A Naked History of Bathing: The History and Culture of Baths as Seen in Ukiyo-e

Nyuyoku Hadaka no Fuzokushi Ukiyo-e de Miru Ofuro no Rekishi to Bunka (The Cultural History of Bathing Naked: The History and Culture of Bathing as Seen in Ukiyo-e) by Kazuo Hanasaki and Shinobu Machida is a book that introduces Japanese bathing customs and the culture surrounding baths, from foot bathing and hip bathing to public bathhouses, interspersed with ukiyo-e and archival photographs. It was published in 1993 as the 70th volume in the Kodansha Culture Books series.

Focusing on bathing culture during the Edo period, the book covers various scenes and customs that originated in bathhouses, such as built-in bathtubs, women's baths, baths in brothels, the structure of public bathhouses, and quarrels. The text frequently quotes Edo senryu (short, humorous poems) that convey the atmosphere of the time, allowing readers to trace the role of baths in daily life.

In addition to visual materials centered on ukiyo-e, modern public bathhouses are also introduced. The book not only views public bathhouses as places for washing the body but also as living spaces where local people gather, converse, and exchange gossip. The structure of the book allows readers to observe Japanese bathing customs alongside changes in lifestyle culture and customs.

The text is by Kazuo Hanasaki, a researcher of Edo customs, and the photographs are by Shinobu Machida. The cover and page layout are by Masaru Hirono. As part of the Kodansha Culture Books series, it is a compact cultural history that compiles Japanese bath culture with illustrations.

[Title] Nyuyoku Hadaka no Fuzokushi Ukiyo-e de Miru Ofuro no Rekishi to Bunka
[Publisher] Kodansha
[Publication Date] February 20, 1993 (First Printing)
[Number of Pages] 127 pages
[Size] Approx. 151 x 211 x 8mm / 255g
[Format] Softcover
[Language] Japanese
[Title Reading] NYUYOKU HADAKA NO FUZOKUSHI
[Author/Editor, etc.] Kazuo Hanasaki / Text, Shinobu Machida / Photographs, Masaru Hirono / Cover design and layout
[Printing and Binding] Dainippon Printing / Printing, Kokuhosha / Binding
[ISBN] 9784061980709
[Condition] Used [5] Good (Slight stains on edges, cover: slight fading on spine)
[Accessories] Obi (book band)
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Kazuo Hanasaki (1916–)

Born in Nihonbashi, Tokyo in 1916. Real name: Seitaro Hanasaki. After graduating from junior high school under the old system, he worked at the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Papilio Cosmetics, among other places. From 1965, he devoted himself to writing about Edo literature and customs.

His major works include Edo no Ningyo-tachi (Mermaids of Edo), Edo Kawaya Zue (Illustrated Book of Edo Toilets), Edo Nyuyoku Hyakushi (One Hundred Scenes of Edo Bathing), Edo Gyozuri Hyakushi (One Hundred Scenes of Edo Fishing), Edo A La Carte, and Edo no Kagemajaya (Edo's Male Prostitute Teahouses).

Shinobu Machida (1950–)

Born in Tokyo in 1950. Graduated from the Department of Art, Faculty of Humanities, Wako University in 1972. After working as a police officer, he became an independent artist and has made the study of customs his life's work.

His books include Sento e Iko (Let's Go to the Public Bathhouse), and his co-authored works include Ima Mukashi Sento (Public Bathhouses Then and Now), Machinami Hosomi Nishihen (Detailed Townscapes: Western Edition), and The Reikyusha (The Hearse).

< Related Figures >

Kazuo Hanasaki
Shinobu Machida
Masaru Hirono
Kodansha
Kodansha Culture Books
Sento (Public Bathhouses)
Ukiyo-e
Edo Customs