Plain Liberation

I want to recollect the memory of my first public bath experience back in Osaka.
 
I always curious with the naked feeling in public. I wonder how is it like having no thread in your body but make it so usual-ubiquitous.

We went to Tateba Sento around 9 PM with the last train. We got three different towels; face, body, and pad for sauna.

It was so awkward at the first time when I entered the locker room. I wasn’t prepared that people already naked there that I unconsciously turning back and laugh to my friend. Embarrassed. We managed to continue this mission though.

Regardless how calming the bath was, the feeling of being there is interesting. I forced myself not to obviously observe the whole room just like when I enter a new place. I know it would be weird if my eyes locked with other’s.

The later the night it got, the more people came. Some girls seemed like having fun just like they were in a hair salon. A couple of mom and her daughter were talking Korean while enjoying their bath time.

I try to remember the last time I took bath with my mom. But yes, never with my dad. I don’t know if it’s common for daughter-father soaking in hot tub together just like Setsuko and Mei with their father in Totoro movie. Or in Totto-chan book where nobody allows to wear any suit in swimming class. Genital difference felt so casual. But yes, the setting was in WWII. Today’s reality might be too wild that I low key missing some innocence and tranquility.

Eventually, I’m no longer being (so) curious at this. I felt a certain tingling sense of freedom in being naked in front of others. It was an exploration of the ownership feeling over our own body.
 

Thank you to my trip fellow, Z, who share the same excitement to experience this unsual bath.


Question of the day, what will you do when you are naked in a city center?

-V