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Bundle 15: In Hot Water

Bathing in Japan could mean communing with nature, following rigid procedures in a bathhouse, or soaking in water that other relatives have used. These essays cover all situations. They introduce practical terms for "bathtub," "turning on a faucet," and "overflowing." You'll learn where people bathed before owning bathtubs. You'll see how, in bathhouses, smaller, raised pools and larger pools below floor level respectively represent land and sea. You'll learn which "bathtub" term the Japanese associate with empty basins versus full pools at hot springs. And you'll discover how bathing has connected to religion, family bonds, prostitution, and a famous thief.
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栓
plug
JOK: 1493
See how the Japanese perceive hydrants as faucets and how 栓 pertains to procedures for moving out of a home. Discover the onomatopoeia for “coming out with a pop,” as with a cork. Learn to say, "We're ready to eat, so can you open a bottle of wine?" "Store sealed in a dry, cool, and dark location," "Even after I turned on the faucet, no water came out," and "The main tap is turned off."
槽
vat
JOK: 1527
Though 槽 isn't glamorous, representing sturdy containers such as tanks, tubs, vats, and troughs, it is relevant to everyday life. This kanji pops up in terms for bathtubs, washing machines, fish tanks, oil tanks, saké vats, water tanks, and vessels for purifying human waste. Enjoy wordplay involving washing machines, and learn how scallop shells can help clean these appliances!
岡
hill
JOK: 1968
Find out what role 岡 (primarily 'hill') could possibly play in a bathhouse, on an inkstone, in a wooden carrying box, in unrequited love, and in a 2nd-class red-light district. The essay provides connective thread between uses of 岡 that otherwise seem completely random. See how 岡 relates to 丘, another kanji for "hill." And enjoy a bevy of photos with 岡 in the names of people and places.
呂
spine; ロ sound
JOK: 2136
With this deep dive into the world of Japanese baths, learn about the Indian roots of Japanese bathing practices, the custom of bathing at someone else's house, the way to heat cold bathwater, the purpose of bathtub covers, and figurative descriptions of muggy weather. Also find out about various bathing environments, whether indoor, outdoor, water-free, sandy, or hazardous!
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