Onsen

Two weeks after returning from the states, which was wonderful though too short, we were lucky enough to host one of my good 'ole college friends, Maggie. She has spent the last two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Indonesia and made Japan her last stop before finally heading home to Colorado. She came to school with me for the Suikawari (watermelon smashing) event at Hotouku. This game is similar to pinata crushing in the Americas and is held as an introduction to the summer months. A watermelon is placed on the ground and each class encircles the prize. One by one the students are blindfolded and allowed one whack at the fruit while the onlookers chant "Gamba re, gamba re!" After each pupil has taken their turn the homeroom teacher and principle take a stab at it, and sometimes even do some damage. At this point a slew of mom volunteers rush in and sweep away the melon to prepared the hard earned snack. After all this is said and done the kids wash the stickies off by jumping in the pool for PE class. Another full day at a Japanese kindergarten. The amount of mothers witnessing, volunteering, photographing and filming like paparazzi should also be noted.

That evening we decided to search out our local onsen, or hot springs spa. Hot tubbing in Japan is a bit different from what we know in America. Nearly everyone in Japan loves a good soak. Even at home most people choose to bathe instead of shower. In our apartment our "shower room" is shower on one half and bath on the other. Because the same bath water is used by each member of the family by superiority, it is intended that you shower and shampoo before entering the bath in order to keep the water clean. At the public onsen it is much the same.

The first main difference between a Japanese onsen and American hot tubs is the amount of nakedness. Sure, sometimes people back home get a little "crazy" and go skinny-dippin' in a private or discrete location, but in Japan you are not allowed in the the public hot spring with a bathing suit on. Many of my Japanese friends have asked "Can you go to onsen?" knowing that many westerners are uncomfortable with this concept and are sometimes shocked that I can indeed onsen.

The other main difference, like so many other things in Japan, is the amount of rituals involved. It is very, very important to keep the water clean. You must scrub down before entering, you may not let your hair in the water, and do not ever ring your towel out over the water. Also, tattoos are generally not allowed as those are associated with the Yakuza, or Japanese mafia. Small ones can be covered by band-aid, or as with many things, as a westerner you can get away with going in the tub with a tattoo, so long as it's not huge and offensive. All in all it's a great relaxing experience.