specially designed to suit this unique style of bathing.

Clean and ConvenientThe ability to set water levels and adjust water temperature automatically now comes as standard on most home baths. Another common function makes it possible to reheat water in the tub after it has gone cold. As well as saving on water, this function is well suited to the Japanese style of bathing, where a whole family will often use the same water over the course of an evening.

More advanced options available on recent models go beyond bathing itself. Many now come with a feature for heating the entire washing area as well as the bath itself—a blessing on cold winter days. Another function dries out the washing area after use. The Japanese practice of washing outside the bath gives rise to lots of splashing and steam, so this function is useful for preventing dampness and mold. Some models take advantage of this air-drying option to provide a handy laundry drying function. Manufacturers have also developed special tiles that are not cold to the touch—an ingenious way of maintaining a comfortable temperature without requiring energy-consuming gas burners and other heating devices.

One particularly luxurious innovation to hit Japanese bathrooms recently is the “mist sauna.” The sauna fills the bathing area with tiny droplets of hot water, washing away impurities from the skin and improving circulation. Other cutting-edge conveniences include baths with an automatic self-cleaning function (detergent and hot water shoot from special nozzles inside the tub at the push of a button and clean the bath after use) and bathrooms fitted with waterproof TV—perfect for a long relaxing soak at the end of a working day. Japan’s ancient bathing traditions continue to develop and diversify in high-tech twenty-first century Japan.(March 2011)