一番おもしろい習慣はおふろに入るのです。

Due to the unforeseen circumstances, also known as a typhoon moving in on Japan, I am staying for the next two nights at JCMU. While I am sad to be missing out on staying with my host family it is going to be very nice to be warm and dry and not worrying about a 45 minute commute twice a day. I have missed hanging out with my friends at JCMU so it will be nice to be with everyone again. Another benefit of this horrible weather is it means I have plenty of time (and internet access) to update my blog! Hooray? Possibly...

I have learned many interesting things (even in the short time I have stayed with my host family) that I will hopefully eventually blog about, but I did say I would write an entry about Japanese style baths first, so here goes.

On the first night I arrived at my host family I was asked if I wanted to take a bath. Actually, strictly speaking I was asked "おふろに入る?" or ohuro ni hairu? In class we have been using ohuro as a term that means "to bathe or shower", so as the American that I am I interpreted this to mean, "Do you want to take a shower?". At this point I was so frazzled by trying to figure out the words they were saying that I was willing to say yes as soon as I knew what I was agreeing to. As I entered the bathroom I realized that they didn't actually have a shower and that the bathtub was filled with water. The homestay director had told all of the homestay students that we would probably be offered this, and if we wanted to take showers instead we would have to work it out with our host family.

Japanese Style Bathtub in my Family's Home

The ohuro is slightly different from a normal bathtub in Europe or the United States. The tub is deeper and has sides that go straight down instead of being sloped. I find it slightly more comfortable to fit into this type of bathtub because it is easy to sit and still be immersed in the water. These style of bathtubs originated in 旅館 (ryokan), the traditional Japanese inns, and are common in most Japanese households. The same bath water is used by every member of a family, which is why it is important to clean yourself throughly before entering the bath. The purpose of the ohuro is to be able to relax in the hot water. The water is kept warm from the time that it comes out of the faucet until it is drained out of the tub by some sort of heating system. I couldn't figure out exactly how this worked, but the controls were in the kitchen. I asked my host mother why this was and she told me that there was wiring that connected them in the wall. This wasn't quite what I was getting at, but I understood what she was trying to tell me so I went with it. Traditionally the head of the family takes a bath first, followed by those who follow him in the familial hierarchy.

The reason that I was offered to take a bath first, even before my host father, is because as the guest I receive special privileges in the house. During breakfast my host mother serves both my host father and I before eating anything herself. Both of my host parents want to make sure that all of my needs are met and that they are attentive to me as a guest in their home. By letting me take a bath first the are giving me the privilege of using the cleanest and purest water, as well as giving me the honor of being the first in line, so to speak.

There are many rules of etiquette in Japan, most of which I do not completely understand. Being at my homestay has taught me that although I have already learned a lot about Japanese culture, there is no way that I am anywhere close to being able to even close to fully understand Japanese society. So much about how I view the world has been socialized into me as an American, and I cannot take away that prejudice, no matter what I do. The most I can do is be aware of it and attempt to compensate.

Here is a wikipedia article describing Japanese Etiquette.

On a side note, here are the grandkids of my host parents. The one flashing me the peace sign is Ai and her twin sister is Yuu. They are both four years old and completely adorable.