Nyt, ‘increase in fuel prices puts traditional public toilets out of business’
The traditional Japanese ‘sento’, the traditional public baths, which have survived wars, various dynasties of emperors and catastrophic earthquakes, risk being definitively ruined by the conflict in the Middle East, due to the increase in prices of the fuel used to heat the waters of these institutions which are a cornerstone in the socialization rites of the elderly Japanese. The New York Times writes it in a report.
Since the war began nine weeks ago, oil prices have skyrocketed, driving up costs for spa owners by up to 50%, according to the Japan National Sento Association. Operators have specific limitations and cannot pass costs on to customers: Historically, these public baths have been considered essential infrastructure for people without private bathrooms. For this reason, tanto are still classified as public utilities, with prefectural governments capping the entry cost at around 500 yen, or just under 3 euros.
The crisis in the sector dates back much further: the number of spas registered with the trade association has collapsed to 1,493 this year, from 18,000 in the 1960s. The fear is that soaring inflation will further accelerate this decline.
