The Japanese Bath

by Bruce Smith, Yoshiko Yamamoto

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.

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, Architecture

96 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 1905

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of Japanese bathing culture and the baths themselves. Made me feel so natsukashi.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the instruction in this book about how to create a Japanese bath and the reasons why they are designed the way they are. I love the historical traditions. I did wish it had more photos of actual onsens in Japan. I did not want to see so many in the US. But now I know where I want to travel!

[Wes Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute coffee table book with great pictures about the Japanese bath, but I would have preferred a bit more information all around. I also would have preferred more pictures and details on baths from Japan, whereas many of the pictures in the book are from Japanese-style baths in California and other locations in the United States.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely. The large, color photos are so nostalgic for me. Visiting hot springs was my favorite part of living in Japan, and this slim volume is a great way to stir up those memories. The prose is rather stiff and pretentious but easily overlooked in light of the many photos.

[Christopherseelie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light-weight examination of the culture and practice of Japanese bathing.

[Charles Lemos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handy primer for those wanting to emulate the traditions of the Japanese bath in their homes.

[Jason Tissera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the examples of Japanese bathes in the west.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came across this randomly at a used bookstore. Published by a small press in California, the images and specific references mostly focus on California, a few Japanese locations, and a spa in New Mexico, so the scope is a bit limited. But it's still an interesting, light overview of Japanese bathing customs and how they differ from Western customs. There are tips on various aspects of creating a Japanese bath in an American home. It's not in depth, but I wasn't looking for depth and the pictures are nice. The book promotes traditional Japanese bathing (right down to the wooden tub that requires daily maintenance). The one thing that annoyed me was the criticism of Western culture regarding public nudity (Japanese custom is to bathe in gender-based public baths naked). I enjoy reading books on different cultures, but not when one is deemed better than another. Were this a memoir, colored by personal opinion, it wouldn't have bothered me, but as a work of straight nonfiction I found the criticism out of place.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that I found very enjoyable to look at, but there are some severe flaws in some of the information that it gives. Still, for design inspiration and how to bring a Japanese feel to your bathroom, this is good for ideas. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.

For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this from the Kura Door in the Avenues and can't wait to one day try a traditional Japanese bath there. The book is gorgeous and soothing...the peaceful photographs as well as the author's distinctly Japanese voice explaining all aspects of the Japanese bath to Westerners. I had no idea there were so many nuances and differences in how varying cultures bathe. It inspired me to be more mindful in my own daily care. I wish I had the money to put a Japanese bath in my home!

[S.J. Pajonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me want to rip out both my bathrooms and redesign them as Japanese baths. Also, I'm dying to go back to a rotenburo now. Thanks book.

Gorgeous photography and a good range of all different kinds of baths.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good soak in the tub, but my tub is shallow and sad. This book made me long for a deeper, calmer, more lovely tub.

[Kid · Rating 3 out of 5]

would only be two stars but for the ideas it gave me for when (if ever) i get to build my dream house.

[Tobias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice pictures, good tips for installing one at home.